YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Rebbetzin Esther Paler A”H, the wife of the legendary Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Binyomin Paler ZT”L, founder of Yeshiva Mekor Chaim. She was nearly 100 years old.

Rebbetzin Paler A”H was the daughter of the Mattersdorfer Rav, HaRav Shmuel Ehrenfeld ZT”L, and together with her husband built a distinguished Torah family whose influence has extended across generations.

In recent years Rabbitzen Paler relocated from Boro Park to Lakewood where she was living until she was Niftar early Wednesday morning.

Her husband, HaRav Binyomin Paler ZT”L, was one of the closest talmidim of the Brisker Rov, HaRav Yitzchok Zev “Reb Velvel” Soloveitchik ZT”L, and was regarded as one of the foremost transmitters of the authentic Brisker mesorah in the United States. He was also a chavrusa of HaRav Berel Soloveitchik ZT”L, father of HaRav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik Shlita, the current Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk in Yerushalayim.

In 1965, Rav Binyomin founded Yeshiva Mekor Chaim in Boro Park, which became renowned for its uncompromising commitment to Torah and the Brisker derech halimud. He was niftar in 2000 at the age of 92.

Following his petirah, leadership of the yeshiva passed to his three sons, HaRav Yitzchok ZT”L, and ybl”c HaRav Zechariah and HaRav Simcha Bunim. Rav Yitzchok was suddenly niftar in 2020.

After nearly five decades in Brooklyn, Yeshiva Mekor Chaim relocated to Lakewood in 2012, establishing its home on Locust Street and continuing the mesorah established by Rav Binyomin.

Throughout those decades, Rebbetzin Paler stood alongside her husband and family as the yeshiva grew and generations of talmidim were shaped by the Torah and mesorah of its Rosh Yeshiva.

Rebbetzin Paler leaves behind her sons, HaRav Simcha Bunim and HaRav Zechariah Paler, and two daughters, one married to HaRav Shmuel Abba Olshin and the other to HaRav Shmuel Simcha Horowitz, as well as generations of descendants continuing the distinguished Torah legacy of the Paler and Ehrenfeld families.

The Levaya will be held today at Yeshiva Mekor Chaim, 160 Locust Street in Lakewood at 10:30AM.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)