Mrs. Chaya Yutta Hecht, a beloved kindergarten teacher who impacted hundreds of children for close to 50 years, passed away on Friday, 30 Tishrei, 5778.
She was 86.
Born in Brooklyn, NY to her parents Chanoch Henech Hakohen and Esther Miriam Rosenfeld, Chaya was raised in a household with strong values of Chasidishkeit, love for the Rebbe and emunah in Hashem.
She married Rabbi Peretz Hecht OBM, and they lived in Crown Heights. She was a teacher in Oholei Torah kindergarten for close to 50 years.
Mrs. Hecht had a very special relationship with the children she taught, many of whom kept in touch with “Morah Chaya” even as adults.
She was a very friendly and positive person, loved by all who met her.
No job was too big or too small for her, she was always busy doing and caring for others.
She merited many Yechidus meetings with the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, with the Frierdiker Rebbe telling her father she is a “Bar Daas,” – “someone with a good understanding of issues.”
Mrs. Hecht once received a hora’ah from the Rebbe regarding Davening, and she would spend many hours saying Tehillim every day.
She regarded Rosh Chodesh as a special day, keeping all the minhagim and maintaining the holiness of day, taking care not to do work tasks on the day.
She kept Fridays as special days as well, and would make a great emphasis to mention all the Rebbeim every Motzei Shabbos.
She is survived by her children Rivkah Piekarski – Crown Heights, Rochelle Kaplan – Baltimore, MD, Shea Hecht – Melbourne, Australia, Devorah Halberstam – Crown Heights, Shterna Wineberg – Johannesburg, Faigy Carlebach – Crown Heights, Brochie Karp – Crown Heights and Yisroel Hecht – Crown Heights, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her siblings, Rabbi Avrohom Rosenfeld – Boro Park, Rabbi Yossel Rosenfeld – Crown Heights, and Baila Lerner – Boro Park.
The levaya will take place today, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 1:00 pm and passing by 770 at 1:45 pm.
Shiva will take place at 580 Crown st. Apt. 707, Brooklyn.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
Rebbetzin Hecht had an inner dignity that one felt as soon as you saw her. She was a somaiach bchelkah,and though she never was allluent materially,she was a lady who possessed the kind of riches that one is able to take with them to the world of Olom haemess
Look at the incredible generations that she & her husband have given this world . Moshiach now !
I am so very sorry to read this…Mrs. Hecht was one of the nicest ladies in Crown Heights… she always told me to call her Chaya, but I just couldn’t – she was someone whom I looked up to and admired a lot. Her late husband held a special place in my husband’s heart.
She passed away on Rosh Chodesh, erev Shabbos… very fitting for such a Chassishe lady. Rivkah, Devorie and the entire family – Hamakom Yenachem Eschem B’soych Shaar Aveilay Zion v”Yerushalyim.
Hindy Lewis, Israel
I am curious what the horaah regarding davening was….
She was a wonderful, warm person, with a beautiful smile and she was also very clever. She will surely be missed by so many. Sorry for the loss to the family and our community.
BDE
a lovely lady with may wonderful midos and always a good word to say to all
may we be zocheh to have moshiach immediately in our times and all the goodness and kindness should be revealed to us together with our nassi the rebbe
I would also like to say that my father a”h and mrs Hecht’s father a”h were shochtim in the same market in Brownsville
two great chasidim of the rebbe
I will definitely miss mrs Hecht she was one of my favorite people
She was my kindergarten teacher
What a special women. Like a mom when I taught I OT. So warm, caring, careful of people’s feeling. BDE.
she was my great great ant bdh
A great loss to many. That generation are becoming fewer and fewer! What a smile she greeted me with when she saw me!!! A role model for many.
they first lived in East Flatbush and later on moved to Crown Heights
So sorry to hear. She was my sons teacher and we will never forget her. A true educator, the children all loved her and listened to her! For years after she always said hi to us when we saw her in the street. An inspiration to know. The world has lost a one of a kind diamond.