(Wife of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk, 1855-1915).

SOLOVEITCHIK, LIFSCHE

(Brisk)

1915

Seven-page Manuscript in Hebrew, a Hesped for Rebbetzin Lipshe Soloveitchik. Anonymously composed, this eulogy is passionate in its language concerning the loss of this esteemed woman; utilizing various Talmudic passages and applying them here to her.

With expressions of deep loss and grief, the text repeatedly acclaims Rebbetzin Soloveitchik’s illustrious relationship to great Torah leaders: Her husband (‘head of the entire exile’) R. Chaim Soloveitchik; her father, R. Raphael Shapiro of Volozhin; her maternal grandfather, The Netziv; and her paternal grandfather, R. Leib Shapiro, Chief Rabbi of Kovno. The eulogy notes that Rebbetzin Soloveitchik’s elevated spiritual status resulted in her meriting to have two sons of heightened Torah values: R. Velvel (Yitzchak Ze'ev) Soloveitchik and R. Moshe Soloveitchik. The manuscript praises the wives of Torah scholars who assist their husbands in their study: "To be a rabbi in our city of Brisk you [not only] need to be a genius, you need the assistance of a wife …We have we merited such a genius [R. Chaim Brisker] only thanks to the Rebbetzin, a peerlessly righteous woman.” This Hesped is unpublished. Likely written by a close relative or by one of the prominent rabbis in attendance at the funeral.