The petirah of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis two weeks ago on 19 Av created a gaping hole in the kiruv community, but her legacy lives on
Photo: Shutterstock
Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis was just eight years old when she experienced kiruv firsthand. Born in 1936 in Szeged Hungary a town rife with assimilation her father Rav Avraham Jungreis built a shul and a mikveh to bring Jews closer to Yiddishkeit. She and her family miraculously survived Bergen-Belsen and eventually moved toAmerica where they continued their mission of bringing their fellow Jews close to their Heavenly Father.
Together with her life partner Rav Meshulem HaLevi Jungreis Rebbetzin Esther established Hineni an organization responsible for the spiritual return of thousands of Jewish souls. Hineni offers classes and support for those seeking a closer relationship with Hashem. Rebbetzin Jungreis spoke to enormous rapt audiences all over the world yet she’s best remembered for the personal relationships she built with so many.
Her petirah two weeks ago on 19 Av created a gaping hole in the kiruv community but her legacy lives on through her four children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the tribute video honoring her 50 years of work for Hineni she opened with words that embodied her mission: “If I could reach just one heart then I know one day your children will be different. They will be religious Jews.”
Her students and family share their recollections.
During the months before Pesach Rebbetzin Jungreis instructed us on the intricacies of making our kitchens kosher for Pesach. I don’t know why but that year I decided I wanted to work extra hard to ensure that my Pesach kitchen met the highest rabbinical standards. But I had a philosophical problem: My kitchen year-round wasn’t kosher. I felt my kosher-for-Pesach kitchen was filled with hypocrisy.
Create a free account to keep reading.
