NEW YORk (VINnews) — Rebbetzin Henya Federman, who nearly drowned while trying to save her baby daughter Shterna Sarah who fell in the marina at St. Thomas Island two months ago, has passed away at the age of 40. The baby did not survive and Rebbetzin Henya has been in critical condition since the incident.

Pulled out of the water and resuscitated after attempting to save her baby, Federman was flown to the mainland of the United States for emergency care. During the time that she lay hovering between life and death, countless people around the world increased in prayers, good deeds, and Torah study in her merit but unfortunately she passed away on Wednesday at Lakewood hospital in New Jersey.

Rebbetzin Henya served as a Chabad Shliach (emissary) together with her husband Rabbi Asher Federman in the Virgin Islands. The two ran a successful Chabad house for local residents and for the thousands of Jewish tourists who visit the islands annually. The couple served as emissaries for 18 years on the islands, providing all of the religious services for Jews in the region and working as a team to create a Jewish lighthouse on the islands while raising a growing family.

Rebbetzin Henya with husband Rav Asher and children

Rebbetzin Henya is survived by her husband and 12 other children whose ages range from 1 to 17, as well as her parents, Rabbi Yisrael and Bracha Shmotkin, who are shluchim in Wisconsin, and their extended family.

May her memory be blessed.

Source: VosIzNeias