Rabbanit Henkin, Todah Rabbah

Editor’s Note: This speech was delivered by the author at the closing ceremony of her gap year at Nishmat in 2020, with minor editing for publication. We share it with you in honor of the end of Rabbanit Henkin’s tenure as Dean of Nishmat.

Last year, I read a story about the Baal HaTanya. Sitting at home with his married son, Rabbi Dov Ber, the two were engrossed in Torah learning. Rabbi Dov Ber was so focused on his studies that he didn’t notice when his baby began to cry. His father, the Baal HaTanya, did hear, so he paused his learning and went to comfort his crying grandchild. He told his son that regardless of how intensely he is learning, he must always hear a baby’s cries and do what he can to alleviate the baby’s pain. 

Initially, this story taught me that at times, it is necessary to interrupt Torah learning for Torah living, but Rabbanit Henkin helped me realize that it actually has a much more striking meaning.

Earlier this year, banot Shana Ba’Aretz [gap year students] were warmly welcomed into Rabbanit Henkin’s home, where she shared profound wisdom on living a Torah life with us. In addition, Rabbanit Henkin shared stories about the founding of Nishmat. She told us about making aliyah to a town where women were unknowingly violating the laws of taharat hamishpacha [family purity] because of a mikvah employee’s demands that they come before nightfall so that she would be home in time for dinner with her family.

The second story she told was of running into a friend who broke down in tears and told the rabbanit that she was having immense difficulties with a personal situation regarding nidah. As I recall, immediately after this encounter, Rabbanit Henkin cleared her schedule and began to lay the groundwork for the Yoetzet Halacha initiative by meeting with rabbi after rabbi after rabbi.

In my year at Nishmat, Rabbanit Henkin’s Torah teachings, and especially these stories, taught me what it means to live a life dedicated to Torah.

The second story, where the rabbanit heard the cry of a Jewish woman in pain, reflects the Baal HaTanya’s instruction that one must always hear the baby crying and do what they can to help. Yet in the first story, where the rabbanit worked to solve the town’s inadvertent halakhic violations, the cry was not coming from a human in pain. The rabbanit heard the cry of the Torah. Rabbanit Henkin taught me that a Torah life is not just about hearing the cries of the people around me. It is also about hearing the cry of the Torah, which demands to be learned and to be lived. Rabbanit Henkin taught me that to contribute to the world around me is not a break from Torah. It is a continuation of the very learning that teaches you how to be a light in a world that often feels so dark. I realized that to be a Torah Jew does not involve departing from the text to go and live life. It is about making sure that everything you do reflects the text you commit your life to.

Rabbanit Henkin represents this ideal Torah personality exquisitely. I personally know that Rabbanit Henkin’s unique sensitivity is not only macrocosmic, looking at the broader world of Torah Jewry and seeing what needs to be done, it is deeply personal as well. When I wasn’t sure about my plans for chag, Rabbanit Henkin found me in the beit midrash and warmly invited me to her home. That was my first Simchat Torah celebrated through learning Torah, instead of dancing or watching men dance.

I hope to maintain this simchat limmud [joyous study] all the days of my life. In the present moment, it might be appropriate to acknowledge that life is short, hayom katzar v’hamlakha merubah [the day is short and the work is plenty]. How will our generation follow in HaRabbanit’s footsteps and do all that we can to bolster Torah and the Jewish people?

I am not so worried, because Rabbanit Henkin taught us important instructions for how to live well: one must prioritize and take time seriously. Existence is a gift from God. Inspired by Rabbanit Henkin, I hope each of us will become the best versions of ourselves that we can be, and may we all contribute to the Jewish people.
Rabbanit Henkin, Todah Rabbah.

Photo Credit: Anonymous

Photo Caption: Rabbanit Chana Henkin with Shana Ba’Aretz students at Nishmat (2020)