Valerie Lebovitz (Feige bat Yisrael v’Bluma Hendel), Irene Rosenschein’s oldest, closest and only remaining sister, left the world peacefully on Shabbat Hanukkah in her home in Borough Park, Brooklyn. She was 102 years old. Feige took care of many people and was a mother figure to her sisters, nieces and nephews, though she never had children of her own. She was the oldest of the four sisters, including Irene, who survived Auschwitz. Feige, know to many as Vali, lived independently in her brownstone until the very end.  She was a deeply religious and righteous woman who spent hours every day in prayer up until a few days ago when she was confused and said if she couldn’t doven anymore, her mission here was done. She was always kind and non-judgmental.  May her neshama be at peace.

The funeral was in New York on Sunday, January 1st, the 8th day of Hanukkah.

Irene is the only surviving direct mourner and will be sitting shiva here in Boulder.

Shiva visiting times will be from 4:00 – 7:30 pm Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a maariv minyan at 6:00 pm each night.

Hamakom y.nachem – blessings of strength, comfort and light to Irene.

Rabbi Marc