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| [Yes that is a wig] |
Tonight [Tuesday night] is the yarzheit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah Schneerson [b. 1901], wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbetzin passed away on the 22nd of Shevat of the year 5748 [1988].
In
1950, upon the passing of her father, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn,
leadership of the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement passed to Chaya
Mushka's husband, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory.
Despite the Rebbe's initial adamant refusal to accept the mantle, it
was his wife, the Rebbetzin, who, notwithstanding the great personal
sacrifice this would entail, finally prevailed upon him to accept the
position with all its public and private hardships.
She
was steadfast: It is simply unthinkable that her father's thirty years
of total self-sacrifice and accomplishment should, G-d forbid, come to
naught.
An
erudite and wise woman, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka carried the mantle of
her revered and exalted position in a most humble and unpretentious
fashion. All her life she fulfilled the ideal of the psalmist: "The
entire honor of a king's daughter is within." When calling the Rebbe's
office at "770," or calling for a high school girl ill in her dormitory,
she always referred to herself simply as: "Mrs. Schneerson from
President Street."
Gentle
and courteous to everyone, the Rebbetzin saw her role as one wholly
devoted to the work of her husband. Even when she relayed advice to
those seeking his guidance through her, she would repeat his wording
with precision, making sure that it was understood exactly as the Rebbe
intended.
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| Painting of Chaya Mushka by Cindy Michael - notice that she is wearing a hat on top of a wig - this was customary at that time - orthodox women wore both wigs and hats together in those days. |
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