The Rebbetzin Rivka: Pure sincerity

Today, Yud Shevat, is also the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the passing) of the Rebbetzin Rivkah, wife of the Rebbe Maharash. In fact, the original Basi Legani discourse of the Previous Rebbe was released in on honor of her yahrtzeit.

The Rebbetzin Rivkah was known for her deep sincerity in serving Hashem. Her son, the Rebbe Rashab, once said of her: “It is written: ‘You [Hashem] found his heart faithful before You’ (Nechemiah 9:8)—this is my mother, with her special sincerity” (Le’sheima Ozen 83).

Here is a story about her:

Once the Rebbetzin Rivkah was approached and asked to provide a loan for fifty rubles for an emergency. She ignored the fact that she had not yet prayed [Shacharis, the morning prayer], and went and gave her wedding dress as collateral. She returned and gave the man the sum that he had requested.

Afterwards when she stood to pray, she wept profusely, and asked that Hashem always enable her to give loans freely, and without any distress. Members of the household went to the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek [her father-in-law], and told her that the Rebbetzin Rivkah had wept while praying.

The Tzemach Tzedek summoned his daughter-in-law, gave her fifty rubles, and told her: “Here are fifty rubles, don’t cry.”

Reshimos Devarim, Vol. 1, p. 280.