Bella (Baila) Rotner A”H was born in 1921 in Olkusz, Poland, and passed away in 2024 at the remarkable age of 103. Although nearly two years have passed since her petirah, she has still not been zocheh to receive the matzeivah that such an extraordinary woman deserves.
We are hoping to change that by raising $5,000 to erect a monument in her memory, and additionally establish a small fund to ensure that Kaddish is recited for her neshamah, and, iy”H, to sponsor Mishnayos to be learned l’ilui nishmas Baila bas Leibel A”H.
Before the Holocaust, Bella enjoyed a warm and loving childhood with her parents, three brothers, and younger sister. That beautiful life was shattered when the Nazis invaded Poland. Bella endured the ghettos, forced labor, and concentration camps, while nearly her entire immediate family was murdered.
Through unimaginable suffering, hunger, and loss, she survived the Holocaust with remarkable courage and unwavering emunah.
After the war, she met her husband and remained in Poland for a number years to assist the broken remnants of Jewry cope with their loss. The Rotners eventually settled in the United States.
Despite everything she experienced, Bella remained a woman of extraordinary emunah, gratitude, and optimism. She never lost her appreciation for Hashem’s world. She would often marvel at the beauty of the blue sky, the trees, and the flowers, and found joy in the simple gifts of everyday life. Even a simple visit or bouquet of flowers would fill her with gratitude, and she would often ask, “Why do I deserve this?”
Bella was blessed with one son and one daughter. Tragically, her daughter passed away during Bella’s lifetime, and today her descendants are no longer religious. As a result, Bella has not yet received a matzeivah. We hope to give her the lasting memorial and kavod that she deserves. If Bella’s story has touched you, we invite you to partner with us in this meaningful mitzvah. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will help make this possible. May this act of kindness be a tremendous zechus for Bella’s neshamah and for all those who participate.
Is there any rav we can contact to verify this story?
If you don’t consider the lkwd scoop a credible source then why are you here?
It may be credible for news. but that doesn’t mean I trust the scoop to give away my money. Whenever there is a tzedaka campaign it is perfectly normal to have a Rov sign on it because sadly there are many scammers.
Very pathetic response, my bubby Bella was holocaust survivor, she went through so much in life and still stayed steadfast to Judaism, weird thing to say bud, let’s call the mohel who snipped you to verify you had a good milah
I am happy to hear that she has proud descendants. May they be an aliyas neshama for her.
When Sam calls her Bubby Bella, he means our family’s “adopted” Bubby. Unfortunately, her children are not frum.
Why is it pathetic to ask for a verification of a good cause before giving Tzedaka? He wasn’t asking for verification of what she went through, but rather that this is not a scam because sadly there are many.
I’m confused, the article says her decedents are no longer religious. Does that mean you’re not willing to pay for a tombstone as you’d rather do cremation? Sorry for what might seem like a merciless comment; it’s a bit common of news sites, but either the article or you are uncredible.
His question about verification was just that since it is a fundraiser, he wants to know if the money he’s giving is going to what it says, or if 90% is going to “overhead” – as is the case with many charities in the US – including a charity for every disease known to man – and saving all the butterflies in Africa – and the holy Coca Cola saving the polar bears etc. Do a search for ’50 worst charities in US’.
Now, while Jewish charities are far different, still, he wanted to know. So, the response that the Lakewood Scoop is a reliable source themselves – and that they must have vetted it to a degree, was a decent response. Although if you’d ask the Scoop, they’ll most certainly tell you that they do not take liability for anything, but that they have verified it as much as you consider them a friend.
(Same thing with “kosher ” junk food – it’s a legal product, and the kosher certifying agencies are telling you just that the ingredients are kosher, but they’ll tell you outright that their certification has nothing to do with if – and how much of it – you should eat.)
So, may your grandma rest in peace, I’m sure you gained much from her and have fond memories, and please don’t take anything personally here.
BTW, thinking about it a bit more, maybe you look at a tombstone as just a custom, and a small marker placed in the ground would be enough. Although in Gentile cemeteries tombstones are standard too. Yes, it costs, but it makes a [relatively – no pun intended] permanent marker.
(In some European country, they placed such markers every hundred feet or so as the border marker, and some farmer pushed one over ten feet to make more space in his field, and some guys who like to hike along the border to verify the markers, from time to time, noticed it, and it made the international news!)
Does a Matzeiva cost 5K?
BH you don’t know
Yes. Between 5 and 6 thousand for smallest one. Our family helped take care of her kvura as she has no frum descendants. Thank you all who are helping out for the cost of a matzaiva.
Yes, that’s what these things cost. Why exactly is good question, but that’s what it is. (The plot is more..).
Here is website about the town Bella Rotner grew up in. I grew up with Bubby Bella every week at our Shabbos table. https://olkuscyzydzi.pl/en/memory-of-bajla-rotner/
She was not our real bubby. Her husband died and her children were not frum, so our family “adopted” her as a bubby.
Thanks so much for giving us the zchus to be part of this