Together with some generous sponsors, you helped to: Make Her Day; Pesach 5782

Coordinated by Sori Auslander and Goldie Fogel

We asked If you could make someone’s day, whose would it be, and why?

You responded with stories of heavy burdens carried with courage and faith.

You responded with tales of grace and giving.

You told us about the women you admire, the women you’d want to celebrate.

And together with some generous sponsors, you helped to

Make Her Day

Chronic Caring

Nominee: My friend Shira

My good friend Shira* was blessed with a baby girl during the pandemic. When her gorgeous girl was five months old, she suddenly started breathing funny. Hatzolah rushed them to the hospital — where they stayed for the next four months.

Her yummy, healthy, bundle of joy suddenly had lung failure; she was breathing via machines. As it was the height of Covid, my friend was stuck the entire time in the hospital by herself. Finally, she was able to return home with her daughter… plus a feeding tube, CPAP machine, and full-time oxygen.

She had to drop her successful job, as being a “carer mummy” is a more than 24-hour-a-day job.

At the same time as her princess’s homecoming, my friend’s close family member started suffering from constant pain. Everyone was certain it was from stress, but soon he was diagnosed with a serious chronic condition that needs regular hospitalizations and treatments to keep it under control.

My lovely friend — young, talented, always the life of the party — became  a carer of two in the short span of less than half a year. Instead of going to work every day like all her friends do, she is busy assisting her daughter and other family member with their medical appointments, keeping tabs on medication, restocking oxygen tanks, and more.

I know that it was always Shira’s dream to be a sheitelmacher. Now that she can’t take a steady job, I’d love to gift her with a sheitel course, so that she can learn this skill she’s always dreamed of mastering, and to give her a boost to continue to be a strong anchor for her family. And of course, once she’s learning how to care for wigs, I’d love for her to receive a new one of her own.

Mishpacha:

This young woman has weathered so much with such grace — we knew that we wanted to recognize her devotion.

“When we were asked to donate a sheitel course to give Shira, we jumped at the opportunity,” say Yocheved Gross and Cami Esses of Hair and Blush Academy. “Giving someone a means to a parnassah is the highest form of helping them, and we’re so grateful for this opportunity. We keep our classes affordable and host them online so that anyone, everywhere can have the chance to learn.”

With a wide variety of natural wigs, Cosmopolitan Wigs has reinvented the wig-buying process with a non-pressured and client-centered experience that adapts to the customer’s specific needs. And best of all? It can all be done from the comfort of your home — no more need to travel or bemoan the lack of local options. And if it’s not the right one? Returns are easy and accepted. Sounds perfect for Shira over in Europe. Bassy, creator of Cosmopolitan Wigs, and her partner, Chaya Gold, work with each client to ensure they get the wig they’re dreaming of. Bassy says, “Our goal is for every woman to feel beautiful in her own skin (and someone else’s hair!). If we can make that happen for someone as deserving as Shira, that would make our day.”

Her Chance to Shine

Nominee: Shayna

We’d like to nominate Shayna,* the wonderful woman who helps us clean our homes. Shayna is so dedicated and caring, showing up whenever we need her, keeping our homes running smoothly with her constant cheer and efficiency. My neighbors and I all agree we owe Shayna so much, and we’d love to give back to her in some way. She spends so much time making our homes beautiful; we’d love for her to have a luxurious space of her own, with new bedroom furniture, fresh linen, some beautiful closets. At the end of a long day’s work, we want her to enter her room and feel as special as she is.

—The families of Forest Park

Mishpacha shares:

When the women of Forest Park reached out to make Shayna’s day, we knew this was a winner — she helps so many families run their homes smoothly, making their lives more pleasant and efficient.

Katz Furniture, a household name for over 32 years, with a reputation based on customer service and honesty, was so genuinely happy to gift Shayna with a brand-new bedroom set, including a dresser, mirror, nightstand, upholstered bedframe, and mattress.

“Shayna had a wonderful time choosing the furniture and we’re so happy to gift it to her,” says Esty Katz. “We’re grateful to have the opportunity to give back to others from our beautiful collection. We want Shayna to feel pampered and enjoy her new room.”

Clearbrook Builders, with its reputation for exceptional customer service, was the natural place to turn for a custom closet for Shayna’s room makeover. Yisrael Kleinman, director of operations of Clearbrook, says: “People are always surprised at how much peace of mind comes with fresh, new custom closets. A woman who puts so much into ensuring that others’ homes are orderly deserves some of that menuchas hanefesh for herself.”

We wanted to round out the package with a beautiful new set of linen, and we knew just where to go: Linen & Lounge. “We opened Linen & Lounge two years ago with the goal of providing beautiful designs, comfort and quality, at modest price points,” says Sara. “When we heard about Shayna, the idea of a hardworking Jewish woman resonated, and we wanted her to feel as pampered and taken care of as possible. We know she’ll love her new Linen & Lounge bedding.”