By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Golda Jacobs, a beloved wife and mother from Silver Spring, MD, passed away on Sunday, 5 Cheshvan, 5783.
Mrs. Jacobs was the daughter of Reb Yankel Katz, a resident of Chicago, IL, who was a pillar of support to the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, especially during their early years in the United States.
The Rebbe was an integral part of her father’s life, and there wasn’t anything that happened to him or his family that he didn’t tell the Rebbe about, Golda told JEM’s My Encounter.
In an interview with JEM’s My Encounter in June of 2012, she told of her Yechidus meetings with the Rebbe, during which she asked the Rebbe about attending school in New York, and later about traveling to Israel.
“There came a time when I was 16 years old—I had finished high school early, and was ready for college—that I decided I wanted to go to a school away from home, away from Chicago. In particular, I settled on Stern College in New York. My father’s response to this was to send me to see the Rebbe. He said that after I talked with the Rebbe, the decision would be made if I would be allowed to go or not,” she said.
“But, by the time I got home, I knew there was no chance in the world that I would be permitted to go. And I was surprised at my own lack of unhappiness about it. I wanted to be angry about it, but in the back of my head, there was a niggling idea that the Rebbe had seen through me. And that this decision was the best thing for me.
“So, I stayed at home and went to college in Chicago. I did well in my studies, and everything worked out for me in every way. As he undoubtedly knew it would,” she related.
She also told of when she wanted to travel to Israel by boat, and the Rebbe’s instruction that she could not travel on that particular boat since they were technically operating on Shabbat outside the rules of halachah.
Shortly afterwards, word arrived of another ship traveling to Israel, this time leaving on Motzei Shabbos from Naples, Italy and arriving before Shabbos of the next week. This time, the Rebbe said Golda and her friend should travel on this ship, and that they should stay at the home of a Shliach in Naples – who turned out to be the Rov who supervised Kashrus for that company’s ships – for Shabbos.
“And that’s what we did. We went to Europe, and on Friday we made our way to Naples, where we spent Shabbat with this wonderful rabbi and his wife. And later we learned that this rabbi had threatened the ship with taking away their kashrut certificate if it left on Shabbat without us. He escorted us to the ship and made sure we were safe, as the Rebbe wanted.
“I don’t know who made all these arrangements, but it was all clearly done at the Rebbe’s behest,” she told.
Golda was a resident of Silver Spring, MD, where she was a career counselor and consultant.
She is survived by her husband Marty Jacobs and children Zalman, Yonina, Shoshana, Dahlia, and many grandchildren.
The Levaya will take place today, Sunday, at 3 PM at Riverside Chapel, New York, followed by burial in Israel.
The burial will take place in Israel on Monday evening at Har Hemenuchot.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
She was so special in every way. Always so positive. She had a true simchas ha’chaim that was infectious and inspired you to be a more positive person. She would light up any room she entered and made everyone around her feel good. The world has lost a special person. May her family be comforted from this terrible loss.
Until 1984, the last thing the rebbe did before he went to the Ohel was to call Yankel Katz on the phone and ask him if he had anything to give over to the Freideker rebbe. He ate upstairs with the Rebbe in the Freidker Rebbe’s apartment and attended the Sedarim. He walked with the Rebbe side by side to all Sedarim the Rebbe visited. He was one of only three individuals who had an open-door policy with the Rebbe. No appointment needed. Knock on the door and walk in.
Golda’s gracious hospitality to people of every age, stage, and background was legendary. Not only with her incredible sumptuous cooking but also with her listening ear and patient demeanor. All with tremendous humor and infectious happiness!
Golda was an amazing person! I’m heartbroken. During the many years I was directing for America’s Most Wanted Golda and Marty hosted me for numerous Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim. I was a young Baalas Teshuva and they welcomed me into their home and family. Golda told me stories about her father and the Rebbe. She had an enormous impact on me. Sending love and comfort to Marty and her children. A beautiful woman inside and out.