She Took Out Her New Coat and Handed It to the Melamed

Rebbetzin Rivkah, the Alter Rebbe’s mother, was blessed with four sons who were Torah giants. When asked about her special merit, the Alter Rebbe’s brother, Maharil, recounted a sacrifice she made for her children’s Torah study.

Rebbetzin Rivkah was born in Vitebsk to her father Reb Avrohom “Der Gertner” (the gardener), a great tzadik and gaon who was a descendant of Reb Avrohom Chaim, author of Tzon Kodoshim and Toras Chaim on Gemara.

On 17 Elul 5503 (1743), she married Reb Boruch, who was the sixth generation from the Maharal of Prague. She was very learned, and was fluent in Tanach and Midrash. She also learned mussar seforim and some Mishna and Gemara.

The Alter Rebbe instructed his grandson, the Tzemach Tzedek, to hear stories from his mother, Rebbetzin Rivkah.

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The Alter Rebbe’s arrest in 5559 (1798) negatively impacted the health of his family.

Despite this, his wife Rebbetzin Sterna, his children, as well as his grandson the Tzemach Tzedek (who was nine years old at the time) would fast every day, recite Tehillim with a minyan and visit the grave of the Alter Rebbe’s daughter, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah. Despite being weak and sick, the Alter Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Rivkah, strengthened everyone’s spirit with her strong mind, calm spirit and clear intellect.

On Shabbos Parshas Vayishlach, the Mitteler Rebbe fainted twice from excessive weakness and pain. Rebbetzin Rivkah told him, “I swear with my life, that it will be as my father prophesied to me that this week your father will be released from his imprisonment.”

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Chassidim once asked Maharil, the Alter Rebbe’s brother: What was the zechus by virtue of which his parents were blessed with four sons who were Torah giants?

Maharil told them that it was probably due to the yiras Shamayim and the passionate love of Torah of his mother, Rebbetzin Rivka. He illustrated this with the following story:

My father, Reb Baruch, once traveled on a business trip and brought back an expensive coat as a gift for my mother. Our melamed’s wife became so envious that she began nagging him to give her gifts as well. This distressed him, and his usual enthusiasm faded.

Noticing this, my mother questioned him and he told her of his troubles. Without hesitation, she took out her coat and gave it to the melamed, saying, “Give this to your wife, and continue to teach my sons with enthusiasm.”

For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com