By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Kenya Deren, a veteran Jewish educator and matriarch of a Chabad family of over 100 descendants, passed away on 20 Shevat 5774.
She was 83 and suffered from a lengthy illness.
Born in New Jersey to Rabbi Sholom and Chaya Posner, she was imbued with responsibility towards the Jewish people and dedication to the Rebbe’s work and teachings.
Her father came to America in the 1920s and served as a rabbi for more than 60 years, first in Chicago and later in Pittsburgh, where he and his wife built a vibrant Jewish community.
The Posners were one of the first of thousands of now famous Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchim couples dispatched by the Rebbe to pioneer Jewish outreach in America.
In 1943, when Keny was 13 years old, her parents were sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to Pennsylvania to established the city’s first Jewish day school, Yeshiva Achei Tmimim for boys and girls.
Taking after her parents, Keny began serving as a teacher in the school while only a teenager. In 1950, the school moved into a small building on the corner of Hobart and Wightman Streets in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
Several locations were later used to accommodate the growing enrollment, with Keny Deren overseeing its success from a handful of children to over 400 students. She served as principal for over 30 years.
With the continued increase in enrollment, in 1995, the Yeshiva purchased the former Hebrew Institute building on the corner of Denniston and Forbes Avenues. A new, enlarged girls’ school opened there while the boys’ school is housed at a renovated facility at the Wightman Street location.
Today, the Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh are widely recognized throughout the country for its academic excellence in both secular and Judaic studies.
She is survived by her children Rabbi Yisroel Deren – Stamford, CT: Mrs. Sonia Wolf – Morristown, NJ; Mrs. Chavi Altein – Crown Heights; Mrs. Blumi Rosenfeld, Rabbi Yossi Deren, both of Pittsburgh, PA; Rabbi Mendy Deren – Lod, Israel; Mrs. Chani Lazar – Moscow, Russia; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her siblings Rabbi Zalman Posner of Nashville, TN, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Posner of Crown Heights, Mrs. Rivka Sasonkin of Avital, Israel; Mrs. Bassie Garelik of Milan, Italy; and Rabbi Zushe Posner – Lod, Israel.
Her husband, Rabbi Yechezkel Deren of Pittsburgh passed away in 1978.
The levaya will take place today, Tuesday, 20 Shvat, January 21, at Bais Yechezkel Lubavitch Center in Pittsburgh at 3:00 PM, with burial following at the Lubavitch Center Section at Homewood Cemetery.
The family will be sitting shiva at the home of Rabbi & Mrs. Rosenfeld, 2214 Shady Ave., with some family returning to New York after Shabbos. Memories can be emailed to MrsDerenTribute@yeshivaschools.com.
The Deren family will be sitting shiva in Pittsburgh till Friday morning
Rabbi Yisroel Deren, Chanie Lazar and Chavi Altein will be sitting shiva at 1378 Union st. on motzai Shabbos and will be joined with the rest of the siblings on Sunday.
Rabbi Yisroel Deren will be sitting shiva in Stamford on Sunday at 121 Little Hill Drive, Stamford.
Times for Stamford are:
Shachris at 8:00
mincha at 4:30
Maariv 5:30
Baruch dayan haemes.
There are so many wonderful memories of Mrs. Deren, and so much to learn from Mrs. Deren, lessons that stay with us for life – Lessons about Kiddush Hashem, Derech Eretz, Achdus, Tznius, Kabolas Ohl Malchus Shamayim. Mrs. Deren was a queen, dignified and regal in her ways. Mrs. Deren reminding us before we went on any school trip or outing – remember who you are, you are Bnos Yisroel (or perhaps she referred to us as Yeshiva girls) – walk softly, talk quietly on the streets, be sure to make a Kiddush Hashem. Mrs. Deren reminding us to act… Read more »
Mrs. Deren was my 3rd grade limudei kodesh teacher in 1965. The lessons she taught me were invaluable and her warmth, and motherly love are qualities that still stand out and that I have not forgotten to this very day.
To her family….
HaMokom yinachem eschem b’soch shaar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim.
Yehi zichra baruch
to accurately explain what and who KENY was!!! Yes–she was the principal, yes the ultimate mashpiah, yes-mother to more than just her family, yes -the pillar and foundation for the growing Pittsburgh community …and yes the most devoted friend one could ever find!! No matter was beneath her and she truly cared and gave of herself to each of her “baalei tschuvah” as if each of us were her own child. She was totally bitul to the Rebbe and his inyonm and when you received advice from her you felt as if they were words coming directly from the Rebbe!!… Read more »
She taught me what it meant to be a Jewish Woman.
Much love and respect.
Annette Treblow Ziegler
Her daughter is the principle of Beis Rivka…………..Mrs Altien
Those who didn’t have the zechus to be “one of her girls” can never understand. She was the greatest mechanechess because she loved us. We would have done anything to make her happy, and never wanted to disappoint her because we loved her so much!
Hamakom yinachem eschem b’soch she’ar avaylay tzion
viyrushalayim.
Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Feller
She was my mother away from home. She was the community. She was the school, She was the Mashpia, She WAS. I loved her so much, and will never forget her warmth, her dignity. She was a queen. May the entire family be comforted
“Kenny” spoke at the first mid-winter Convention in Philadelphia. She was truly a model of Chassidishkeit.
Hamokom yenachem eschem to all the family.
Brana Shaina Deitsch
I am thinking about the whole family at these tough times.You should only know of no more pain.Hashem yenachem eschen beasoch Shari aveli tzion yerusalem.May she be a maleth yosher for the whole Family. From Yechiel Gluckowsky Toronto,Ontario,Canada
This article barely scratches the surface. As close to a demeanor of royalty that most of us will ever see. Those of us who grew up in Pittsburgh got to see her in action, and some share their “Mrs. Deren” stories. She held our school together with the force of her personality and watched it grow.
May her family have ‘nechamah’.
Mrs. Deren was the glue that held the Yeshiva together… Always a warm smile and a kind word, with the expectation that each student would give 100% effort. She will be missed. May Hashem comfort the Derens and the entire extended family among the mourners of Tzion V’Yerushalayim.
To a wonderful principal : Thank you, thank you for giving me the most wonderful year in my entire life. The memories and friends and Chassidish influence have shaped and molded me into the person I am today. Asking that Hashem Should Comfort the Deren Family at this time.
Ceitlin yes and sister to wife of chatche faigin but mechutoim with Jacobson rebbetzin Jacobson,s sister, Alta was married to aron leizer ceitlin that is brother of rebbe chaya Posner all of Blessed memory
As much as is suggested in the article that mentions her role as principal, the extent of her community chesed is far greater. In fact, it would not fit in an article, maybe a book of a few volumes. Mrs. Deren was one of the pivotal members of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, and so many were affected by her wisdom, her cheerful approach, her outreach, and her unlimited chesed. She leaves behind a family of great people, and her children are testimony to her greatness. Klal Yisroel suffers a tremendous loss. Yehai Zichrah Boruch. She will be missed by many.
A true Powerhouse,yet so warm and gentle!
Hamokoim yenachem eschem bsoich shaar aveilei tsion veyerusholayim!!
Simchas only in the entire family!!
ssk,cincinnati cousin
yes
Was her mother a Ceitlin?
A 3rd sister to R’ Chatche Feigin and R’ Yisroel Jacobsons wives?
We mourn the passing of a Queen. May she be a Meilitz Yosher for all Klal Yisroel.
A foundation family for Chabad and all the Jewish Community in Pittsburgh. Their work and dedication to Yiddishkit and the Rebber is huge and will last for generations.
A tremendous loss for Klal Yisroel and for the younger generation of Chabad that did not have the opportunity to be in her presence.
Thinking of all of you! she will definitely be a gutte better for the family and for klal yisroel! A shlucha in the full sense! Hamokom yenachem eschem mtoch shaar avelei tsion vrusholayim! The nechomo. Ma zarah bechaim AF he bachayim!
The Benshimons