True to its reputation, Junior N’shei once again put on a fantastic event on Tuesday night. The “Lemons and Lemonade” event, as it became known, drew a large crowd to enjoy inspirational speaker, Mrs. Devoiry Kreiman, “An Auction for You” and a delicious hot buffet by The Marketplace.
Complimentary copies of the N’shei Chabad Newsletter as well as kitchen pushkas were available as participants arrived. Additionally, participants received a lovely wrapped water bottle wishing them an invigorating summer!
The buffet table was beautifully arranged with pitchers of pink lemonade, a large lemonade dispenser and lemon and lime candy slices.
The MC of the evening, Mrs. Chaya Kramer, introduced the celebrated Mrs. Kreiman who did not disappoint.
It was standing room only as Mrs. Kreiman kept the crowd riveted with her stories that drew both tears and at other times, laughs.
A humorous story about a woman whose husband left her a note saying “There is no joy” brought out an important message about the wake-up-calls of life. After spending a day of introspection, trying to improve the state of their marriage and joy in their lives, turns out, all the husband wanted to do was let her know that they were out of dishwashing soap.
On the importance of making small steps towards a seemingly impossible task, Mrs. Kreiman told the audience to remember these three words: Eat a Chair. Strange as it sounds, eating a chair is exactly what a few philosophy students did as a class presentation. Over the course of a few months, they took the chair apart, bit by bit, and ate it, finely ground, with their food. The message is that tiny steps in the right direction bring about monumental results. “Not feeling spiritual? Just say one brocha with kavana.” Mrs. Kreiman urged. “You want to just stay home and withdraw? Go to the tail end of a shiur or event.” Even pretending is okay, she explained. She told a story of the Alter Rebbe in which he quoted the gemara that “those who pretend will in the end become that which they pretended to be.” Clearly, one should fake it until they make it.
Mrs. Kreiman’s speech surely brought chizuk and perspective to each person in their own challenges, enabling all to make incredible lemonade out of the lemons of their life.
The evening concluded with the drawings for the auction prizes and many thanks extended to the volunteers who have given so much for Junior N’shei.
Junior N’shei would like to wish an invigorating summer to all women of Crown Heights, and remind them to keep their eyes and ears open for next year’s opening event! It has been a wonderfully successful year and we look forward to providing even more in the coming year.
Mrs. Devoiry Krieman speaks at the National Jewish Retreat: