Mrs. Chaya Laine, a longtime educator who served as the devoted general studies principal in Bais Rivkah High School for many years, passed away on Tuesday night, 27 Elul, 5786.

She was 80.

Mrs. Laine was a dedicated educator for more than half a century and served for many years as principal of Bais Rivkah High School. She was a beloved mentor to thousands of students, showing concern for their progress and helping them to succeed. She was a dynamic and enthusiastic teacher and had a great impact on her students, many of whom went on to become educators and shluchos serving communities around the world.

Mrs. Laine was the daughter of Rabbi Gutman Baras, who lived in Rokiškis, Lithuania, where Rabbi Shmuel Levitin, a shliach of the Rebbe Rashab, played an influential role in drawing many local Jews closer to Lubavitch.

During World War II, her parents fled to Russia and eventually arrived at a displaced persons camp, where she was born. Following a series of remarkable miracles, the family was rescued and arrived in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

The family settled in Crown Heights, and her father worked in Hashgacha on Long Island. After seeking guidance from the Rebbe, the family became involved in Rabbanus and established a Jewish community in West Hempstead.

Mrs. Laine initially attended Bais Rivkah but, because of the difficulty of commuting, later transferred to Beth Jacob Teachers Seminary on South 8th Street in Williamsburg, where she completed her formal education.

After briefly teaching in West Hempstead, she sought the Rebbe’s guidance about pursuing a degree in education. The Rebbe advised her to attend a local college, and she went on to earn degrees in education from Queens College.

In 1971, she married Rabbi Eliezer Laine. Soon afterward, she began teaching at the Beis Yaakov high school in Williamsburg, where she remained until 1979. That year, Morah Chana Gorovitz, then dean of Bais Rivkah, invited her to join the school’s teaching staff.

Mrs. Laine taught at Bais Rivkah until 1987, when she became the high school’s English principal. She held the position for 33 years.

During her tenure, the school’s Regents passing rate rose from approximately 45 percent to nearly 90 percent, enabling the majority of students to earn a state diploma. When questions arose about the emphasis placed on English studies, the matter was brought to the Rebbe, who instructed that the students should strive for the highest level of achievement needed to receive a state diploma.

She is survived by her husband, Rabbi Eliezer Laine; and children, Sara Jacks of Johannesburg, South Africa; Rabbi Sholom Laine of Lauderhill, Florida, Rabbi Levi Laine of Crown Heights and Rabbi Mendel Laine of Crown Heights.

She was predeceased by her beloved son, Rabbi Peretz Laine obm.

The Levaya will take place on Thursday, passing by Bais Rivkah at 1:20
1:45 770
2:45 cemetery

Shiva will take place at 1395 Carroll St
Thursday:
* Mincha: 6:45 PM — 3 minyanim needed
* Maariv: Bizmano

Friday:
Shachris:
* 7:45 AM — Selichos followed by Shachris
* 8:30 AM — Selichos followed by Shachris
* 9:30 AM — Selichos followed by Shachris

Mincha: 1:35 PM — 2 minyanim needed

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.