By COLlive reporter
One Shabbos day 23 years ago, Mrs. Henya Laine sat on her front porch on Montgomery Street in Crown Heights and noticed many of her friendly neighbors doing the same.
They had just come back from Lubavitch Headquarters 770 Eastern Parkway, where the Rebbe had led a well-attended Farbrengen that began at 1:30 pm, and didn’t wrap up until 3:00 pm.
As she sat there outside enjoying the Brooklyn breeze, “a thought struck me – maybe we should have a Pirkei Avos Shiur for women, since the Shabbos days are so long,” she recalled.
Laine was quick to act on that thought, printing out flyers for an English Pirkei Avos Shiur, customarily learned during the summer months, and handing them out on her block before the next Shbbos arrived.
“I was pleasantly surprised at the overwhelming crowd that showed up,” she told COLlive.com this week. “We held the classes in the block Shul, Congregation Anash at 770 Montgomery Street (we call it ‘little 770’).”
A further push for the initiative was the warm response she received from the Rebbe after writing about the immediate success of the class.
“The Rebbe gave us beautiful brochos and spoke a full Sicha on Shabbos about the importance of learning Pirkei Avos from Pesach on,” she said.
Many other Pirkei Avos classes have been established since, with Laine’s class drawing a crowd of 50 and higher.
After the passing of her brother Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchok Kazen, “Father of the Jewish Internet,” they added a Halacha class delivered by Rabbi Michoel Seligson.
“What a treat to have such a Mechanech and knowledgeable teacher who selflessly gives of his time to the participate at the shiur,” Laine says of Rabbi Seligson who begins the class at 5:30 PM on Shabbos day.
Delivering the Pirkei Avos class are various local and visiting rabbis, educators and individuals. Among them: Rabbi Dovid Laine, Rabbi Eli Wolf, Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, Rabbi Mordechai Gurary, Rabbi Nochum Kaplan, Rabbi Yossi Hurwitz, Rabbi Motel Berkowitz, Mrs. Sara Junik, Mrs. Rivka Kotlarsky, Mrs. Sara Leiberman, Mrs. Chaya Fraklin and others.
When a Shliach is in town, Laine hurries to book them for the class. They have included Rabbi Aaron Eliezer Ceitlin from Tzfas, Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum from Pittsburgh, Rabbi Shea Rubinstein from Florida and Rabbi Raleigh Resnik from California.
Shluchos who have graced them with their appearance and incredible stories of Shlichus were Mrs. Reizel Raskin fom Morocco, Mrs. Dini Greenberg from China, Mrs. Chanie Rosenblum from Pittsburgh, Mrs. Rivka Hazan from Italy, Mrs. Pearl Krazinansky from Hawai, and many others.
“Many times we hear inspirational stories from different people,” Mrs. Laine adds. “Chana Leah Nunez told us her life story of her return to Yiddishkeit. Moshe Nunez shared with us his incredible work on the seven Noah laws.”
Classes are from 5:30 until 7:00 pm every Shabos at 770 Montgomery Street, beginning the Shabbos after Pesach until Rosh Hashana.
Anyone who knows of a good speaker, feel free to call Henya Laine 718-909-2169.
This is surely what Shlomo hamelech meant when he said “Vee’halliluhah bash’orim maaseh’hah.” As a neighbor , I say it’s nice to see the Laines’ good deeds being properly acknowledged; and while we’re at it, thank you Mrs. Laine for so graciously beating the pavement every time there’s a need for a N’shei Chabad or other tzedakah collection. ‘Tain’t easy. To the entire family, including the Mrs. Laine’s siblings, You are the personificatioln of Yigattem Umitzattem.
henya and dovin laine are my greate-uncle and great-aunt! go laine’s go!
im a bit surprised why all those rabbi speakers when we have way better women speakers..brilliant women who can put many rabbis to shame..i.e Chana Ginzberg, Nechama Bernshtein, Rivka gluckowsky and on….
from the grunblatts in argentina
i am humbeled by all the incredible comments about me. I thank everyone, from the deabth of my heart, for all the love and affection given to me.
I could not have done anything without the enchouragement and help of my husband.
I wish to publicly thank him for being such an incredible good person and allowing me to continue helping others.
With all that Bubby and Zaidy do for the community, they always make sure that each child and grandchild has what they need! We love you!
All of the above comments are accurate and even understate the case. Henya is a shlucha based on Montgomery Street. And together with her husband, she has been teaching, guiding, and assisting those who need help for (at least) the 29 years that I’ve been in Crown Heights. She is a very positive person and everything she does is with a smile and a great attitude.
A Fan
Wow! what a treat to see Mrs. laine. I Lived in their home and have the fondest memories of their children and the entire family. It was my best year in Bais Rivka and they made my adjustment to NY so much more enjoyable.
So good to see you.
Yasher Koayach to Mrs. Laine, her siblings and her choshuve mother. Continued success in all your holy endevors.
BOBBY!!!!!!!!!
we love you and miss you and waiting for you to come to paris with zaidy..
YOU ARE THE BEST
i agree with all the above, but don’t forget her husband , Rabbi Dovid Laine who is a most special and caring person. If you were ever at his Shabbos table you can not forget his beautiful Dvar Torahs and his noticing and acknowleging all the guests. They are a supper couple.
I feel honored to have my bubby stay with us Every time she comes she always brings gifts and lots of hugs and kisses!
We love to listen to her bedtime stories that are always about tzadikim or chassidim!
We really learn a lot from her and from Zaidy!
I couldn’t help but shep naches from seeing the beautiful picture of Rebbetzin Kazen and her daughter. The entire family was most instrumental in my leading a most meaningful life. I personally thank them all.
That’s one powerful Pic up there (I Guess including RG as well would be shviras hakeilim…)
She is the world’s best shvigger – and that is no joke!
I would encourage everyone to attend this great Pirkei Avos Shiur. Every time I go I learn so much and feel very inspired. Thanks Henya for arranging this for the community.
Mrs laine helps countless people and makes everyone feel special around her. She is so regal and a true role model!
You don’t know the half of what Mrs. Henya Laine does. To know her is to love her. She helps people in a most discreat way. She is a very special person.
She came to our school to speak when she was in for a wedding.
to comment #1,
how true!
she’s truly a lady who helps others. She helped my own family, and until this day, my parents say how it’s in her zchus that….
May Hashem bless her and her entire family with revealed good always.
Amen.
YEP……….THATS OUR BUBBY……….BEING THE BEST……!!!!!!!!!!!!WE LOVE U !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We love you anty Henya!!!!
Besides for being the best Aunt she always helps people!!!
IN shul, when we were kids, we always were called in, and Henya would patiently teach us how to do kedusha, borchu,, etc,,, GO HENYA!!!! I am almost 40 and I can not tell you how I still remember my being 5 or 6,, and getting called in,
Heny Laine came to our school to speak!
yay Bubby!! we love you
We have the best Bobby in the world! Besides her Pirkei Avos class, she is always helping people. We love you