New Mezuzah Campaign in Memory of Chana Brook

Having just mourned her passing on Yud Nissan, a mere two months ago, Chabad Lubavitch of Montana has launched a Mezuzah campaign in memory of Mrs. Chana Brook of Kfar Chabad that will bring hundreds of Mezuzot to Jewish families throughout the State.

“She was a special woman, who merited that so many of her decedents have dedicated their lives to Hafotzas Hamayanos” said grandson Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk, who together with his wife Chavie are overseeing the campaign, “I could think of no better way to continue her legacy than by giving so many Jewish families the opportunity to have a Mezuzah which is not only a Mitzvah but also brings a healthy Jewish identity to the respective home”.

Mrs. Chana Brook was born in the Holy City of Yerushalayim on the 17th of Kislev, 5683 (1922). Her parents, Reb Menachem Manish and Miriam Rochel Scheinberger, were pious hard working people, who despite their illustrious background as grandchildren of Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and Rabbi Akivah Yosef Schlesinger, the famous Lev Ha’Ivri, they lived modestly and raised their children with love and devotion.

When reaching marriageable age, her parents sought out to find her a husband who earned an honest living while remaining a Frume Yid with Yiras Shomayim, and indeed they found Reb Mendel Brook. Mendel was a young Russian Chabad Chassid who came from a long line of Chassidim, including his towering father Reb Sheyel Brook, the famous Mashpia in Tel Aviv and Rishon LeZion as well as his grandfather Reb Menachem Mendel HaKohen of Beshinkovitz. They married on the 8th of Tammuz 5703 (1943). Together they believed strongly in the sanctity of traditional Jewish life and the importance of raising their children in an authentic Torah spirit.

In the midst of their Sheva Brachot celebration, on the 12th of Tammuz 5703 (1943) they moved to Rishon LeZiyon where they were pioneers of Jewish life and where they enjoyed their blessing of ten children. With five sons and five daughters, they had their hands full and spent most of their time instilling ethics, morals and a healthy Jewish identity into their tribes. While Mendel worked as a truck driver, Chana served as a teacher at Talmud Torah – Beis Yaakov where she raised hundreds of Jewish children with devotion, enthusiasm and her “special touch”.

On the 12th of Tammuz 5721 (1961), the Brook’s moved back to Jerusalem. There, Chana continued her teaching career at B’nei Tziyon and Bais Lepleitos for orphaned and homeless girls who had recently immigrated to Israel. Twenty nine years later, in 1990, again on the auspicious day, the 12th of Tammuz, they moved to the village of Kfar Chabad to be near their two youngest daughters and their families. They loved traveling for family Simchos and would come to visit their five sons in New York quite often.

After her husband’s passing on the 13th of Kislev, 5766 (2005) she continued to be a guiding light and source of inspiration to her children and over 300 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more recently great-great-grandchildren. On her ninetieth birthday, she celebrated with hundreds of family members who joined from around the world for this unique moment. On the 10th of Nissan, 5773 (2013) after a very short struggle with illness, she returned her soul to her Maker, leaving behind a family filled with reverence for this true woman of valor.

To sponsor a Mezuzah in her memory Click Here