Respected Educator and Mother of Three Dies at 39 in Jerusalem

Chaya Ruchama Maklev, a devoted special education teacher and mother of three young orphans, passed away at the age of 39 in Jerusalem after a difficult illness. She was a resident of the Ramot neighborhood and was known for her noble character, kindness, and dedication to her students.

Maklev was born into a prominent rabbinic dynasty. Her father is Rabbi Yosef Gedalia Weinberg, and her mother is Yehudit Weinberg. She was the granddaughter of the Slonim Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham Weinberg, and a niece of Rabbi David Cohen. She married Rabbi Yochanan Maklev, son of Knesset Member Uri Maklev, and together they established a home focused on Torah study and acts of kindness.

She dedicated her professional life to special education, where she was considered a mother figure to her students, providing expert art therapy and teaching. Her warm personality touched students, colleagues, doctors, and nurses alike. Despite her own suffering from a serious illness over the past year, she maintained hope and strengthened those around her.

Her passing has deeply affected many who knew her. The funeral procession departed from the Tze'i Synagogue in the Ramot Polin neighborhood of Jerusalem on Friday morning and proceeded to Har HaMenuchot cemetery. Due to the onset of the holiday, the family observed a brief shiva (mourning period) at their home in Ramot.