From Ketifah Magazine/Yated Neeman Excerpted from the article “Twenty Great Women”
The Queen of Chessed By Esty Levin and M. Avrahami
Rebbetzin Leah Chollak a”h 5715-5774 (1955-2013) Wife of: Rabbi Chananya Chollak shlita. Testimony by: Her daughter-in-law E.
Wife of Rabbi Chananya Chollak shlita, International Chairman of Ezer Mizion, the “simple” woman who stood behind the tremendous chessed enterprise – founded it and ran it with her own two hands, but never prided herself with the title “Founder” or “Director.” She didn’t really even consider herself a “Rebbetzin.” Many workers at Ezer Mizion who saw her every day did not even know that she was the great woman who stood behind her husband in his work. She was totally and entirely a loyal soldier, enlisted to do the will of the Creator expeditiously and perfectly. When Hashem wanted her to give, she gave her entire self and her home, with all that implies. She stood in her kitchen and cooked, listened empathetically and encouraged, went to her mother and cared for her with unbelievable devotion. When Hashem wanted her to take – she took. She sat on her armchair during the trying days of her illness, made sure to calm the concerns of those around her, and warmly thanked anyone who assisted her.
She went easily and with amazing acceptance from the side of the giver to the side of the receiver. On her part, it was self-understood – because that was what Hashem wanted from her now.
Personal testimony from her daughter-in-law E.: The most typical picture of her in the kitchen was: Quickly moving hands busy cooking huge amounts of food for her family, for the ill, for the elderly, and also for people’s happy occasions. All the while, the phone was at her ear – counseling, empathizing, and listening, a smile on her face. When she was in the period of her illness and one of the tests indicated significant improvement in her condition, she doubled the amount of meat she sent regularly to the Ezer Mizion kitchen (and continued to send during her illness), explaining matter-of-factly: “This is my korban todah, my thanksgiving-offering.”
