Rebbetzin’s Last Shana Tova

In honor of Vov Tishrei, yartzeit of Rebbetzen Chana, mother of the Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro is sharing interesting and unique material from the Mindel Archive Gems.

A Unique Card
Rebbetzen Chana was a personal friend of Rabbi Dr. Nissan and Nettie Mindel and on occasion she would visit them at their Long Beach, N.Y. home.
Rebbetzen Chana wrote a shana tova card to the Mindels a few days before her passing… a card which she personally wrote and addressed to: “Dr. N. & Nettie & Frida Mindel and Mother…” The envelope date is stamped “11 Sep. 1964.”
The card has its standard text: “B’H Erev R’H Tof Shin Chof Dalet( Reb.’s handwritten “Dalet” inserted), “L’shana tova tikoseivu v’sechoseimu”.
To which the Rebbetzen added in her handwriting: “ A’shnas Chayim v’Shalom, Chana Shne’ersohn.

Note the refinement and care with which the Rebbetzen addressed the envelope. To point out one example: Dr. Mindel, she identified with his initial N. and Mrs. Mindel, she identified by her full name “Nettie” (her friend) and their daughter, she spelled (correctly) “Frida” (without an “e” which is the way Frida spells it). And of course she included “Mother” – the mother of Mrs. Mindel, Shaina Sarah Nemtzov (wife of the well known chossid, Avraham Sender Nemtzov) – who lived with her children in Long Beach.

A Eulogy by Necha (Nettie) Mindel
The eulogy was written by Mrs. Mindel right on the day of Rebbetzen Chana’s passing – presented here in her original handwriting – on Sept. 12, 1964, Vov Tishrei, 5725. She subsequently read this eulogy at various functions (typed version). Mrs. Mindel was a talented writer and poetess in her own right – a fitting partner to her illustrious husband, author of countless Chassidic works for young and old.

Remembering Rebbetzen Chana – a talk at a Machon Chana Gathering by –
Rabbi Nissan Mindel on the 6th of Tishrei, 5742 – commemorating the yatzeit of Rebbetzen Chana. We share this talk, as he had typed it originally. As with all his work – Rabbi Mindel would usually type the material on a regular white paper with at least one carbon copy. The copy of his talk is one such carbon copy.