She came into the clothing gemach dressed very simply,
but neatly, wheeling her infant. Not exactly a young mother.
We began categorizing her clothing needs and tastes in our
mind as soon as she began referring to her child, who was
wearing an outfit with blue trimming, as `she.' An easy-to-
please customer who needed something basic, didn't care much,
and was happy to pay our nominal prices.
"I would like two outfits to wear for everyday, something to
look presentable in," she confided to one of the volunteers
hanging up some skirts. She began browsing around, picked up
2-3 items and then came back to the volunteer for fashion
advice. "How does this look to you?" The skirt was fine, the
blouse was fine, but they didn't really match, so we started
looking for another top to match the bottom and vice
versa.
"I go out to yishuvim to give shiurim and do
kiruv work," she explained, almost embarrased at the
need to look a bit nicer than `around the house.' "I think my
words will have a stronger impact on the women if I dress
decently."
At this point, the baby began fretting, and our oldest
volunteer, a grandmother many times over, took her in her
arms and cuddled her. The two-month-old baby looked up at her
with intelligent eyes and stopped crying.
Our customer's face gentled. "She is a miracle baby, you
know." Oh, good. A true-life story. The rest of the customers
gathered round. "After my last child was born, I developed a
form of epilepsy, and had to take strong medicine to prevent
seizures. The doctors warned me against having more children,
but I found myself pregnant again. Shortly after, a social
worker called me up and asked about my pregnancy. I was
shocked and told her that I would carry through and accept
whatever Hashem had in store for me. She tried her best to
make me change my mind, but it was already set.
"I spent nine frightened months in acute prayer. The social
worker called me again several times until finally, I told
her off. `You know? I should really crown you with the
biggest, most radiant and sparkling crown of jewels
available!' She didn't know what I was talking about and must
have thought I was going kookey. `Yes, indeed. My condition
has caused me to pray so hard that I feel that I am closer to
Hashem than I ever was. And I am confident that He will
continue to be at my side, come what may. And it is all due
to your threats and warnings.'
"She never called after that, but as you see, I gave birth to
a beautiful, healthy, normal little girl. My treasure!"
We all nodded in agreement and wonder.
"When I go to speak to women, to teach them and give them
chizuk, I sometimes tell them my story. And they tell
me theirs...
"They are good people, just ignorant, and want so much to
learn. And we have so much to learn from them and their
simple faith!
A skirt. A blouse. A woman who wants to make a good
impression. A woman who goes around saving lives. It is not
every day that we hear such stories at our clothing
gemach. But then again, not everyone is prompted to
tell what there is to tell.
THE YELLOW DOOR
It is at this point that we would like to give a tribute to
the founder of the YELLOW DOOR clothing gemach in Har Nof,
Mrs. Ronnie Kramer. Having built up the place from the
original hole in the ground that had no windows or flooring,
the establishment is now a showcase gemach, with
people coming from far and wide to shop.
Clothing donations are mostly local, but carefully sifted and
only the best put out. Of the nine weekly shifts, Ronnie
plugged away at eight, always there to make sure that things
were running smoothly, that her huge volunteer corps was on
its toes.
We wish Mrs. Kramer the best of luck in her new surroundings,
a move she feels is imperative for chinuch's sake, as
well as for other important considerations. She will be
greatly missed but we are sure she will put her dynamic
personality to work to enhance her new community, too.
We don't think there is room for improvement in running the
gemach, but there will be one change in the way of
uniform hours. As of June 1, the YELLOW DOOR will be open
Sundays through Wednesdays from ten to twelve a.m. and eight
to ten p.m. and clothing donations will be accepted at all
times.
With deepest and warmest feelings,
All of your co-workers and fellow Clothing Gemach
associates.
