Woman of Royalty

Greatness comes in many forms. Often, we focus on those whose influence is global, forgetting the silent majesty of those who make such greatness possible.

While much has been said about the global impact of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, little is known about his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Moussia (Mushka).

On the 22nd of Shevat, February 20, 2025, Lubavitch women around the world will mark the anniversary of her passing in 1988.

Born in 1901 in Babinovitch, Rebbetzin Chaya Moussia was the second daughter of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn, and descended from a line of Lubavitcher Rebbes.

Growing up in her father’s home, she witnessed his fearlessness in the face of Soviet oppression. At a young age, she became involved in her father’s communal affairs, sometimes undertaking dangerous missions to support underground Jewish schools. By age 23, she was entrusted with overseeing her father’s financial and legal matters.

When her father was imprisoned for his religious activism, she followed him into exile in Kastrama, caring for his health after the brutal treatment he had suffered. In 1927, the family fled religious persecution in Russia, eventually settling in Riga, Latvia. In 1928, she married Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson in Warsaw. The couple later moved to Berlin, then Paris, before fleeing to Nice as the Nazi regime advanced.

In 1941, they emigrated to the U.S. After her father's passing, she encouraged her husband to lead the Lubavitch movement. Throughout her life, Rebbetzin Chaya Moussia exemplified modesty, rarely appearing in public but offering wisdom and care to all who visited their home in Brooklyn.

She passed away in 1988 at age 86, leaving a legacy of strength and commitment to Jewish life. Though childless, many girls are named after her, inspired by her fortitude and character.

This week, honor her by lighting Shabbat candles at 5:20 PM (in NYC).

Shabbat Shalom!