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24 Shevat 5759 - Feb. 10, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Rebbetzin Feigele (Nelly) Schwab, o'h

by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Last Tuesday night, a large throng participated in the levaya of Rebbetzin Feigele (Nelly) Schwab, o'h. The widow of R' Avrohom Schwab, she was ninety years old at the time of her petirah.

Rebbetzin Schwab came to Eretz Yisroel twenty-eight years ago with her husband, who had been the head of the Jewish community of the of Vichy, France and the vital force behind all of the city's Jewish activities.

Rebbetzin Schwab was a living sefer mussar for all who approached her for advice. The counsel she so generously offered was replete with wisdom, discretion and yiras Shomayim. Chessed was an integral part of her personality. Her characteristic geniality, smile and joy of living enabled her to assist all those with whom she came in contact and to draw people closer to Torah. Many returned to their Jewish roots due to her influence.

Her home in Europe was well known for its hospitality, especially to people who had come to avail themselves of the curative springs of Vichy. On Shabbosim and weekdays, her home was filled with guests.

Among the great talmidei chachomim whom she hosted were R' Shmuel Greineman and R' Refoel Baruch Toledano. R' Shmuel Greineman's visits made a very great impression on Rav Schwab and his wife, imbuing them with the aspiration to send their children to Torah institutions in Bnei Brak, and inspiring them to draw closer to the approach of the Chazon Ish.

As a child, Rebbetzin Schwab was inculcated with ahavas Torah by her father, Reb Reuven (Ernest) Halevi Emir, who despite his heavy schedule as the doctor of Miluz, was thoroughly well versed in Shas and delivered regular shiurim in the city. He raised his children according to the Torah-true way, and merited offspring who became talmidei chachomim, most of whom reside in Eretz Hakodesh.

Even though Rebbetzin Schwab came from a well-to-do family, worldly matters were insignificant to her, and she lived a very Spartan life, her sole concern being the attainment of yiras Shomayim. She raised her sons and daughters to love Torah and to be strong in their emunas chachomim, and merited sons and sons-in-law who are talmidei chachomim. Her sons are : R' Yehuda Schwab of Yerushalayim and R' Moshe Schwab, the rosh yeshiva of Dvar Avrohom of Marseilles. Her sons-in-law are: R' Yaakov Posen, a dayan in the beis din of R' Nissim Karelitz, and a moreh horo'oh in Zichron Yaakov; R' Yaakov Cohen, head of the Ma'ayenei HaTorah institutions of Marseilles; R' Yehuda Deutsch and R' Yoel Meron of Bnei Brak. She was blessed with many grandchildren and great- grandchildren, all of whom are pursuing Torah in outstanding Torah institutions.

Even before her marriage, she organized study groups in order to draw people closer to Yiddishkeit. After her marriage, she delivered shiurim to women and organized many acts of chessed. She was the life-force of many of France's spiritual activities for women.

She will always be recalled for her yiras Shomayim and her meticulous observance of the mitzvos, beruach Yisroel Saba.


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