By COLlive reporter in Los Angeles
An overflowing crowd of over 1000 men, women, bochurim and children from the greater Jewish community in Los Angeles attended the funeral of Rebbetzin Sarah Rochel Schochet OBM.
Many California Shluchim were on hand too, filling the Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad Campus on Waring Avenue, headed by her renowned Rosh Yeshiva husband Rabbi Ezra Schochet.
The service began with Tehillim said in her memory by Rabbi Shimon Raichik, Rov of Cong. Levi Yitzchok.
“The Yeshiva was standing room only, filling up the new and old zal,” one participant told COLlive.com. “It was awe inspiring to see how many people’s lives she impacted.”
Mrs. Schochet, 65, was a mentor to hundreds of girls and women and matriarch to yeshiva bochurim who referred to her as “the Roshette,” a feminized form of “the Rosh” as her husband is known.
In a heartfelt, emotional and tearful eulogy, Rabbi Schochet said “we don’t.. we don’t know” why this tragedy happened.
“My wife gave over 42 years of her life so I should be able to learn and teach Torah and fulfil Shlichus. She left her family (in Israel) and followed me,” he said.
He thanked Hatzolah and the community for their help and support and in an unconventional move asked the crowd to say with the “Ribono Shel Olam” forgiveness prayer from Krias Shema She’al Hamita.
He said that whenever his wife used to attend a funeral and the like, she used to ask, ‘why only at these times do we see everyone together.”
In a plea to the participants, the Rosh said: “Yidden, we are all Yidden! Everyone has their minhagim but it’s all from one Torah and one G-d. Let’s to try together, to appreciate one another. It’s time to unite and strengthen one another. We must put away our pettiness.”
Addressing the hundreds of Mrs. Schochet’s students who were seen in a broken state, the Rabbi carried a message from her teachings. “Tznius isn’t about restriction. It’s about revealing the inner Bas Melech Pnima.
The Rosh concluded by saying we have to scream out “Ad Mosai” – we can’t handle all this pain.
MOSHIACH NOW! I CANT TAKE IT IM IN TEARS ALREADY 🙁
Such love and devotion – really special
what was very nice was that all different parts of our community here in L.A. were there-chiassidish, Bais Yaakov students, Lubavitchers it was nuice
no words to describe this loss and strength.
How can you not bawl when watching how the Rosh talks about her?????
rebbetzin schochet will be missed and she’ll forever be engraved in our hearts.
she was my mother teacher my mother is so sad about this
we want moshiach now
MOSHIACH NOW
Hashem! Why?!?!
Our thoughts and tefillos are with you. May the Rebbetzin be a Guter Oisbeter for the whole Mishpocha and for Klal Yisroel. Moshiach Now! From your talmidim from Ner Yisroel Toronto.
IM CRYING, I CANT ANYMORE – AD MOSAI HASHEM? PLEASEEEEE SEND MOSHIACH NOW AND WELL SEE MRS SHOCHET AND EVERYONE ELSE NOW! AND SIMCHA….:( SO SAD
these picture are only a mere glimpse of the crowd..there were four other rooms of the yeshiva that were jam-packed with people watching what was going on on screens. And there were over 2000 people..over 1000 chairs were rented, every single one was full and hundreds upon hundreds of people were standing.
#4 – You are absolutely right. In these times, we are privileged to have learned from the Rosh – and I’m not only referring to academics.
Your simple bochurim
Hamakom Yinocheim Eschem B’soch Shearie Avlei Tzion Yerushliam….Your family and the entire Klal Yisroel should not know from any more Zchor!!
If you never experienced YOEC or the Rosh – your missing something serious.
He cares and cries for each of his bochurim – and we all love him the same way.
Rabbi Schochet,
thank you so much for speaking. much needed!!
may we learn and carry on her legacy of total dedication to torah and mtizvos!!
May der aibershter deliver speedily on his havtochos
May we only hear good news!