Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson: Difference between revisions

Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson was the daughter of the Rebbe Rayatz and wife of the Rebbe

[[File:חיה מושקא.jpg|thumb|rebbetzin chaya mushka]]

Born on Shabbat Kodesh, 25 Adar 5661 to Rebbe Rayatz and Rebbetzin Nechama Dina in the town of Babinovitch near Liozna. Her grandfather, the Rebbe Rashab, who was outside Russia at the time, sent a telegram to his son the Rebbe Rayatz instructing to name her Chaya Mushka, after the wife of the Tzemach Tzedek, as both her parents were great-grandchildren of the Tzemach Tzedek.

[[File:Screenshot 2024-09-16 030540.png|thumb|the rebbetzin in her youth]]

She lived in her parents' home until her marriage, initially in Lubavitch. In 1916 they moved to Rostov, in 1924 to Leningrad, and in 1928 they moved to Riga.

On 7 Kislev 5685, her father - the Rebbe Rayatz gave her a letter of authorization and power of attorney, granting her unlimited authority to receive money and documents, official and unofficial, registered in his name. She was also authorized to grant this permission to anyone the Rebbetzin deemed appropriate.

In 1927, when her father was arrested, she was the first to inform her future husband, the Rebbe, who spread the news further. After her father was sentenced to exile in Kostrama, she traveled with him from Leningrad to Kostrama, and when they announced his release, she was the first to deliver the news of redemption by phone from Kostrama to her father's apartment in Leningrad.

The Rebbetzin's engagement to the Rebbe was arranged on 6 Kislev 5689 in Riga.

Concurrent with the wedding in Warsaw, the wedding was also celebrated in Yekaterinoslav at the home of the groom's parents, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson.

After the wedding, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin lived in Berlin, and in 1933 they moved to Paris.

The Rebbe Rayatz worked extensively to get his daughter and son-in-law out of burning Europe, and after much effort and many months, an American visa was approved for them, which they received on 20 Nissan 5701 at the American consulate in Marseille, France.

[[File:בך.jpg|thumb|the booklet "becha yivorech yisroel" in honor of the rebbetzin]]

After much effort and intervention, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.

In 1954, the Rebbetzin made a secret visit of several days to Paris to closely monitor the situation of refugees who were then in Paris. Many of the Chassidim were living in truly cramped conditions. The Rebbetzin cared for their welfare and inquired about the details of their settlement, and even visited the location herself at night without anyone noticing to truly understand the refugees' situation and speak with them. The Rebbetzin cared for them like a true mother for her children. In her words, she demonstrated alongside concern and warmth, also tremendous wisdom.

During the library trial, when the opposing side's lawyer asked the Rebbetzin about her opinion regarding the ownership of her father's books, the Rebbetzin answered that her father and the books belong to the Chassidim! This statement helped win the trial.

Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka passed away on 22 Shevat 5748 after a brief illness.

A massive funeral procession of over 15,000 people was led by rows of police motorcycles, leading the procession to Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, where she was buried near her father, the Rebbe Rayatz. The Rebbe himself composed the text for her tombstone.

On the day of her passing, the Rebbe established in her name the ChaM"aSh Fund to provide financial assistance for women's mitzvot - Challah separation, Shabbat candles, and family purity. The fund is managed by Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky and continues to operate today, helping thousands of women achieve educational and social goals.

The Rebbe noted the day of the Rebbetzin's passing as a day when a new period began in the leadership of our generation's leader, "when we are already at the end of all refinements, and have even 'polished the buttons', etc., and need only to be ready to receive Moshiach Tzidkeinu."

Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka was characterized by great wisdom, utmost modesty, and helped her husband - the Rebbe - in various areas. It is known that she would also assist in reading letters that the Rebbe received.

As the wife of a leader revered by thousands and a learned and wise woman in her own right, the Rebbetzin could have received royal honor, but she despised publicity and avoided all signs of honor. Therefore, very few details were known about her daily life, and throughout her days, she fulfilled "All the glory of the king's daughter is within." Only after her passing did her acquaintances begin to reveal some of her special personality.

She would listen to Rabbi Yoel kahn's classes.

In her later years, she was involved in the Shabbat candle-lighting campaign and was heavily involved in the Ten Yad L'Hakhnasas Kallah organization (helping brides).

Chaya - means "life," which is taken from the source of life (His essence), and continues in the aspect of the soul until reaching the physical body, which is hinted at in the letter ה - the five outlets of speech that extend to the ten utterances. This also alludes to the totality of the soul's life and is primarily connected to the life force that animates the body through internal investment.

The gematria of both names is 470 (ע"ת) - which indicates the good times, and also the times that appear outwardly not good, and through the work of "do not sin," these too are transformed to good.

* ChaM"aSh Center for Spreading the Wellsprings - a network of Kollelim operating 50 institutions throughout Israel

* Beis Chaya Mushka Crown Heights

* Beis Chaya Mushka - Girls' School Al Taharas Hakodesh - Kfar Chabad

* Memories of attendant Rabbi CHASD Halberstam about Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, Ateret Chaya supplement to Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 1396

* Collection of Holy Letters from the Rebbetzin, for her 120th birthday, 25 Adar 5781