A large crowd participated in last week's levaya of
Rebbetzin Henia Borodiansky, o'h, widow of HaRav
Ephraim Nochum Borodiansky zt'l.
She was born ninety years ago to Reb Avrohom Yitzchok
Hacohen, who was murdered when she was a young girl.
Her father, Reb Yitzchok, was born in the Polish city of
Walik. He was the son of Reb Yehoshua, a prominent talmid
chochom. Reb Yitzchok arrived in Lida, near Vilna, during
World War I, where he married and devoted himself to his
studies. He was murdered in a pogrom.
Her mother's family were prominent residents of Lida and
Radin, city of the Chofetz Chaim, whose influence was all-
pervasive.
In Lida, their neighbor was HaRav Yaakov Neiman, who treated
them like family, and helped them in all their
difficulties.
At that time, Reb Ephraim Nochum, along with a group of other
students from Yeshivas Mir, were in Lida. Rav Yaakov Neiman,
aware of Henia's excellent traits, made a match between her
and R' Ephraim Nochum, the famous illui and one of the
finest students of the yeshiva world.
Rebbetzin Borodiansky was well known for her remarkable
character. She was once offered a job in a factory. She asked
whether it operated on Shabbos. When she learned that indeed
this was the case, even though the owners did not require her
to work on Shabbos, she told them that she couldn't accept
the job, thus forfeiting a relatively well-paying job.
She later explained that she could never know what
nisyonos she might have to face in a place where
Shabbos was desecrated.
On one occasion, her sister lost her speech. She took her to
the Chofetz Chaim, who blessed her that on the merit of her
father, Hy'd, she would be cured from her illness, and
she should be sure to keep the mitzvah of taharas
hamishpocha her entire life. His brocho was
fulfilled and that very day, her sister regained her
speech.
For decades, under all circumstances and difficulties, her
sister realized the words of the Chofetz Chaim.
Her entire family managed to immigrate to Eretz
Yisroel before the Holocaust. She was the first to arrive
in Eretz Yisroel, and in 5696 (1936) arrived in Tel
Aviv. With the help of Reb Yaakov Neiman and a number of
prominent talmidei chachomim, who later became famed
as gedolei haTorah, she made extensive efforts to
bring her husband and her family to Eretz Yisroel.
In Eretz Yisroel Reb Ephraim continued his Torah
studies, while she saw to the livelihood of the family. She
assumed the burden of the family with joy, courage, love of
Torah and love of the talmidim, who were for her like
sons. The success of the students was her delight, and joy
pervaded her entire household.
She raised her children with the understanding that, "There
is no life but Torah."
Throughout her life, her sole aspiration was that her husband
grow in Torah. As a result, she merited the happiness which
stemmed from the fact that her husband was a godol and
her children followed in his footsteps.
During the latter years of her life, she and her husband
settled in the Bayit Vegan section of Jerusalem, where all of
those who knew her, respected and loved her.
Her levaya, which set out from Yeshivas Kol Torah, was
attended by a large crowd. Because of rosh chodesh
Nisan, no hespedim were delivered.
She is survived by her sons, HaRav Yitzchok Yeruchom,
menahel ruchani of Yeshivas Kol Torah and HaRav
Benzion, one of the roshei yeshiva of Kol Torah.
