Machon Chana, Yeshiva for women in Crown Heights founded in 1972, has been led by Mrs. Sara Labkowski for 49 years. Over the years, one could see the special relationship the Rebbe had with the school. The Rebbe was involved with the smallest details, and insisted on the school being dignified and elegant, and said that all expenditures for this purpose were worthwhile.
Each year, the Rebbe came before the seder in order to bless the girls. The Rebbe visited other mosdos too, like F.R.E.E., Hadar Hatorah, the orchim and the kitchen of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim.
One year, when he went to Machon Chana after visiting the other mosdos, the Rebbe said to Rabbi Hecht with a smile, “Now, I’m going home.”
The Rebbe insisted that each girl have her own cup for Kiddush, and a matza cover. Each year, the Rebbe gave a package of matzos to Rebbitzen Labkowski to be distributed to the girls. When the Rebbe visited the seder at the school, he blessed the girls that they should have the privilege of making a seder in their own homes the following year.
The line that best expressed the Rebbe’s feelings about Machon Chana was what he said to the devoted housemother, Mrs. Gansburg, “Thank you for raising my daughters.”
After inspecting the kitchen The Rebbe asked Mrs. Mera Galperin OBM, the cook, whether she prepared food for the girls like she prepared at home. Each year, on Erev Yom Kippur, the Rebbe sent lekach for the girls, matzah on Erev Pesach and on Chamisha-Asar B’Shvat, the girls received a basket of fruit. The Rebbe requested that they send him a picture of the girls each year. The Rebbe once said that his mother’s presence is constantly at Machon Chana because the girls follow in her ways.
49 years later, what’s doing with the Rebbe’s mother’s school?
Since its founding, tens of thousands of girls from all corners of the world received an education, empowerment and a “warm home” at Machon Chana and proudly have the merit to be called Rebbitzen Chana’s daughters.
“They have built tens of thousands of beautiful Jewish homes and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren today fill the classrooms of Yeshivas around the world,” Rebbetzin Labkowski tells COLlive.com in an interview in honor of nearing its jubilee year.
“These special women are shluchos, educators, lay leaders and professionals who live and spread the Rebbe’s message around the world and have succeeded in turning the tide of assimilation, and not only legitimized but made the term baal teshuva something to be proud of,” she says.
“They are living proof of the Rebbe’s vision of the power of women and how by educating them we will raise a generation who will stand on the forefront in greeting Moshiach and their children point to זה קל ואנוהו. And making the Rebbe and Rebbetzin proud!”
VIDEO: Rebbetzin Sara Labkowski speaks to COLlive.com
For more info, visit machonchana.org
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49 years since the inception of the first women’s Chabad yeshiva as a gift for the Rebbe’s 70s birthday.
What’s doing with the Rebbes mothers school today?
Machon Chana over the years has expanded and reached ten and thousands of women through its many programs.
On taking a tour of the Machon Chana Women’s Center building on Crown St any evening one will find young girls shmoozing excitingly about a great lesson, enjoying a delicious dinner in a beautiful dining hall/ kitchen, studying a maamar with an alumna in the warm well-stocked, lingering in a classroom with a teacher, sitting with a mashpia discussing growth or a shidduch, or bump into a Farbrengen in one of the shuls or dorms, a lchaim in another, or an exercise class in the studio.
Home to two educational institutions Machon Chana & Michlelet Chana, three shuls, dormitory and residence apartments exclusive for young women, a beautiful modern kitchen that functions all year round, simcha halls, a workout room and brand new lounge – the Machon chana center serves all facets of our community- for learning, Davening, belonging, recreation, and simchas.
Machon Chana Women’s Institute offers day, evening full-time, Parttime learning for girls and women of all ages, catering to all levels. Classes are offered full-day Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 am – to 9:30 pm on most days to accommodate the schedule of any woman interested in learning.
The school curriculum is built on the three pillars that are essential to building a strong Jewish woman: Chassidus, Halacha and Jewish Home.
Education is offered in multiple modems- In-class lectures and workshops, Chevrusa, one on one private mentorship, weekly Farbrengens, live zoom classes and online courses for shluchos and mekuravim that lead to a seminary or BA degree as well as yimei iyun on various topics in chinuch, women, Halacha.
Parttime programs include live and learn yeshivacation programs twice a year-10 days in winter and 4-6 weeks in the summer. In addition, Machon Chana has teamed up with shluchos in creating custom-tailored programs for groups of women looking for a live and learn experience in Crown Heights.
Whereas Machon Chana is famous as the first woman’s baalat tshuva yeshiva in Chabad, Michlelet Chana, run by Mrs. Rivka Holzman, was created to accommodate the needs of the hundreds of Chabad post-seminary girls throughout the world seeking a welcoming home, a healthy and growth oriented spiritual center, an educational center, support and camaraderie while living in Crown Heights
The school offers advanced Torah learning, apartments, vocational training, student visas, Farbrengens, shuls, meals, classes early morning, evening and Sundays to accommodate Parttime learners and Shadchanus and mentoring services.
The center houses three shuls: Bais Levi Yitzchak – the first Chabad house in Crown Heights that offered a welcoming shul for new as well as old time in baalei tshuva, warm loving always available Rabbi and Rebbitzen Lerman, welcoming Friday night meals, Shiurim in English, simultaneous kiddushim after Davening for both men and women.
Sfardic Center – run by Rabbi Leizer Avtzon, provides a Chabad shul but keeps to sfardic tradition and nusach and provides a center of Torah and Tefilla , shiurim and Farbrengens for sfardic Jews from all backgrounds.
Beinoni shul:
A once close-knit vibrant class shul has turned into a full-fledged community of its own. Run by Rabbi Moshe Raitport, it offers its members a variety of shiurim, Chassidish Farbrengens, a warm place to daven and learn, and a comprehensive children program on shabbos. It’s a shul where all feel welcome and feel they belong.
The center offers three beautiful modern event venues of different sizes to accommodate simchas, conferences and events. The latest – Ulam Chana, is a beautiful new 1600 sq ft event hall which is a perfect hall for lChaims, Bar Mitzvahs, Bar Mitzvahs and even small weddings.
Machon Chana Women’s Center currently houses Machon Chana younger students in a renovated dormitory that is overseen by dorm mother Leah Mindy Meijers and two Madridchot , as well is home to post-seminary girls seeking comfortable above ground apartments in a Chassidishe, safe environment, meals, Farbrengens, continued learning and a great social life.
The tens of thousands of Machon Chana alumnae, who the Rebbe called his daughters, have changed not only the Chabad demographics and landscape but strongly impacted the Jewish world and gave great reverence to the term Baal Tshuva. They have set the example and standard for the many Baalei Tshuva Yeshivas that have sprouted around the world. They are testimony to the Rebbe’s belief that by offering Torah education imbued with Chassidus to the women, one will not only halt assimilation but raise a proud passionate Torah and Mitzvos abiding generation who will bring Moshiach.
