Roshei yeshiva, rabbonim, community leaders and a
large throng of former Swiss residents accompanied Esther
Ortzel o"h, on her last earthly journey. Rebbetzin
Ortzel was niftar in Switzerland, and she was buried
in the Tamir plot of Har Hamenuchos.
The widow of Rav Aharon Ortzel zt"l, and the daughter
of Rav Yisroel Boleg, Rebbetzin Ortzel was born in
Switzerland in 5670. Her father was descended of an old Swiss
Jewish family, and was known as a genuine oveid
Hashem. It is told that when he brought his sons to study
in the Satmer Yeshiva, the Admor of Satmer remarked to his
closest chassidim: "He is a Jew with tzelem Elokim."
It was in this home, replete with Torah and yiras
Shomayim, that Rebbetzein Ortzel grew to adulthood.
When she came of age, the young Esther Boleg married Reb
Aharon Ortzel, a young talmid chochom known for
scholarship and for integrity. The couple soon moved to Telz;
Reb Aharon wished to study under HaRav Meir Bloch. The
Ortzels eventually developed a very warm relationship with
Rav Bloch.
In Telz, two of their children passed away at a very young
age. The Ortzels remained in Telz, taking comfort,
nachas and spiritual delight from the sound of Torah
learning emerging incessantly from the Beis Midrash. Rebbtzin
Ortzel would later say that the years in Telz had been the
most beautiful years of her life. So highly did Telz Yeshiva
esteem Reb Aharon that when they founded their Cleveland
branch, they named a room in his memory. His family knew
nothing of it at the time.
Just before the outbreak of World War II, the Ortzels
returned to Switzerland. A few years passed, and Reb Aharon,
still a young man, was niftar, leaving his young
orphans fatherless. For forty- one years, Rebbetzin Ortzel
remained a widow, devoting her energy to her children. Her
devotion was rewarded with children and sons-in- law who are
outstanding talmidei chachomim and ovdei
Hashem.
Some years ago Rebbetzin Ortzel became ill and was
hospitalized in Basel. Her habits of exemplary behavior
remained unchanged; even in the hospital, she caused
kiddush Hashem.
HaRav Boruch Shimon Solomon, Chief Rabbi of Petach Tikvah and
rosh yeshiva of Nachlas Dovid, delivered a stirring
hesped at her levaya. She was the model of a
great woman, he said. She had conducted an exemplary Jewish
home, such as befitted the daughter of a tzaddik and
the wife of a tzaddik. HaRav Chaim Sarna, rosh
yeshiva of Chevron Geula, had known the illustrious
family well. He called Rebbetzin Ortzel, "eishes chayil
atteres baala." Although the great burden of raising
children and securing parnosso for her family had
rested on her shoulders, she nonetheless found time for
tzedoko and for chessed, dispensing these
freely, with warmth and with grace.
Rebbetzin Ortzel's mechutan is Rav Avrohom Zloshinski,
an outstanding talmid chochom of Yerushalayim and of
Basel. Rav Avrohom described the arduous experiences that
passed over the Ortzels during World War II. Rebbetzin Ortzel
and her husband risked their lives for the sake of Jewish
refugees, offering aid and encouragement at every step of
their immigration and of their adjustment to new and
unfamiliar circumstances.
Rebbetzin Ortzel's grandson, HaRav Aharon Chananya Ortzel
mourned her loss in a sobbing voice. He recalled her deep
concern for the spiritual and material needs of her family.
It was this concern that had enabled her children to attain
such heights of Torah and yirah. Rav Aharon Chananya
related an anecdote that was characteristic of Rebbetzin
Ortzel. On a train trip with her husband to Zurich for
medical treatment, a fellow passenger accused Reb Aharon of
causing a chilul Hashem by engaging in gemora
study throughout the entire journey. Rebbetzin Ortzel tersely
replied: "Your behavior and your remarks are a chilul
Hashem."
When the war ended, it was the Ortzels' privilege to host
HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman in their home. Rav Aharon Leib
marveled over Reb Ortzel's hasmodo. He marveled as
well at the Ortzel's lifestyle; a lifestyle of dedication and
refinement.
