1. The Yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Sheina
The second day of Rosh Hashanah, which is also the second day of the month of Tishrei, marks the yahrzeit—anniversary of passing—of Rebbetzin Sheina. She was the youngest daughter of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. Tragically, on this day she was led to the gas chambers in Treblinka during the Holocaust.2. The Daughters of the Previous Rebbe
The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe had three daughters. The oldest was Chana, who married Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary, known as the Rashag. He came to America with the previous Rebbe and served as head of Lubavitcher Yeshivas in the United States. The second daughter was Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, who became the wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The youngest daughter was Rebbetzin Sheina, who married Rabbi Menachem Mendel Horenstein.3. The Family’s Escape from Europe
After the previous Rebbe’s arrest and miraculous release in 1927, he and his family left Russia at the end of 1927 or beginning of 1928. They first moved to Riga, Latvia, and later to Poland. When World War II broke out, they were initially in Warsaw and then moved to Otwock. As danger increased, many attempts were made to escape Europe.4. Challenges in Rescue Efforts
The previous Rebbe managed to escape due to his Latvian citizenship, traveling through Berlin and Riga before arriving in America in 1940. However, his daughter Sheina and her husband were Polish citizens and could not obtain permission to leave. Despite tremendous efforts by the previous Rebbe to save them after his arrival in America, they were unable to escape and perished along with countless other Jews in Treblinka.5. Commemoration by the Lubavitcher Rebbe
The Lubavitcher Rebbe would recite Kaddish—the mourner’s prayer—on several specific days each year: for his grandfather (his mother’s father) and for his sister-in-law, Rebbetzin Sheina, on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. This day is observed as her yahrzeit, though it is not entirely clear how this exact date was determined; it is recorded that she was led to Treblinka’s gas chambers on this day.6. Establishing Yahrzeit Dates After Tragedy
Often during and after the Holocaust, families did not know precisely when their loved ones had perished. In such cases, it became customary for people to designate a specific day each year as a memorial date for saying Kaddish and observing yahrzeit. Even if there was uncertainty about the exact date, this practice allowed families and communities to honor those lost with a set time for remembrance.Notes
Rebbetzin Sheina Horenstein – youngest daughter of the Previous Rebbe, born 21 Teves 5664 (1904). See 21 Teves – her birth.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Horenstein – her husband, killed by the Nazis. See 25 Cheshvan.
The Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Rebbe Rayatz) – see 10 Shevat – his passing.
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka – wife of the Rebbe. See 22 Shevat – her yahrzeit.
Rebbetzin Chana and Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary (the Rashag) – the Previous Rebbe's eldest daughter and her husband. See 11 Sivan – their wedding.