By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Riva (Rivka) Raskin, matriarch of a large Lubavitch family, passed away in London on Monday, Sivan 11, 5774.
She was 84.
Mrs. Raskin was born to Rabbi and Mrs. Avrohom Yeshaya Schapiro, devout chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe who lived in Leningrad. When she was 11 years old, her parents and two siblings passed away due to starvation, and she and her younger sister were sent to live in a state orphanage.
After 3 years in the orphanage, Mrs. Raskin was reunited with her extended family and was adopted by Rabbi Zalman Shimon and Tzivia Dvorkin in Samarkand.
Together they escaped the Soviet Union and emigrated to Paris, where they lived for several years.
In 1951 she married Rabbi Sholom Ber Raskin obm and they settled in London, where they were one of the founding families of the London Chabad community.
Mrs. Raskin stood by her husband for many years in support of his holy work for the community, and was involved in local Nshei Chabad activities.
As a teacher in the local Chabad girls school, Mrs. Raskin taught sewing and cooking to generations of girls.
Mrs. Raskin was known for her tremendous hachnosas orchim, with an open house to many guests. She was also known for her kindness to others and her adherence to Tznius and the Chassidic way of life.
She merited to have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are shluchim around the world in England, Holland, US, Canada, Israel, Australia and Peru.
She is survived by her children Bluma Jacobs – Amersfoort, Holland, Yeshaya Raskin – London, UK, Mendel Raskin – Melbourne, Australia, Yeruchem Raskin – London, Suri Schtroks – Morristown, NJ, Chanie Gourarie – Detroit, Benny Raskin – Crown Heights, and Dayan Levi Yitchok Raskin – Rov of the Chabad community in London.
She is also survived by her sister Mussia Schtroks.
The Levaya will take place Monday from Schonfeld Square N16 at 12:30 will stop at Lubavitch House, 107-115 Stamford Hill, N16 5RP at 1:00pm on way to Adath Yisroel Beis Ha’Chyim in Caterhatch Lane, Enfield. EN1 4JY.
Shiva will be held in take place in the Old Shul at Schonfeld Square, Lordship Road, London N16 0QQ.
Contact for For Nichumim:
Phone: +44 20 8802 4898
Or: +44 20 8800 0022 ext 1112
US Phone: (702) 527-2745
Email: SBRaskinFamily@gmail.com
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
so many of us want to read her story ivrit, any suggestions would be most welcome
Family
US Phone: (702) 527-2745
Please share your memories. The family are very heartened by the wonderful comments that have been shared so far.
Phone: +44 20 8802 4898
Or: +44 20 8800 0022 ext 1112
Email: SBRaskinFamily@gmail.com
Mrs Raskin a”h used to have a class of young girls in her home on sunday morning. First she taught us yiddish and we would write down the words in a notebook. Then she would teach us how to cook and bake. I have fond memories
R Haishka Dubrawsky her Cousin once removed wrote an article in der Yiddishe Heim about my Zaida R’ Avrohom Yeshaya Shapiro years ago how he remembered him.
Can anyone advise how to get hold of it?
I’m so privileged to have such a Bobba to look up to and having the special connection by being named after her mother.
I will always remember Mrs Raskin with the greatest affection. I also remember her infectious sense of humour. Her davenning was an inspiration, and she looked after all the young girls on the gallery and gave them prizes for davenning and good behaviour in shul
Can the booklet from her granddaughters wedding (of her story) perhaps be scanned and posted here on Collive? Would be very special for us to see…..
is also found in the book ‘seorot bedmama” but its in Hebrew
Riva’s Story has been printed.
It was distributed in a booklet at a granddaughters wedding a number of years ago.
‘Serwed de needo’ we absolutely adored her and she really tought us to sew well! She will be sorely missed! Bde.
Amazing.
I’m sure her life story would be truly inspiring.
Perhaps a book?
What a very special woman Mrs Raskin a ‘h was.She was my teacher in LSGS for many years and I also used to go to her house on sunday mornings where she taught a group of girls sewing lessons.A real eishel chayil in the true sense of the word.
Levaya details
Schonfeld Square @ 12:30pm passing by Lubavitch House at 1pm
Her home was the first home I was privileged to spend Shabbos in where, together with her husband OBM, I learnt what a dugma chaya truly was. Apart from her amazing mesirus nefesh and all her other seemingly endless qualities, I hope that the countless neshomas who were affected just by spending a Shabbos in this remarkable home will afford the family some measure of nechoma.
She was an amazing lady with a tremendous heart, and raised an amazing family!
May the family only know simchas!
Unwavering Chassidishe chinuch.
how did an eleven year old stay frum in a leningrad orphanage???