BDE: Mrs. Devorah Ackerman, a”h

YS GOLD 

Mrs. Devorah Ackerman, a longtime Boro Park resident who is described as a powerhouse for building Torah institutions, left this world this afternoon in her tenth decade of life. 

Mrs. Ackerman was the wife of the well-known Reb Yudel Ackerman who helped found the Stoliner yeshiva in America, and was the founder of the Stoliner yeshiva in Bnei Brak. All of his endeavors were fueled by the deep encouragement of his wife, and the merits surely stand by her as she ascends to the World of Truth. 

The nifteres was born into a family of pious Yidden who had been in America for generations and withstood the fierce spiritual challenges with grace and devotion. Her father, Reb Eliezer Yaakov Berman, came over from Europe on the advice of the Stoliner Rebbe. The Berman’s ran a kosher appetizing store in Williamsburg, and they were known for their great generosity and honesty.  

When the Stoliner Rebbe, Rav Yochanan Perlow, zt”l, arrived in America, the Berman’s reestablished their connection with him, and they remained ardent chassidim in Williamsburg of yore. 

Devorah married Yudel Ackerman, a Philadelphia-born, Telz and Nitra-educated Stoliner chassid. and as noted, was his partner in his incredible work in the chinuch arena, both in Boro Park and in Eretz Yisrael. 

At the Rebbe’s behest, the 25-year-old Reb Yudel started a cheder in Williamsburg. Simultaneously, the young Rebbetzin welcomed five or six teenage yeshivah boys into her home for three meals a day, since their school had no dining room.

Despite Rabbi Ackerman’s best efforts, though, the cheder failed to thrive, so the Rebbe advised the young couple to move it to Boro Park. At last, the new Stoliner cheder met with success and began to flourish. Rabbi Ackerman gave himself over completely to the needs of the cheder. He taught, raised funds, and even mopped the floors himself.

She faced many challenges in her life, but met them all with joy, acceptance, and emunah peshutah. 

“Everyone knew that the Ackermans’ home was the place to go if you wanted a great time or needed to get away a little,” says a niece. Their revolving door admitted a steady stream of yeshivah bochurim and seminary girls, both family and strangers. Often, the Ackermans hosted between 12 and 15 guests for a Shabbos seudah, and as many as 60 on Purim.

“The single biggest lesson I learned from my aunt is her belief that everything is good,” says a niece. “Life threw her many curveballs, but she kept on going and giving.”

Her own years of challenge in this area made Mrs. Ackerman uniquely suited to guide couples in their quest to have children, and before organizations like Bonei Olam existed, she spent countless hours counseling couples and helping them find the right doctors and connections. “She was the shaliach for countless people,” says the niece.

Mrs. Ackerman leaves this world with a legacy of simchas hachaim and emunah peshutah that will long be remembered by all those who knew and admired her. 

The Levaye will take place 6:30pm at 1601-48th St.

Yehi zichra baruch.