Jr Nshei Honors Gemach Founders

Quiet, discreet, refined, class, time, energy and love.

Where they saw a need, they rose to fill it.
Where they saw a lack, they rose to create.
Where they saw cracks, they rose to build.
Now they have become pillars.

Ten years ago Miryam Elisheva founded the Zichron Moshe Laizer Uniform Gemach at the edge of a bunkbed. Today, the gemach is set up like a beautiful clothing store and caters to 109 families, 185 girls this year, from various schools in the tri-state area. The girls are able to start their new school year confident and proud wearing uniforms that are clean and fit, ensuring a proper start to the new year and giving them a foot up in their learning.

The children’s gemach run by Rivky started twelve years ago and provides an assortment of clothing for children of all ages. To make the process easier and comfortable for her clients, Rivky arranges to drop off bags of clothes in the desired size and style. Each item of clothing is clean and beautiful, often dry cleaned by the donors to ensure that each child feels like a prince or princess. This year, thirty six families joined for a tights party in the back yard and each left with a generous bag of clothing for yom tov. (Thank you Little Toes for donating tights, socks, headbands and accessories numerous times a year in honor of yomim tovim.)

Both the uniform gemach and the children’s gemach provide a dignified, private and respectable experience to all who step through their doors. Each person is greeted with love and friendship by Rivky, Miryam or one of their hand-picked volunteers. They sit and chat and enjoy each other’s company. Each person is given the proper time and attention and leaves with a smile, for Rivky and Miryam know how to transform a stressful situation into a joyful experience.

They are humble and unassuming and as such it is our pleasure to be able to thank them and give them recognition for their hours and hours of hard work, time, money, love and dedication that they have poured into their vital roles in the Crown Heights Community. It is women such as Miryam Elisheva Segal and Rivky Hafter who make Crown Heights the wonderful community that it is.

Please join Junior N’shei in honoring two pillars of our community, Miryam Elisheva Segal and Rivky Hafter on 12 Sivan, June 6 at Lubavitcher Yeshiva for their end of the year event.