A New York Hasidic woman passed away last month leaving behind 15 children, over 200 grandchildren and enough great-grandchildren to bring her total number of living family members to around 2,000. Yitta Schwartz—who lived to the old age of 93 outlasting her husband by 34 years—was productive even among her community of Satmar Hasidic Jews for whom having kids is a tribute to God. So much so that she spent much of her time attending various events—brises, first haircuts, bar mitzvahs, etc., reports the Times. “She would appear like the Prophet Elijah,” said her eldest living daughter who is 64. “Everybody was fighting over her!”
Schwartz lived in Kiryas Joel, near Monroe, N.Y. but would often hitch a ride to Williamsburg to see family. She actually gave birth to 18 children in her life, but lost two in the Holocaust and one in a summer camp accident here in the States. Among Holocaust survivors, Schwartz may have been among those to produce the most offspring. Take that, Hitler!
