In an era of tabloid journalism, it’s hard to imagine a celebrity about whom very little is known. Yet that exactly describes Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory. True, the facts of her life have been well documented, and a handful of anecdotes provide glimpses of a woman of great kindness and integrity. Yet these are unsatisfying, leaving us uncertain who the Rebbetzin really was.

What is certain is that this is exactly what the Rebbetzin wanted. Intensely private, she did everything in her power to remain anonymous, unknown and uncelebrated. And this fact in itself is so striking, so radically different, from today’s perspective, that it deserves our attention. The Rebbetzin’s modesty had a very definite purpose. As Louise Hager remarks in her moving remembrance, “She shared in full measure all the cares of the Rebbe...and she restricted her contact with the outside world in order to ensure that he was able to do what he needed to in peace and tranquility.”

It is not an overstatement to say that the Rebbetzin was a silent partner in all of the Rebbe’s work. In a generation when modesty has become a dirty word, the Rebbetzin reminds us that while the culture of self-promotion may conceal a void of meaning, one woman’s quiet sacrifice may be a force potent enough to rock the world.

Wishing you a meaningful week,

Sarah Ogince on behalf of the Chabad.org team