Rebbetzin Tichyeh Schochet

Rebbetzin Tichyeh Schochet

PROVIDENCE – Rebbetzin Tichyeh Schochet died March 18 after a four-year illness. She was the wife of Rabbi Raphie Schochet who founded the Providence Community Kollel in the autumn of 2004. After teaching at PHDS for two years, she became the Judaic Studies principal of the New England Academy of Torah. A Brooklyn native, she was educated in the Bais Yaakov school system and attended the Beth Jacob Jerusalem Seminary. She taught and did outreach in Baltimore with her husband, a prominent member of the Kollel of the Ner Israel Rabbinical College.  She arrived in Providence knowing no one, yet hundreds from the entire spectrum of our Jewish community attended her funeral and feel bereft on her passing. 

In little more than a decade, Tichyeh served as a principal, teacher, mentor, hostess, friend and most of all, devoted wife and mother of seven with energy, dignity and aplomb. Yet her most sublime achievement surpasses all of these accomplishments. During the four years of her devastating illness, she became a role model for all of us, of every age and every walk of life, and this is her greatest legacy. Tichyeh serves as a paradigm of faith and acceptance, the servant of God, who did not allow her physical challenges to impede spiritual achievements.

When Tichyeh came to Providence, her energy and enthusiasm were boundless.  She hosted dinners, organized a yearly Women’s Conference, gave Torah classes, all while serving as the principal of NEAT, directing its Judaic Studies as well as all other aspects of student life.  Yet, her greatest joy revolved around her role as wife and mother, creating a safe haven for her family of kedusha (sanctity) and simcha (joy).

Tichyeh touched so many lives in New York, Baltimore and, ultimately, Providence.   Unaffected and open, she drew people to her like a magnet, whether in school or at Kollel events. She truly saw the Godliness in every individual. Her commitment to others was motivated by her giving nature, a selflessness. Yet she had a strong sense of self reflected in her personal standards as well as her ability to be decisive, a leader. 

During her illness, which became increasingly challenging and debilitating, she persevered to maintain the activities that for her were labors of love.  She orchestrated the high school production and put together a successful conference for more than 100 women this winter. Four days before her final hospital stay, she was still coming to school as both principal and teacher, still advising the girls, still teaching.   

The illness was ravaging her body, but it could not destroy her spirit. What fueled her was her indomitable will. It was her unquenchable urge to keep on giving selflessly to others, to continue teaching and inspiring those around her with the tenets of Torah Judaism, to sustain the fabric of her family and home life with a strength that was purely spiritual and spiritually pure.   

Rebbetzin Tichyeh Schochet will be missed profoundly by her family and all those that she touched in her brief life.    Yet it was a life of tremendous accomplishment and impact on her surroundings.  Her actions and spirit will remain with us, and we hope they will continue to teach, animate and inspire us.