The Life and Times of Devorah Epelgrad Cohn, Bais Yaakov Girl
Introduction
Devorah (Dweira) Epelgrad Cohn was born in 1916, in Slonim, Poland (modern day Belarus). She was the eighth of ten children born to Rabbi Yaakov Zundel Epelgrad and Toibe “Alte” Epelgrad. Her father was a respected Jewish scholar who served as the bochein (examiner) as well as fundraiser for the Slonimer Yeshiva. He regularly travelled to America to raise money for the Yeshiva and died of pneumonia in New York during one of his trips, in 193, when Devorah was 16.. Dweira’s mother ran a small shop out of the home selling, among other items, homemade ice cream. In addition to her many siblings, Dweira’s family at home was made even larger once her sister Feigel married and had five children, who all lived with them in the same house.
Slonim, Poland
Dweira attended a regular Polish elementary school, and a secular Jewish high school (“the Gymnasium”). During high school, Dweira got into arguments with the teachers, and complained to her parents that the school was not religious enough. The last time Dweira saw her father was in 1930 on one of his visits back home. While in Slonim, he promised Dweira that she could attend the Bais Yaakov teachers seminary in Krakow. Dweira worked hard on her application: studying, getting recommendations, and filling out forms. However, her father’s untimely death made the already expensive school even more of a financial burden. Dweira and her brother went to the Slonimer Rebbe to seek advice. He told them “shikt ihr (send her).” So, the family decided that Dweira would go.