By COLlive reporter
Members of the Chabad community in Phoenix, Arizona are attending the levaya of 16-year-old Shaina Welner OBM, who passed away this past Shabbos after a battle with cancer.
The levaya began on Sunday, passing by Lubavitch World Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights.
It continued on Monday, passing by the headquarters of Chabad Arizona on Lincoln Road, with the participants of a large crowd of people of all ages.
Among those present were the students of Cheder Lubavitch Arizona, which was founded by Shaina’s parents R’ Yaakov and Rochel Welner.
Shaina was one of the first students in the elementary school and upon her graduation, her parents established the Beis Chana Chabad girls high school in Phoenix.
This past Thursday, Shaina celebrated her 16th birthday and used the occasion to launch a Mitzvah4Shaina campaign for people to do 1,600 good deeds in the merit of her recovery. The campaign quickly reached close to 8,000 Mitzvos.
Her passing on Shabbos day was receiving with immense sadness and left a profound void in the lives of family, friends, and the Jewish community in Phoenix and beyond.
From Chabad Arizona, the procession continued to the Mt. Sinai Cemetery for burial. Arizona’s Head Shliach Rabbi Zalman Levertov shared words of strength and his’orerus.
She is survived by her parents, R’ Yaakov and Rochel Welner; siblings Chaya, Leah, Tzippy, Yitzi, and Naomi; and grandparents Allen and Candy Welner – Scottsdale, Arizona, and Neil and Vivian Bernstein – New York.
Baruch Dayan Haemes: Shaina Bas Yaakov Chaim.
Ad mosai!
Crying along with you all. Condolences to the family, Shaina’s friends and community .
I never met her but am starting to learn about this special and beautiful young lady. I cried when I heard the news. Please add your mitzvah to the campaign. May our mitzvos in her zchus tip the scales and bring Moshiach now!!! May her family and community be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.