Letters and Speeches Section:
A small memory of dearest Yehudis written by her loving Omi:
YEHUDIS ע"ה
Oakland, California
Purim 1986
Yehudis and her mother, Chana were visiting us from Lakewood.
Since it was Purim, I wanted to dress up Yehudis as the prettiest queen Esther.
I fixed up one of my dresses to fit her, made a crown for her beautiful hair and added lots of beads around her neck.
She was a happy, beautiful four year old queen Esther.
On Purim night, we went for Megillah laining to a Shul in Berkeley.
It was lively and noisy with lots of greggers and other noise makers to stamp out the name of the wicked, wicked Haman.
The laining went along as expected UNTIL…
We saw a full sized BLACK GORILLA stomping around the Shul.
... Read More
Hesped by HaRav Yosef Sorotzkin:
Reb Aaron Leib Shteinman once remarked to someone, that everyone must go through gehenom, even if he's on the way to gan-eden. This axiom is all inclusive, he even included himself. He hesitated a moment and then made a disclaimer "maybe Reb Chaim not.” I would like to add "maybe Yehudis not.” She certainly had her gehenom on this world. She was purified to go straight to gan-eden.
"Boruch gozer u'mekayem," Hashem decrees difficulties, but simultaneously imbues us with the strength to endure these difficulties. He creates circumstances and brings about with courage to face these difficulties head on. נָעַר הַיִיתִי וְגַם זַקָנְתִי וְלֹא רָאִיתִי.
A manifestation of "boruch gozer u'mekayem" as powerful and crystal clear was Yehudis. The decree on her was devastating. But He was also "mekayem". The favorable conditions Hashem created for her were unprecedented. A mother who raised her with love and devotion through trials and tribulations. A husband who was sent to her straight from Gan Eden. When Yoily & Yehudis first got engaged, eyebrows were raised. The shidduch made little sense on so many levels. But Hashem who is the מזווג זיווגים, knew exactly what He was doing. The love & devotion that they had for each other was exemplary. They served as a source of inspiration for other couples.
Hashem gave her siblings, half siblings, and step siblings who couldn't do enough for her. They enveloped her with love ... Read More
Shloshim Speech by HaRav Yosef Sorotzkin:
Family and friends of Yehudis are gathered here tonight to commemorate her shloshim, and to
further the aliya of her neshomo, as we just did with the siyum 6 sidrei mishna. In keeping with
the limits set by rosh chodesh, there will be only 3 speakers, not maspidim but speakers.
The Ramban on this week's parsha states the following; everyone has to know his place
everyone should accept who he is, for only then can he or she achieve the peace of mind and
tranquility necessary for avodas Hashem. There is a fascinating gemoro (taanis 23) that I
believe can be explained with this Ramban.
The gemoro tells us that Rav Manni went to his Rebbe, Rav Yitzchak ben Elishav, to complain
that his father in law, because of his wealth, thought that he can tell him what to do. He asked
Rav Yitzchak to make his ... Read More
A Song Written by Yehudis' Friend, Dubbie Simon:
Your life on earth
Was a journey
With many twists and turns
Until your 40's
You survived single life
You fought cancer
With all the strength you owned
As we watched in pride
More than you'll ever know
You made friends
From every walk of life
You brought family together
Kept the spark alive
You had a golden heart, a fire
... Read More
