PORTLAND, OR — The recent death of Leah Raichik of Los Angeles has prompted two Portland, Ore., women, the rebbetzin's daughter and granddaughter, to reflect on the commonalities and differences three generations of women have experienced as Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries in a rapidly changing world.
World Changes, but Women’s Mission Stays Same
PORTLAND, OR — The recent death of Leah Raichik of Los Angeles has prompted two Portland, Ore., women, the rebbetzin’s daughter and granddaughter, to reflect on the commonalities and differences three generations of women have experienced as Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries in a rapidly changing world.
Today, Devora Wilhelm and daughter Simi Mishulovin pursue the same goal Raichik had almost 59 years ago when she arrived in California with her husband, Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik, at the behest of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory: to reach out to and enhance the local Jewish community.
“The Rebbe saw the need for the growth of Judaism in Los Angeles 58 and a half years ago, and in Portland 23 years ago,” said Mishulovin, first referring to the previous Rebbe and then to his successor, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory. “He literally cared that every Jewish person’s needs – physical or spiritual – should be met by his emissaries in more than 3,000 centers around the world.”
Raichik moved from New York City and the few members of her family who survived the Holocaust to Los Angeles shortly after her marriage in 1948 to Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik. With a mission to reach out to all Jews regardless of their connection to Judaism, the young couple spent three days on a train traveling to a city where they knew no one.
Yosef David Hasson, Portland, Oregon
Thank G-d for the shluchot and shluchim of the Rebbe so that the needs of Jews can B”H be taken care of all over the world.