Book excerpt: Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson was born on 28 Tevet, 5640 (Monday, January 12, 1880) in Nikolayev, a city in western Russia, near Odessa. In addition to providing our generation with its preeminent, venerated leader, Rebbetzin Chana was in her own right a truly outstanding person, a "woman of valor" in the fullest sense. Righteous, humble, giving and wise, her life is a shining example for every Jewish woman and "mother in Israel." This compilation contains selections from her memoirs, a brief biography and other events and historical information surrounding her illustrious life.