Rebbetzin Sheina Horenstein

Rebbetzin Sheina Horenstein (1904-1942?) was the third daughter of the Frierdiker Rebbe and wife of Reb Menachem Mendel Horenstein. She and her husband were murdered in the Holocaust.

Life History

Born on Teves 21, 1904, Shabbos night Parshas Shemos at midnight, to her father the Frierdiker Rebbe and mother Rebbetzin Nechama Dina.

In a letter from Reb Rashab announcing his granddaughter's birth, he wrote "her name in Israel shall be Sheina." Her name was established with two yuds in writing.

Rebbetzin Sheina was known for exceptional talents. The Frierdiker Rebbe wrote to her: "The zeide (I cannot write about him as customarily done for those not physically in this world, he lives in my heart and mind, it's the only thing keeping me alive, in public letters I must write conventionally, but truth is he's alive, I see him in my thoughts, and he) said you should be healthy with successful years, that you have refined senses. 'Refined senses' is a most respected title, especially coming from such a brilliant personality."

She merited unique lineage as direct descendant of all Rebbeim (except her brother-in-law - the Rebbe) (seventh generation): Her father the Frierdiker Rebbe (sixth generation), grandfather Reb Rashab (fifth generation), great-grandfather Reb Maharash (fourth generation), great-great-grandfather the Tzemach Tzedek (third generation), descendant of the Mitteler Rebbe (second generation) and great-great-granddaughter of two great-grandchildren (Reb Yisroel Noach and Rebbetzin Rivka) of the Alter Rebbe (first generation).

Childhood

The Rebbe related: "Once Reb Rashab told his granddaughter Sheindel - then a small child - that on Shabbos she should do everything for Shabbos's honor, eat for Shabbos, walk for Shabbos, etc."

Sheindel replied: "I agree to everything, but one thing I don't understand - how can one sleep for Shabbos's honor, how can one direct everything during sleep?..."

Another story the Rebbe shared: "In her childhood years, when Sheindel would cry as children do, they would give her something to calm her. When calming down she would say: 'Know that I'm not stopping crying, I'm just taking a break...'"

When her father hired a melamed for her and her sisters, that teacher avoided telling them "puzzling" stories, and Reb Rashab ordered his immediate dismissal. Reb Rashab explained: "One must start specifically with emunah and kabolas ol, not with intellect; even intellectually understood matters should be done with kabolas ol. Same with education: children should be told stories of mofsim, which are above intellect, this plants emunah in them. Arguments that this isn't orderly, questioning why start with mind-boggling matters and such - come from the yetzer hara, the old foolish king."

Marriage

On Iyar 18, 1932, she became engaged to her cousin Reb Menachem Mendel Horenstein. His mother, Chaya Mushka, was Reb Maharash's daughter.

On engagement day, the Frierdiker Rebbe delivered a maamar "Shir Hamaalos L'Dovid Hinei Ma Tov Uma Naim."

Their wedding was held on Sivan 10, 1932, in Landwarow, Poland. The location was chosen due to border and documentation restrictions at the time. During one Sheva Brochos meal, Reb Chaim Ozer danced with the Frierdiker Rebbe for some time.

World War II Period

When the Frierdiker Rebbe left Poland during World War II, his son-in-law and daughter didn't leave with him because his son-in-law wouldn't leave his ill father alone (who passed away shortly after). Later, another issue arose as exit permits weren't given to Polish citizens, and he was a Polish citizen. However, while the Frierdiker Rebbe was still in Riga, his efforts secured U.S. entry visas for Reb Menachem Mendel Horenstein and Rebbetzin Sheina, but these weren't actually provided.

When the Frierdiker Rebbe reached America, he tried sending them the visa, which they received in Naples, Italy, from where they planned to travel to America. But at that time, ships stopped sailing from Italy to the U.S.

The Frierdiker Rebbe began efforts to secure them a visa to another country through which they could exit, but this failed, and they remained in the Nazi valley of tears.

Passing

At some point, information reached the Rebbe about their deaths al kiddush Hashem in Treblinka.

To avoid causing pain to the Frierdiker Rebbe, they didn't reveal this to him, as the Rebbe wrote in a letter from Menachem Av 27, 1949.

When Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka testified in court during the seforim trial, she said her sister Sheina was taken to Poland and killed in a camp.

Their Fate

Only on Cheshvan 25, 1951, did the Rebbe publish (in an introduction to a kuntres of the Frierdiker Rebbe's maamorim) what happened to them:

According to Mr. Mordechai Unrad's letter, who was in Treblinka camp, he was there - in 1942 - in one "barak" with Reb Menachem Mendel. He told him that in a second barak were his mother - Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka - and his wife - Rebbetzin Sheina. On Elul 15, 1942, the "kapo" brought Reb Menachem Mendel a note from his wife that on Elul 14 his mother was taken to the crematoria. On Tishrei 3, 1943, the kapo told them that on the second day of Rosh Hashanah 1943 they took his wife to the crematoria.

On Cheshvan 25, 1943, when Mr. Mordechai returned from work, he didn't find Reb Menachem Mendel in the barak. Those who worked with him said they took him from the workplace, with another group of Jews, to be taken to the crematoria.

The Rebbe would say Kaddish for her soul on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.

Commemorating Her Name on Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka's Matzeiva

When Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka passed away, the Rebbe added to the matzeiva inscription he wrote: "And in memory of her sister Rebbetzin Tzidkanis Sheina HY"D," thus commemorating her memory on her sister's matzeiva.

After Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka's passing, the attendant Reb Chesed Halberstam related that Rebbetzin Sheina had given Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka a diamond ring as a gift, saying "This ring will bring you mazal." Indeed, the Rebbetzin was careful to wear this ring whenever she went out for any matter. One day (Menachem Av 14, 1978) the Rebbetzin left home without the ring and immediately returned saying "Let's take my sister's ring, I'm not leaving home without it." It's told that at Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka's burial, the Rebbe suddenly approached the Chevra Kadisha members and said something to them, and people standing closer also saw him give them something. Later it was revealed that the Rebbe wanted them to bury with the Rebbetzin the ring she received from her sister.

A similar inscription was written at the bottom of her sister Chana Gurary's matzeiva.

Further Reading

"Chasdei Yisroel", Biography of R' Yisroel Chesdan 2023, Chapter 15 - Advocacy in the Royal Court