N’shei Chabad Newsletter Explores Raising Children to be Givers

The N’shei Chabad Newsletter’s upcoming Pesach edition features a conversation with a mother of 11 who shares her perspective on having and raising children, and a touching story from the Rebbe that took place with Mrs. Rivkah Begun.

Get ready to meet the funny and charming (and oh so real) Leah Kohn, a young mother who writes, “We stop and get gas. I very definitely state we are not getting chips. We get chips.”

We think you will like Nechama Dina, mother of 11. Her calm, wise attitude about having and raising children is priceless. Rabbi Aron Moss conducted the interview. Here’s an excerpt:

RAM: When you’re out in public with your 11 children, what’s the strangest comment you’ve ever received regarding having such a big family?

ND: Usually the comments are overwhelmingly positive. Most people are very admiring and supportive, especially here in Australia. Over the years, though, I have had my share of funny comments. The strangest one was from a woman who berated me for having such a large family when the world population is exploding and resources are scarce. Don’t I realize I am taking more than my share by having so many children?

RAM: And what was your answer?

ND: I shared something that I had heard that I thought was very insightful. If we raise our children to be consumers, to be takers, then even one child might be too many. But if we raise our children to be givers, to contribute to society, then please, let’s have more. 

Don’t miss Esther Etiquette, who addresses the issue of doing favors when others don’t reciprocate when you need a favor. Should you still continue doing them favors? Esther also replies to P.P.P., who writes:

Dear Esther,

I recently shared some thoughts on my family WhatsApp via voice note. A few days later, a friend of my cousin was in line behind me and told me she had heard my voice note (it had been forwarded to a friends chat she is on) and she agreed with my position. I was taken aback. I had shared a personal opinion on a family chat, a chat that is made up of people I feel comfortable opening up to. I specifically do not share my thoughts and opinions publicly and I felt like my privacy had been breached by whoever forwarded my voice note. I am sure I am not the only person who has experienced something like this, and in today’s world, where many communications are done through social media, this is an issue that needs to be addressed!

Thank you,

Personally Private Penina

And don’t miss a true story by Rabbi Dovi Begun about his grandmother, Mrs. Rivkah Begun. As a young girl, Rivkah Herson came to New York from Brazil in the 1950s and needed help adjusting to Bais Rivkah. The Rebbe checked on her marks regularly, and did not allow her brother to leave town, because he was studying with her at night. Here’s an excerpt:

…Rivkah recalled how the Rebbe asked her to send in her marks from school each month and when there was a month that she for whatever reason didn’t do it (maybe she forgot), the Rebbe reminded her, asking, “Why didn’t I receive your marks this month?” She was touched and transformed by the Rebbe’s love and care. Perhaps my grandmother’s greatest accomplishment was that she was able to channel that love and care and turn it into her life mission.

Click here nsheichabadnewsletter.com to subscribe, or buy it in a Crown Heights store the week before Pesach.