Ateres Chaya’s Doors Have Closed, But Its Lessons Live On

By a grateful mother

For 12 years, Ateres Chaya Mushka School for Girls served the Crown Heights community. It was truly a gem of a school – one of a kind. Unfortunately, this year they are unable to open their doors.

Having been a grateful recipient of the Chinuch that Ateres Chaya provided for my daughters over the past five years, I was deeply saddened to hear that the school would be closing. After discussing my feelings with my Mashpia, as well as receiving guidance through a letter from the Rebbe, I felt it would be beneficial to share a glimpse into some of the highlights of Ateres Chaya with the greater Lubavitch community, so that we can all learn from and be inspired by some of its beautiful ways.

Ateres Chaya Mushka functioned on miracles. Like the birth of Yitzchok Avinu, Ateres Chaya lived with miracles every step of the way. Throughout the years, there were definitely tremendous challenges, financially and otherwise. Yet with every challenge, Mrs. Levine—or Morah Leah, as she affectionately called herself—rose up and drew strength from the open, incredible answers she received through the Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh. With every obstacle, she came back with renewed strength, greater joy, and deeper commitment.

Sometimes, the obstacles were as daunting as the Yam Suf before the Yidden, where it seemed there was no way forward. But she never gave up. Time and time again, she strengthened her Bitachon and took steps to invite more Bracha, whether by going to the Ohel or the Rebbetzin’s Tziyon, either by herself or together with her students. And the miracles unfolded. A full volume could be written about all the miracles this school experienced, which Morah Leah was always sure to acknowledge and share. This naturally spread an energy of trust in Hashem and a deep connection to the Rebbe.

Over the years, my daughters have been blessed with outstanding teachers. There was the math teacher who brought so much joy, love, and Chassidishe inspiration into the subject, connecting with the girls in a fun, friendly way, even hosting farbrengens and game nights. There were teachers who served as role models for Chassidishe living inspired by the Rebbe and Chassidus: dedicated educators who truly cared for and celebrated each and every student without judgment.

Such was the nature of Ateres Chaya. It went far beyond an academic institution; it was infused with genuine love and care for each student, as well as a real determination and courage to take the Rebbe’s instructions for learning Al Taharas Hakodesh seriously. The English reading books were carefully chosen to contain lessons and messages appropriate for the Rebbe’s daughters. The priorities were always crystal clear: Limudei Kodesh first and foremost, with English as a tool for students to express themselves properly, taught with materials that reinforced the values of Torah and Chassidus.

There was also a beautiful energy of acceptance and Ahavas Yisroel. The girls came to appreciate their classmates along with their differences, connecting with one another without judgment.

When I first spoke with Morah Leah about her school, she shared her mission: Kabolas HaTorah B’Simcha U’Bipnimius, that the girls receive Torah in a real, meaningful, relatable, and happy way. I have seen that vision act as a guiding light throughout the years. Teachers brought their lessons to life, showing the girls how what they learned was genuinely applicable to their lives. The girls were also involved in creative projects that allowed them to process what they learned, think about it in their own way, and truly make it their own.

During my oldest daughter’s first year at Ateres Chaya, Morah Leah told me about a conversation she had with her that deeply touched me. She shared that while Baruch Hashem my daughter was behaving well and being cooperative, she noticed that she wasn’t expressing herself fully and was remaining quiet and reserved. Morah Leah made time to sit down and speak with her. She explained that just as a light fixture in their classroom needed fixing so the room could be fully illuminated, the class needed my daughter’s light to shine brightly through her davening, her participation, her questions, and her thoughts.

It was so moving to me that Morah Leah first noticed a child who was quiet and not causing any trouble, and second, that she found such a beautiful, empowering way to show her how much her presence was wanted and valued.

Morah Leah’s motto was L’Chatchila Ariber. Although finances were a real challenge over the years, she never let that stop her from renting a beautiful house for a school Shabbaton, going above budget when a teacher wanted to arrange an elegant farbrengen for Yud Shevat, or a gorgeous end-of-year program for the students and their mothers. She truly put her heart and soul into giving the girls the very best, trusting that the funds would follow.

The girls gained so much simply from her personal example. As a mother of 13 children, Baruch Hashem, Morah Leah imparted to my daughters a genuine delight, love, and excitement for having a large and growing family.

I was also struck by the way she would often consult her own parents for advice in various situations. At a time when so many feel they know better than their parents, it was so wholesome to see a true Mechaneches with the humility to reach out to her parents for guidance as she educated the next generation.

Currently, Ateres Chaya is a school without walls. Let us all take a little bit of the light of Ateres Chaya and bring it into our homes, schools, classrooms, and personal lives, each in our own way, whether it is

● The bravery to get up again and trust in Hashem, even when challenges are real.
● The courage to take the Rebbe’s Horaos seriously, even when it isn’t easy.
● To look at every individual as a precious gem, remembering there is no such thing as “damaged goods” when speaking of Hashem’s children.
● To continue connecting and reconnecting to our Meshaleiach and seeking his guidance.
● To approach our parents with humility and an openness to receive.

And may the light of Ateres Chaya shine further and brighter than ever before, ushering in the light of Moshiach, may it be now!