Mrs. Edna Gottesman, a beloved mother and grandmother who always held great faith and a positive attitude despite being widowed at a young age, passed away on Sunday 28th of Menachem Av 5784.
Mrs. Edna Gottesman, a beloved mother and grandmother who always held great faith and a positive attitude despite being widowed at a young age, passed away on Sunday 28th of Menachem Av 5784.
She was 100 years old.
Edna, who was born in Essaouira, Morocco, was the second child of Pinchas Toby and Anita Toledano of the illustrious Toledano family. She was orphaned at a young age, and lost her beloved brother Yosef when he was nearly Bar Mitzvah.
Edna married an Alexander chossid, a survivor of Auschwitz, Chanoch Henoch Gottesman, and moved to Florence, Italy. Not knowing Italian she painstakingly learned it and adjusted to living far from her family. Edna and Chanoch Henoch worked hard to raise their children as Jews in a place devoid of real Judaism. They taught them to love Jews of all stripes and keep the Mitzvos properly, even when it was exceedingly difficult. Edna was a real eishes chayil supporting her husband, taking care of him when he was ill, and helping him in his business.
In the 1950’s when the Rebbe sent Rabbi Gershon Mendel a’h and ybd’la Bassie Garelik as shluchim to Milan, Italy, things became much easier for the Gottesmans. The children joined the Gan Yisroel camps they ran, kosher became much more accessible and a strong connection was made between the 2 families.
Edna sent her children away at a young age so they would have a good Jewish chinuch. Sarah studied in the Yeshiva schools of Pittsburgh with the Gareliks’ daughter, and then in Gateshead. Yehuda, Yosef, and Chana all learned in Gateshead schools.
Widowed at a young age, she married off her 4 children herself, and with great faith always kept a positive attitude. Edna eventually moved to Canada to be near her son Yehuda, she was a beloved figure to those who knew her. Her Tehillim was never far from her hand and her tefillos were deeply heartfelt. She gave tzedaka with an open hand even when she didn’t have much herself.
She is survived by her children Sarah Junik (Crown Heights), Yehuda Gottesman (Montreal, QC), Yosef Gottesman (Israel), and Chana Raccah (Chicago, IL), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Shiva information:
From 2:30 pm Sunday
Full day Monday in Montreal, getting up on Tuesday morning.
Mincha followed by Maariv at 7:00 pm
at 1943 Ave Barclay
The family requests no visitors after 10 pm.
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