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May 16, 2005
Seraphic Deena
A child dies and parents are left with a pain so vast that language collapses. What to do? What can the parents do to honor and preserve the memory of their child?
The Deena Motechin Jacobs Gemilas Chesed Fund was established in June 1999 in memory of Deena Motechin Jacobs, Z"L, a young bride and aspiring teacher of Torah studies. Although Deena was only 20-years-old when she died she had already touched and enriched the lives of many people. Deena was an unusually spiritual young woman. Long before she was married, Deena dedicated her daily Torah learning, reciting of Tehillim, and especially her davening, as a z'chus for her friends and other girls of marriageable age to find proper shidduchim. It was her hope and prayer to recover from her illness and begin a career as a Jewish teacher, hopefully in her grade school alma mater: The Jewish Foundation/Yeshiva Tiferes Shmuel Ezra, in Staten Island. Unfortunately, Deena did not live to fulfill her dream.
To help perpetuate Deena's memory, the Deena Motechin Jacobs Gemilas Chesed Fund has become a leading provider of interest free loans and grants for Rebbeim, Moros, and other teachers in the yeshiva school sector. In addition to assisting dedicated educators who may be in financial need, Deena's fund also provides financial assistance for Hachnassas Kallah--assisting brides, grooms and their families with their wedding expenses.
The Deena Fund is tax exempt under section 501 (c)(3) of the Iternal Revenue Code.
Deena's mother, Joyce, is one of Karen's oldest friends. They met when they were teenagers at Camp Eton. As often happens, best friends lose touch with one another. But close to a year ago, Joyce ran across Seraphic Secret; something in the entries made her suspect that Ariel's mother might possibly be her old bunk mate. I could not have imagined a more powerful script: Two childhood friends separated for over forty years are, at last, reunited because of the tragic parallel deaths of their children--a young man and young woman who have an uncanny spiritual resemblance to one another.
Joyce and Karen have been writing to one another ever since. In fact, they were able to reunite face to face, in NY several months ago. The years apart melted away in a fraction of a second.
Karen and I never had the joy of meeting Deena. But from everything we've learned about this vivacious and caring young woman, it is obvious that the fund set up by her parents perfectly reflects the ambitions and inner life of Deena, Z"L.
For applications or to make a contribution please write to:
Deena Motechin Jacobs Gemilas Chesed Fund
763 Woolley Avenue
Staten Island, New York 10314
Tel: (718) 761-6042
Fax: (718) 761-9488
Deena's Yartzeit is Sunday, June 5th, 27 Iyar. May her holy neshama have an aliyah.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at May 16, 2005 11:05 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.