Mrs Chava Wilschanski, 87, AH

Mrs Chava Wilschanski, wife of Reb Refoel Wilschanski a”h, passed away on Friday night, 29 Adar – her 87th birthday.

Born in Budapest in 1938 to Reb Shlomo Zev and Devorah Blum, she fled with her family to British-mandate Palestine as the winds of war swirled around Hungary. After spending time in Israel and a short stint in Montreal, Chava married Reb Yosef Aryeh Friedman. They raised three children together in New York until his untimely passing in 1970.

A short time later, a shidduch idea was suggested for the young widow. Reb Refoel Wilschanski was living in Paris and working for the Lishka, raising his three sons after losing his wife many years before. With the Rebbe’s brochos, the couple were introduced and got engaged, settling in Crown Heights after their wedding, where they had one daughter together.

For many years, Chava worked as a cook in senior citizen centers and old age homes in Brooklyn, and served as a volunteer with Bikur Cholim. 

Chava was known for her immense emunah, and the tremendous importance she put into davening every day, and saying Tehillim for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her twin sister Mirka Schwartz (Williamsburg, Brooklyn), and children Dina Lebovic (Crown Heights, Brooklyn), Chanie Ceitlin (Toronto, Canada), Rabbi Avraham Friedman (Coral Springs, Florida), and Devorie Reicher (Coral Springs, Florida).

She is also survived by her step-son Rabbi Chaim Elya Wilschanski (Crown Heights, Brooklyn).

She is predeceased by her husband Rabbi Refoel Wilschanski in 2016, while two of her stepsons – Rabbi Schneur Zalman Wilschanski of Morristown and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilschanski of Tzfas, passed away in the last 13 months.

The levaya will be held today, passing 770 at 1pm, followed by the Ohel at 2pm.

Shiva details will be posted shortly.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes