Like everyone else who turned to her for help with their personal financial family or health problems the yungeleit of the yeshivah knew that Rebbetzin Finkel’s door was open to them. One daughter recalls her saying to a young man “I’m like the Kosel. To me you can come and cry whenever you want to come and cry. But when you go home only smiles!”

A cursory look at Rebbetzin Finkel’s life and one is struck by two traits: energy and empathetic chesed. This energy on behalf of the klal and deep empathy for each person’s needs has also become the hallmark of a yeshivah wherein thousands of boys find spiritual sanctity.

It’s just days after the shivah when I speak to Rebbetzin Finkel’s daughters but they are composed and dignified as always. Anyone who has had contact with the world of Yeshivas Mir can testify to the indefatigable sense of responsibility and wide-open hearts of these great women.

Each woman greets me warmly and defers to another sister as being more articulate and more of an authority. Finally I get to schmooze about their mother — but on one condition: no attributing quotes to individual daughters. They all shared her equally and they only want to be quoted in unison.

Distinguished Beginnings

Rebbetzin Esther was born in Vilna to a home of Torah greatness: Her father Rav Shmuel Greineman was a prominent talmid of the Chofetz Chaim and her mother Rebbetzin Tzivia nee Karelitz was the sister of the Chazon Ish. In 1933 when Esther was just a young girl four of the Karelitz siblings and their mother emigrated to Eretz Yisrael.

Around 1935 Rav Shmuel was compelled to travel to America. Rebbetzin Tzivia went along at his side along with their younger daughter Yuspa and youngest son Meir. The older Greineman boys were learning in yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael so they stayed behind. Naturally the parents wanted young Esther to accompany them. Just a young girl of 15 Esther refused to leave.