The Rebbetzin: Her Life & Beyond

The Rebbetzin: Her Life And Beyond, Part 2 of 4

A Yoman (diary) of a bochur during the period of 22 Shevat 5748.

Second installment of a four-part series on COLlive, presented by A Chassidisher Derher in conjunction with Jewish Educational Media, marking the Rebbetzin’s 30th Hilula. Generously dedicated by Dovid and Chanie Junik and family, and COLlive.com.

This article is the second of a four-part series about the life and work of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson נ”ע זי”ע, her passing, and the Rebbe’s call of “והחי יתן אל לבו” – to learn from her life, and organize activities in her memory.

Presented by A Chassidisher Derher, and JEM, marking the special milestone of 30 years since her Histalkus. The photos and videos in these articles are courtesy of Jewish Educational Media.

The following is a description of the events surrounding Chof-Beis Shevat 5748, a time-period forever engraved in the hearts and minds of Chassidim. This account is based on diaries of various bochurim who were present at that time.

The Rebbetzin’s Histalkus

In the days preceding Chof-Beis Shevat, the Rebbetzin did not feel well. On Tuesday evening, the night of 22 Shevat, a team of doctors held a meeting at the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s home, at which they resolved that the Rebbetzin must be hospitalized for about two weeks until she would regain her complete health. The Rebbe was also present at the meeting and agreed with the doctors’ decision to have the Rebbetzin go to the hospital. Before leaving home, the Rebbetzin requested to be alone with the Rebbe for a few minutes and they remained together for close to a half an hour.

As the Rebbetzin left her home, the Rebbe accompanied her to the car. Upon arrival at the hospital, the Rebbetzin was brought to her room where she was asked some questions by the doctor.

A short while after she was admitted, the doctor realized that the Rebbetzin had lost consciousness. The medical team immediately attempted to handle the situation to the best of their ability. The Rebbe was constantly being updated about her situation, and suggested a few methods of medication, which were subsequently relayed to the doctors. At 12:45 a.m., one of the doctors came out of the room and notified all those present that the Rebbetzin had passed away.

Following is the description of the events that followed, as recounted in the diary of one of the bochurim in 770 at the time:

The Shock
It is late at night, yet I am still overwhelmed by all the occurrences of this dreadful day. Perhaps writing things down will help lighten the heaviness that weighs on my heart. This is what happened:

Last night, at 1:25 a.m., a few of us were sitting in our room talking. We hadn’t yet gone to sleep, when suddenly, one of our friends entered. He appeared frightened and teary-eyed, and asked us to turn off the tape of niggunim. After we did so, he added in a sad voice, “Bad news. The Rebbetzin…”

It took a few seconds until we absorbed the words we had just heard. Without saying another word, we got dressed to go outside, and soundlessly left the building. We crossed the street and headed towards 770. A few hundred people were already standing outside; all were silent. We each took a Tehillim in hand, sat down quietly, and began reading. The small zal of 770 gradually filled with many more bochurim and yungeleit who had all heard the news. Everyone sat and said Tehillim silently.

Tahara

After going to mikva, we waited for a while outside the Rebbe’s house in the bitter cold. The aron arrived at 5:20 a.m. At 5:30, the door of the house suddenly opened, and the Rebbe walked out wearing a coat. The look on his face was frightening, his head tilted forward. The street was dark, save for the light emanating from the bulb atop the front door. The light shone on the Rebbe’s face, revealing an indescribable expression of sadness and pain, as he proceeded slowly while gazing at the aron.

The Rebbe slowly descended the steps in front of the house, his right hand clutching the banister. The Rebbe gazed at the members of chevra kadisha from Shomrei Hadas, nodded his head in thanks, and then said “א גרויס‘ן יישר כח” (Thank you very much).

The Rebbe followed the aron into the house, and the members of the chevra kadisha followed behind. After the candles were lit, the Rebbe went up to the second floor.

We stood in a line and said Tehillim, slowly moving towards the exit. Tears flowed from my eyes. A few minutes later we left through the back door at the opposite end of the kitchen to a small porch with steps leading to the backyard.
It was now dawn, and thousands of people kept coming. The line was very long, containing many people who had just been informed about what had happened.

The Levaya

At exactly 12:00 p.m., absolute silence prevailed over the throngs of people. The procession left the house headed by those who carried the aron, as the Rebbe followed closely behind. He walked with his head bent, occasionally glancing from side to side observing the procession and uttering words the entire time. The Rebbe looked pale and tired. Behind him were the gabba’im and members of the secretariat, followed by Chassidishe rebbes and distinguished rabbanim. After them walked the police, and continuing still behind them, the enormous crowds.

The large crowds were not permitted to enter the cemetery, so they remained standing outside, behind the fence. Only the mazkirim, members of the chevra kadisha, and a group of 100 distinguished individuals went inside with the Rebbe.
The Rebbe stood facing the open grave. His head was bent and he continuously looked at the members of the chevra kadisha. The Rebbe asked Reb Berel Lipsker of the chevra kadisha a number of questions privately. When they lowered the aron into the kever, the Rebbe shuddered a bit and his head moved back slightly. It was a painful sight to behold… Before filling the kever, a bag was placed next to the aron.

After covering the grave of the Rebbetzin, the Rebbe recited Tziduk Hadin followed by kaddish. The Rebbe’s voice choked with tears a few times while saying kaddish.

Nichum Aveilim

Two long rows of people stood alongside the path out of the cemetery. As the Rebbe passed between these rows, they said “HaMakom yenacheim eschem…” (May Hashem comfort you…)

In the Rebbe’s Home

The main floor of the Rebbe’s house was rapidly transformed into a makeshift shul, and at 3:15 p.m. the Rebbe davened Mincha at the amud in his home. Only a few dozen people were allowed to join, primarily shluchim who had arrived from around the world and would be returning home later that day. After Mincha, the Rebbe surprisingly said a short sicha that lasted a few minutes, in which he mentioned that according to halacha the mourner must begin with some words of his own before taking comfort from others. The Rebbe concluded by making mention of the verse “V’hachay yitein el libo…” highlighting that this is especially applicable in our instance, where the first name of the nifteres is Chaya, and with that, the Rebbe gave a slight smile. Although up until that point the Rebbe appeared to be quite broken-hearted, his smile made the Chassidim feel a bit better.

*

All throughout the shiva, many distinguished people continuously arrived at the Rebbe’s home to be menachem aveil, including United States senators, Israeli officials, Chassidishe rebbes, Litvishe gedolim, and so on. Each one passed by the Rebbe as he sat near the door following davening, at times stopping to share a few words.

During Shacharis on Thursday, the second day of shiva, there were already four yungeleit who named their daughters Chaya Mushka after the Rebbetzin. Chassidim noticed from the Rebbe’s expression that this brought much satisfaction.

Sicha Following Shiva

On Wednesday, 29 Shevat, the day after the Rebbe got up from shiva, he delivered a sicha, throughout which his holy eyes were closed. The Rebbe expressed thanks to all those who were menachem avel and gave brachos during the shiva, quoting the pasuk1 “And I will bless those who bless you.” The Rebbe then divulged, based on the maamar Chazal that “one who gives a gift to another must inform him,”2 that he had mentioned all the well-wishers at the Ohel earlier that day.

The Rebbe also mentioned, amongst the initiatives that were established l’ilui nishmas the Rebbetzin, the special gemach fund, Keren Chomesh, based on the roshei teivos of her name. The Rebbe also expressed brachos and wishes for gashmiyusdike good to all, repeating it a second time. These words left a powerful impression upon all present.

The Rebbe concluded with the announcement that, as customary on such occasions, dollars would be distributed for tzedaka. Within minutes(!), throngs of people gathered in front of the Rebbe’s house, lining up for the chaluka. (Most came from 770 where they were listening to the hook-up.) The chaluka lasted around 45 minutes, during which hundreds received dollars for tzedaka.

Video:

The video is this article is an excerpt of “והחי יתן אל לבו – Take To Heart: The Passing Of The passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, wife of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson” by JEM. The full video features:
The Rebbetzin’s funeral
Shiva visits
The Rebbe’s words immediately upon returning from the burial
The Rebbe launches a new initiative in the Rebbetzin’s memory
Visiting the groundbreaking of Campus Chomesh
Much more
To purchase the complete video, click here.