Most senior rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky passes away

The ultra-Orthodox community was in mourning Sunday after Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky was laid to rest Saturday evening. Kanievsky, the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and wife of Rabbi Haim Kanievsky, was considered the most senior rebbetzin in the Haredi world. She died in her home in B'nei Brak early Saturday afternoon at the age of 79.

Tens of thousands of mourners accompanied the rebbetzin along the journey to her final resting place at the B'nei Brak cemetery. At the request of her husband, no eulogies were delivered due to the week-long festival of Sukkot. The family will wait to sit shiva [a ritual week-long period of mourning] after the holiday ends on Thursday evening.

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On Saturday night, family members were distraught over whether or not to inform the rebbetzin's ailing father, who is 101 years old and himself in poor health, of his daughter's passing.

According to shocked family members, the rebbetzin's death came without warning.

"Yesterday [Saturday] at noon she went upstairs to recite mid-day prayers and mentioned that she did not feel well. She just collapsed at her home and passed away" said one family member.

Ze'evi Tepper, a United Hatzalah paramedic who arrived at the rebbetzin's home, said, "I arrived at the scene and began a prolonged resuscitation. Her husband Rabbi Kanievsky was beside her the entire time. The CPR efforts lasted roughly a hour and half, but unfortunately we were forced to pronounce her death."

The rebbetzin was considered one of the most familiar and important figures within the Haredi world. In addition to her family lineage, in recent years the rebbetzin had emerged as a senior figure in her own right, with her devotees calling her "the first female rabbi"

Though the rebbetzin was not considered a religious judge, many in the community felt she had properties of a rabbi. She hosted women from all streams of Judaism, including Haredi, observant and secular, giving them all advice and granting them blessings. Those who were devoted to her recount what they believe to have been miracles, where the rebbetzin helped women find husbands or aided those wishing for a child or an easy birth.

One family member recalled her cooking, which has purported mystical qualities. "Almost every Haredi woman is familiar with Rebbetzin Kanievsky's etrog [citron] jam. Pregnant women would eat it as a talisman for an easy childbirth," the relative said.

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