From the COLlive inbox:
Chaya Dalia Yael, OBM, born to Neima and Shlomo in Eretz Yisroel, was stricken with Yena Machala at a young age. At age 7, while in the US for treatment, she came before the Rebbe to ask for a brocha for a refuah.
The Rebbe gave her his blessing and she remained cancer free for the majority of her life, up until recently. After this experience, she became very connected to the Rebbe, lively and passionately spending almost every moment involved in mivtzoim, doing mitzvos, and inspiring other people to do mitzvos too.
She dreamed of having a Chabad House in East Flatbush, but she was herself a walking Chabad house. For over 30 years, regardless of weather condition, she organized a weekly Shiur in Brooklyn and connected people to the Rebbe through her Mivtzoim.
Because of her efforts, there were children who were born with Taharas Hamishpocha, couples who got married according to halacha, and jewish kids who were sent to yeshivos. She kept in contact with hundreds of families, doing her best to bring them closer to avinu sh’beshamayim.
She attended thousands of simchas, weddings and l’chaims over the years. She was a beloved teacher at Oholei Torah East Flatbush preschool for many years.
One student remembered her fondly saying, “She was my kindergarten teacher. I could never forget her, such a kind soul.”
Later in life, she was also the personal assistant/helper to Rabbi and Rebbetzin Teitelbaum for a few years up until his passing. She was so happy to have the zechus to help them. But anyone who knew Chaya Dalia knew she spent almost every waking hour of her life at 770.
She was an institution there, cleaning the benches in the Kingston Shul with paper towels on Friday in honor of Shabbos, and making sure the bathroom had liquid soap. The soap was often purchased with her own funds, as 770 funding did not always provide for it adequately. She was always davening, putting back the left out sefarim, cleaning up the Kingston shul, and turning off the lights at the end of the day. She was a full-time believer and unofficial caretaker of 770. Everyone knew her. She cried for the discord amongst Israel, and did her best to immediately set straight anything sheker.
There are those who believe she provided shmira for 770, with all of her mitzvot, both hidden and revealed, as much as any torah scholar who learned there.
For all that she did for others, Rabbi Lider looked out for her in turn. He raised the money for her final trip to Eretz Yisroel, where doctors tried desperately to save her life. Hashem wanted her precious neshama back though. She was niftar ON Shabbos, ON the Rebbe’s Yartzheit, Gimmel Tammuz.
She was clearly a holy soul. Chaya Dalia Yael bas Shlomo, OBM, passed away this past shabbos. Help give her neshama a lift and sign up here to learn mishnayos in her merit http://www.lzechernishmas.com/signup.php?id=6448
Readers comments about Chaya Dalia:
On Chaya Dalia at 770:
Chaya Dalia will be missed. There wasn’t a shabbos, a yomtov, a day of Krias Hatorah that Chaya Dalia didnt beg Der Aibishter to free Sholom Mordechai ben Rivkah OUT OF JAIL NOW!!! SHE NEVER NEVER FORGOT AND THE CROWD IN KINGSTON SHUL WOULD ANSWER A CLEAR OMEIN!!!!
B”DE Sorry to hear – Chaya Dalia we will miss you, you don’t even realize. Her presence will be missed by so many and if we do mitzvos in her name, she’ll know we care. Even the pushka she asked people to give tzedaka to wasn’t for her personal needs. She would sometimes give it to Rabbi Groner or someone that she felt was needier than herself, or to buy food for Farbrengen’s in Ezras Noshim. Baruch Dayan Emes! I looked forward to her presence in 770. If she was there somehow everything seemed almost alright.
On Chaya Dalia around Crown Heights:
Baruch Dayan HaEmet , what a Tzadeiket! Always giving me blessings for my daughter whenever I would see her on Kingston ave and vice versa of course.
Bde. When I was expecting she crossed the street to make sure that I had a shiur l’ maalos. Very special lady.
So sad. She always stopped me and gave me many blessings and when collecting tzedakah always made sure to tell me it’s not for personal use! What a sweet Lady:( BDE may her neshama reach the highest Aliya!
BDE. She always gave me Brochos for health and begged for Moshiach. Her brochos should be mekuyam and Moshiach should come now. Big z’chus to have been niftar on Gimmel Tammuz!
On her Legacy:
I was wondering where she was the past few weeks, such shocking news :(( BDE. All of us who knew her are all mourning the loss of our dear Jewish sister even while we are unable to pay a shiva call to her family. They should be comforted with the mourners of Zion and Yerushayim. Hope and pray fervently for משיח to come now!!
I will really miss her. BDE Chaya Dalia was very devoted to the Rebbe and chassidus. She was very involved with 770. Unfortunately, she had a hard life but was very giving in spite of that. She really cared, which is a trait that is hard to find. I really loved her and will miss her as she was someone very special.
I will also miss Chaya Dalia very much, oy! Ezras Noshim won’t be the same without her. Very special lady, a gutte neshama. Very devoted to the Rebbe’s inyonim and a true chassidiste. Passed on Shabbos Gimmel Tammuz no less. Please please משיח כאו!
Chaya Dalia bas Shlomo was a true chosid of the Rebbe, and now shares his yartzeit. May her memory be for a blessing.
She often asked for a bracha for a shidduch for herself. Trying to make shidduchim in her merit would also be good to do!
this has left me sad , i’m a 45 hr old women who came to CH when i was 19 . she was a serious part of our 770 expericance then and now for my children . a chapter in our life which will iyh continue through her mitzvos and legendary dedication to the rebbe and klal yisroel.
Left unsaid: In addition to 770 she would visit many local shuls, help with food and sometimes find ppl to make a minyen.
When I learnd in Machon Chana she was there every morning cheering the girls and giving brochos for a shiduch! She went to all our simchos! I remember her as being a happy person BH
Shiva info was in comments. Nachlat kfar chabad 178/8
Nistorim Darkei Hashem
May Hashem bring the GEULAH immediately אמן!!!
I am in Israel & I would have gone to be menachem avel, but despite asking nothing was posted. A lost opportunity to share some words of comfort with her family.
descendants, just lots of chesed & mitzvahs. This is a very appropriate & beautiful thing to do for her neshama.
Will miss her! Thank you for the beautiful op-ed!
Beautiful!
Chaya Dalia to me epitomized Emes. She always looked genuinely happy to see me.May she be a Malitz Yosher and ask Hashem for Malkeinu Meshichanu now.
chaya dalia was epitome of kindness….she carried from her soul about everyone….770 is not the same without her… the void is so felt… chaya dalia lived to greet moshiach…..may we all greet moshiach now with chaya dalia….we miss you
There are still slots available for learning Mishnayos in her Zchus. Pls sign up.
Thank you for this collive