Take to Heart

Some glimpses of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka's funeral and the Rebbe's observance of her shivah, as well as excerpts of the Rebbe speaking about the Rebbetzin in the days and years following her passing.

Funeral of the Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, of righteous memory.

“My wife’s name was ‘Chaya — Life.’ She will continue to radiate life until the Resurrection. Those who try their best to emulate and fulfill her wishes will bring the greatest gratification to her soul and to the one who survives her.”

“The Talmud and commentaries explain that the word ‘bracha – blessing’ comes from the expression “one who bends a grapevine.” A blessing is certainly a good thing, but it requires the person’s involvement as well, to ‘sow,’ ‘plow,’ and ‘harvest’ its fruits.”

The Rebbe leads the prayers at his home on President Street, on the last day of Shiva for his wife of sixty years, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, of blessed memory. “It is customary to elevate the soul of the deceased through a Chassidic Farbrengen. It should be done beautifully, and should be held here, in the house where she lived.”

“Thank you to those who have begun new projects and institutions in the Rebbetzin’s memory…The Rebbetzin was educated by her father, the Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. She merited that many Jewish girls carry her name and are educated in her spirit and by her example.”

A month after the passing of the Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka of righteous memory, a new Beis Rivkah Girls’ School, named “Campus Chomesh,” begins to rise in her memory. On his way to visit her resting place, the Rebbe stops at the groundbreaking and participates in the dedication.

My father-in-law, the Rebbe, taught that a birthday is a time for introspection – to take the purpose of one’s life to heart and make resolutions for the future. It is a most propitious time, for on one’s birthday his ‘Mazel’ – his ‘fortune,’ radiates with extra strength.

One should always begin to implement birthday resolutions on the birthday itself. And for best results, include your family when you make the resolutions, so they can help you and offer feedback on your progress.

The Rebbe leads the Afternoon Prayers on the last day of Kaddish for his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of blessed memory. “When we complete this stage and begin the new one, it is not merely a ‘next step,’ but rather a quantum leap to an entirely new level, new in the realm of good.”

On the 2nd Yahrtzeit of the Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe offers financial assistance to all official Chabad institutions from the Chomesh Fund established in her name.