We note with much sorrow the passing of Rebbetzin Henny Machlis, peerless exemplar of the core Torah imperative of hachnassas orchim, hospitality to visitors. Born and bred in Brooklyn, Rebbetzin Machlis garnered worldwide renown for her hospitality as she regularly performed the remarkable feat of accommodating hundreds of Americans studying in Israel for Shabbos meals in her modest Jerusalem apartment.
In the 35 years since she and her husband, Rabbi Mordechai Machlis, moved to Eretz Yisrael, eating at their home became a virtual rite of passage for thousands. Who can measure how many lives she changed?
Rebbetzin Machlis was one of those rare personalities whose accomplishments stand out in their lifetime and beyond. Her passing at age 58 will deprive countless young people, most of them seeking an anchor away from home, of the unique “Machlis experience.”
May her memory be a blessing.