Chumash Siyum in Honor of My Aunt - by Simone Fertel

Hi everyone,

As many of you know, my aunt, Natalie Doris Brown, passed away last week due to breast cancer that she had couragiously battled for almost 6 years. Mrs. Schneider, an administrator of Tiferet suggested that I make a siyum in her honor. I did not exactly know what that meant at first, but she soon explained that making a siyum elevates the neshamah of the deceased, especially completing something like all five books of the Torah. The more I thought of the idea, the more I liked it and realized learning all parshiot of Torah, something we read every Shabbos morning, was the best fit for a person like Natalie. You see, Natalie gave me my first true experiences with Shabbos. She made Shabbos seem fun (at least to an 8 year old who would rather be playing with electronics) and gave me something to look forward to each week knowing I would be able to spend it with the Brown family. Natalie continues to be the cause of my Shabbos observance, and just as each Mitzvah I have done and still do is in her honor, this siyum will also be in Natalie's merit for her neshama. Thank you to all those who signed up for a parsha to learn. As the portions were taken quickly, I am redividing it a second time. When the shloshim (30 days after death) are up, which is around June 2nd, I will hold a siyum in her honor.

If you are interested in taking a Parsha to learn (in full commentary is better), please click here.
Thank you for your time.

Best,
Simone Fertel

Excerpt from the introduction to the RCS class on Wednesday, May 4 - by Chanie Nemes

The events of today are traumatic and we are all struggling to cope with the enormity of the tragedy.

Our series this year is about Jewish Heroines - one was taken by Hashem today.  There are no words to describe the pain; instead I want to talk about Natalie and what we can learn from her.  When Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (the Rebbe's wife) passed away, the Rebbe said, "וְהַחַי יִתֵּן אֶל לִבּוֹ" - the living shall take it to heart.  There is so much we can learn from Natalie and I want to speak about two things that stand out most in my mind.

1. Natalie was the most positive person - I never heard a negative word come from her mouth in the 20 years I know her.  Natalie was a very confident person, and consistent with her values.  She was the rock of her family - very tough if you will.  And yet, in my mind, she's the epitome of femininity.  She knew what she wanted but was always gentle and positive - never aggressive and never uttering a negative word or judgment about anyone.  When a person is confident, s/he can look at others with a positive eye.  To me, that was Natalie - someone who always looked at others with a positive eye.  I venture to say that when with Natalie, most people remained positive and wouldn't speak negatively about others.  In that way, she brought out the best in people.

2. Natalie treasured a Mitzvah!  A recent example:  She had a few good weeks around Purim and she came to hear the Megillah - not just once on Saturday night (the night of Purim), but she was there bright and early at 8:30 on Sunday morning for the day time reading which she knew is part of the Mitzvah.  And although there were a few readings that day, she didn't push it off, but went to the first reading of the day because she was eager and didn't want to take a chance of missing it. 

We are told in the Talmud that when friends, family or really just anyone does a mitzvah and gives charity for the deceased, it is a special merit for their soul as well as for their family.  When we do a Mitzvah for someone who can no longer do Mitzvot on their own, we become their hands and feet and through us she can gain the merit of the Mitzvot we do.

So as a community let's take resolutions in the areas in which Natalie was a true role model - let's enhance our own relationships with others and our attitudes towards others.  If we are usually quick to judge, let's stop ourselves and give the benefit of the doubt. If we read things in a negative light, try to see the positive in whatever it is that's bothering us.  When we do a Mitzvah, let us see the beauty and preciousness in the Mitzvot and do them with joy. If we train ourselves to act this way, we will be strengthened as a community and lead healthier and happier lives!  

This takes courage, but one thing we all saw from Natalie every day in the last 5 years was tremendous courage and inner strength.  May G-d comfort Joel, Ruth, Sarah and Rebecca, Lila and Norman and Jennifer and may He bring us to the time when there will be no more suffering or pain with the coming of Moshiach today.

Letter to Joel, by Rivkah Kehaty

Dear Joel and family,

I just wanted to share a few thoughts from over the past few days.

Mostly I've just gone around with a picture of Natalie in my mind. The first time I saw her. She was sitting beside you, Joel, at Kosher Cajun, behind the cashier desk, during the first opening days of the store. You two weren't married yet. I remember thinking- two such young people so devoted to each other in such an unspoken, undemonstrative way.
I just have that picture of her sitting there. So serene and calm. So tiny and yet with a gentleness and strength that I later came to know as just “her."

I also think back to the days when the two of you were first married. The Rivkin's had sheva brochos for you. I couldn't take my eyes off of Natalie. She was so enigmatic, quiet and special. I remember her with long wavy hair that was pulled back in the front with a large soft bow hugging the back of her head. Funny how I remember those little details. It was that softness, that femininity, that again seemed crowned with some kind of mysterious strength.

As a Jewish woman, I hear a lot about tzinus and aidelkeit. They are values that are stressed all the time. Something we have to work at every day. We have to make resolutions and stretch ourselves to live these values. It's work for me, for so many women. But Natalie was the living embodiment of these attributes. They were just a natural part of her….not even a “part“….they made up everything about her.

Natalie was a true example of the phrase "the beauty of the king's daughter is within." She was a "lady" from her head to her toes. She didn't have to learn it, work at it, or resolve to do it. It was just Natalie- always.

In honor of Natalie, I've tried the past few days to practice the traits she was known for. To be positive, noncomplaining, to say nothing negative. I try and try and just can't do it. Each time I stop myself from saying something it reminds me of how special she was.

Natalie didn't laugh loud, or talk loud, or dress loud. I loved to see Natalie behind the desk, always ready with a smile. Or hear her small, delicate voice with just a pleasant line to say hello or ask how the kids were.

She brought out the best in others. I would never dream of gossiping with her, or giving a negative opinion about anything when I was around her. Just would never even think of doing that with her. Like it would smudge the pure, clear, clean air around her. That lovely, courageous, tender woman.

I remember the playpen nearby, the girls doing homework 2 inches away from her, the updating of family photos on the bulletin boards behind the desk. Her back as she walked through the parking lot to go pick up the girls. How amused and delighted and proud she was of them. Everyone knew she was the other half of you and the whole world to her girls, to her parents and family.

But knowing her for nearly 25 years, Joel, I have to say that I never really knew her. She had a natural privacy and shared herself only with her beloved, precious family. I knew her, but never really knew her. And that was her beauty and her essence.

Joel, all my heart goes out to you, your children, and your family. I think of you all every second of the day. We love all of you and have no words that can bring you comfort...with maybe only to say that your whole community stands with you and are here for you.

Rivka Kehaty

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