Little Girl’s Soul Lives On

A group of Bochurim from Yeshivas Bais Dovid Shlomo in New Haven, Connecticut learned and memorized close to 1500 lines of Tanya in a recent Mivtza.

This project began on the 10th of Shevat and continued through the 10th of Adar Aleph, marking the 11th yartzeit of Bat Sheva OBM, baby daughter of Rabbi Mordechai and Shterney Kanelsky.

A seudah was organized by the Yeshiva during which the Menahel Rabbi Yosef Lustig, Maggid Shiur of Shiur Aleph Rabbi Gershon Borenstein and Mashpiah Rabbi Yossi Dalfin spoke. They stressed the importance of learning and memorizing Mishnayos and Tanya and related stories of the Rebbe.

Rabbi Kanelsky, on behalf of his wife, then spoke about the influence of their daughter’s soul during her short lifespan as well as during the week of shiva. The power of her soul influenced the performance of thousands of mitzvahs and continues to this day. In particular her neshama brought about the transition of two generations in one family.

It was during Shiva that a 13-year-old boy’s Bris was scheduled and performed by Rabbi Shain. Following the Bris, the father came to the Kanelsky’s home. Within a short period of time conversing with Rabbi Kanelsky, the father was convinced to undertake his own bris at that time at the age of 44.

After the father’s bris, the entire family came to pay a shiva visit. The mother was very inspired by both her husband’s and son’s complete transition into the realm of observance.

Mrs. Kanelsky used the opportunity and asked by the mother: “Please make a Chupah in Memory of my Bat-Shevale.” The mother agreed happily and a Chupah v’Kidushin was done the next June. Today this boy is married with 3 children, and he and his wife are Shluchim of the Rebbe in Moscow.

Rabbi Kanelsky also praised the boys for taking their limited personal time to study in memory of Bat Sheva, ob”m.

Each child received a monetary gift in accordance with the amount of Perakim they had learned and memorized, along with a laminated certificate with their names and their accomplishments. As a lasting memento, they also received a distinctive pen with a holographic image of the Rebbe on its top. It was all sponsored by Rabbi and Mrs. Kanelsky.