Torah and Tea Tishrei 6 5778
1. The Life and Legacy of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson
This Shabbos, Vov Tishrei, is the yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the mother of the Rebbe and wife of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson. She was born on 28 Teves 5640 (תר״מ) — 1880, and passed away on 6 Tishrei 5725 (תשכ״ה) — 1964. I personally remember being at the farbrengen — Chassidic gathering — in 1964 when they notified the Rebbe that his mother had passed away. The Rebbe immediately cut short the farbrengen, and from that time on began teaching a special Rashi sicha — Torah discourse — in her memory. Rebbetzin Chana’s yahrtzeit is a time to reflect on her remarkable life, not only as the Rebbe’s mother but as an individual who received tremendous respect from her son. The Rebbe’s devotion to his mother is a lesson for all of us in how to honor our parents. Even when his brother passed away, the Rebbe shielded his mother from this painful news to protect her health, orchestrating events so she would not find out. No matter how busy he was, the Rebbe visited her every single day.
2. Early Life and Family Background
Rebbetzin Chana was born in Nikolayev to Reb Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, who served as rabbi of the city, and her mother was named Rasha. From a young age, she received a strong Chassidic education in a vibrant community filled with Chabad activity. When new Chassidic discourses (maamarim) arrived from Lubavitch, she would hand-copy them for others to study since there were no copy machines at that time. Her beautiful handwriting benefited many Chassidim. My own mother used to tell me about copying these discourses as well — it required both skill and care. She also possessed exceptional musical talent inherited from her father, who authored several Chabad melodies filled with deep emotional connection to Hashem. The Rebbe himself would occasionally sing these heartfelt songs, reflecting this family legacy.
3. Marriage and Family Lineage
At age 20, Rebbetzin Chana married Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson. The shidduch was suggested by the Rebbe Rashab (the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe). Although illness threatened to delay the wedding, her father sent a special messenger to seek permission from the Rebbe Rashab to postpone it. However, the Rebbe Rashab insisted it take place as planned and gave his blessing. The wedding occurred on Thursday, 13 Sivan 5660 (תר״ס) — 1900. The family lineage is notable: Levi Yitzchak’s father was Reb Boruch Schneur Schneerson, descending directly from the Tzemach Tzedek (the third Lubavitcher Rebbe) through his oldest son Boruch Sholom and then Boruch Schneur.
4. Communal Leadership and World War Hardships
In 1907 (5667 — תרס״ז), Levi Yitzchak became rabbi in Yekaterinoslav (later Dnipropetrovsk, today Dnipro), serving for 32 years with Rebbetzin Chana actively supporting him in communal life. During World War I, she established an organization providing food and shelter for refugees fleeing conflict. In 5689 (תרפ״ט) — 1928, their eldest son (the future Rebbe) married in Warsaw but his parents were forbidden by Soviet authorities to leave Russia due to their Jewish activism. Despite prohibitions against religious gatherings, they held their own seudas mitzvah — festive meal — in Russia. As Soviet oppression increased, Levi Yitzchak was arrested for defending Jewish observance and exiled to Chi’ili in Kazakhstan. Rebbetzin Chana soon joined him there to care for his needs. She ingeniously produced ink from grass so he could record his Torah insights during exile — these writings later became known as Likkutei Levi Yitzchak. She risked her life smuggling these manuscripts out of Russia so they could be published.
5. Escape from Soviet Union and Arrival in America
After years of exile and suffering — Levi Yitzchak passed away in Almaty on 20 Menachem Av 5704 (תש״ד) — 1944 — Rebbetzin Chana left Almaty in 1946 with help from friends and reached Moscow. Initially refusing to escape illegally because she had a son in America (the Rebbe), she eventually agreed and crossed into Poland disguised as a Polish citizen before traveling through Europe. She arrived in Paris where she reunited with the Rebbe (who traveled there at the instruction of the Frierdiker Rebbe), and together they sailed by boat to America, arriving on 28 Sivan 5707 (תש״ז) — 1947.
6. Life in New York and Influence on Community
Rebbetzin Chana spent her last seventeen years living near 770 Eastern Parkway at 1418 President Street (today adjacent to student dormitories). After three years in New York, following the passing of the Frierdiker Rebbe, her eldest son became Rebbe. Despite his overwhelming responsibilities as leader of world Jewry, the Rebbe visited his mother daily without exception. Rebbetzin Chana remained deeply involved with Crown Heights Chassidim: many visited her regularly for conversation or memories about Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. She attended services at 770 as well as simchas (weddings and celebrations) within the community and served as a leader within Neshei U’Bnos Chabad — the Women’s Organization of Chabad. While living in New York, she wrote memoirs detailing her experiences under Soviet rule — a story marked by hardship but overflowing with spiritual strength (mesirus nefesh — self-sacrifice). She gave these typed memories to Nissen Gordon for publication in “Di Yiddishe Heim.” At her request, details about Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s suffering were omitted so as not to cause pain for her son. Fifteen years later Rav Elio Alter Friedman published “A Mother in Israel,” translating these memoirs into Lashon Hakodesh and including previously omitted details about Levi Yitzchak’s hardships.
7. Personal Qualities and Final Years
Those who knew Rebbetzin Chana personally described her as possessing extraordinary character: despite enduring much suffering throughout her life, she kept pain inside while radiating joy outwardly. She passed away during Mincha time on Shabbos, 6 Tishrei 5725 (תשכ״ה) — 1964. Thousands accompanied her funeral procession to Queens where she is buried among other Rebbetzins near the Ohel of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbeim. On that very day after her passing, an unusual event occurred: her seat in the women’s section caught fire and was completely burned — a detail remembered by many Chassidim. Her legacy lives on through countless girls named “Chana” within Chabad communities worldwide and numerous educational institutions founded in her memory.
8. The Family’s Ongoing Legacy
Rebbetzin Chana’s husband was Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson. Their children were:
- The Lubavitcher Rebbe (eldest)
- Rabbi Dovber Schneerson
- Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Leib Schneerson
Yisroel Aryeh Leib has a granddaughter named Dalia Reutemann who lives in Israel today. Dovber did not have children that we know of; Aryeh Leib passed away while studying for his degree in Liverpool and is buried in Tzfas at the request of the Rebbe. The Rebbe once remarked that Aryeh Leib was an independent thinker: he would first develop ideas himself before seeking sources for support — a testament to originality valued within their family tradition.
I remember vividly being present at that fateful farbrengen when news arrived about Rebbetzin Chana’s passing — a moment etched forever into my memory. Reflecting back on those times reminds us how devotion between spouses like Rebbetzin Chana and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak stands out compared with today’s more transient relationships — a model of loyalty even through adversity that continues inspiring generations within Jewish life.