48 Comments

• BP yid

  And no one knew what was happening inside?
  Does she have neighbours?
  I am perplexed!
  Baruch Dayan HaEmes: People, check on your lonely neighbour now!

• someone

  oy nebch poor lady!

• Rafael V. Rabinovich

  I am her neighbor. I was up till 4:30 AM helping out.

  The clutter was so bad, you had to climb atop it to get from room to room.

  We’re all sad by her passing — and had no idea things had got so bad in her apartment, or we would have done something about it before.

  Baruch Dayan HaEmes

• CHT

  BDH

  I knew another woman with same disease, I moved to the apartment where she lived at that time after she joined her family in Florida. It was filled with stuff 3-Dimensionally.

  Anyways, this disorder could be caused by some psychological trauma. For instance, people who lived through famine or holocaust can sometimes have it.

• so sad

  how did she get under all that rubbish and manage to pile 4 ft. on top of herself? This is so terrible.

  Boruch dayan Haemes

• commmmon

  hey this isnt stam a newspaper, and this woman a“h is a fellow yid. the caption of the article ”missing woman….” wasnt apropriate.

• a neighbor

  Boruch Dayan haemes- Sadly this ended tragically but kol hakavod to all the neighbors who did take notice she was missing… Let this serve as a lesson to reach out to our neightbors in general and specifically those liveing alone.. this kind of “hoarding” needs real professional help there are countless of unfortunate people who suffer from this and need lots of support and friendly help to get through it and avoid tragedies such as these … may her soul ahve an aliyah.
  and gezunt to all who suffer from all kinds of illnesses.

• know a person like that

  unfortunatly there is “no doing anything about it” these people with this type of problem cannot be helped unless they want to be helped. and they absolutely do not want help. each peice of garbage is like a precious diamond to them and they cannot absolutley cannot part with it. it so sad and so degenrate, because they see absolutly nothing wrong with themselves, they think something is wrong with the person trying to help them.

• neighbor

  when is her levayah?

• CHT

  so sad,

  This is common ending for people with this problem. Pile of stuff falls on them, making them unconsciousness. By the time they get back consciousness, they get totally dehydrated and weak (especially during such heat), unable to move the stuff off them. They can die from dehydration and starvation this way. This is how bad this psychological disorder gets.

• An out of towner

  Boruch Dayan HaEmes,
  Oy, vey, very sad Story. But let’s not focus on the lashon hara part of this tragedy. Let us remember some of the good things this woman did in her lifetime; anyone have a nice story to share about something good this woman did for the community? Just think and surely you will come up with something nice to share with us!

• Sara Leah

  She was a dear friend of mine and I will truly miss her. I regret not checking up on her, but assumed she was okay. I’m in shock. May her soul be blessed forever.

• EFG

  People usually suffering from this disorder are really embarassed by thier situation and do not let anyone see their haording environment. I lived across the hall from this woman and can honestly say that I feel that it is a disgrace that this story was published publicly. What kind of Kavod Hames is this? I feel that Shlima would be embarassed to have the way she lived, and consequently died on this public forum. Please be more respectful when publishing news items.

• Baruch Dayan Emes

  I remember her having a sense of humor and always a smile on her face.
  Baruch Dayan Emes

• long time friend

  boruch dayan ho’emes!
  i have known this lady for about 19 years… she was a very nice lady, never hurt a fly. she should be ‘ah gutten better’ for us all.
  it’s worth mentioning, for the last 25 years approx. leah gurary would care for her with true care, she would have her over on shabbos and yom tov on a steady basis.
  and it was her who was concerned where she had been, as she didn’t show up for the meals… so immediately after yom tov her husband went to the house with some help, and the rest is what you read in the article. (it wasn’t the neighbers who realized).

• G-d protect us.

  The inspectors say that as she tried to clime up to get get something, a wall of newspapers that she had been colecting, came tumbling down on her, brrying her. Lo olainu, hashem yishmerainu. its so so so sad.

• no name

  to out of towner:
  I agree with you 100%!!
  Why do people always have to find bad in things????????

  Baruch Dayan Emes.
  May her neshama have a aliya

• hahahs

  leah gurary was the one the one who realized thatshe was missing cause she was supposed to eat by her and she realized something was fishy so kol hakovode to her i no her really well its very sad
  baroch dayan haemes

• anotimest

  it is very sad
  my father broke open the door and was up until very late

  were is the picture of my father?

• Concerned!

  What a sad duty for our emergency responders … Thank you Hatzalah and FDNY Firemen (also pd search dog).

• Dovid

  Baroch dayen emes. She used to eat over my house all the time.

• chaya Lieblich

  Shlima Ester was also a freind and guest at my house. It’s really sad . She had no family in Crown Heights and lived here alone. She was a lovely person and will be missed by my family and many people in the community. Boruch Dayan Haemes.

• A friend

  The Levaya of Shlima Esther bas Achiezer OBM will take place Thursday morning at 9:00 at Shomrei Hadas and at 9:30 in Crown Heights.

  She was a very nice, caring lady. she always gave out the Yom Tov guides to people at her work before each holiday. She should have a Lichtige Gan Eden.

• chaya lieblich

  Shlima Ester was a lovely person. She was a friend and guest in my home. It is so sad that she had no family in Crown Heights and lived alone. She will be missed by my family and the community.

• A member of CH

  you go CH 101 !!! we know crown heights is safe with you with u here;)

• why post this

  I don’t think that the details of this person should be posted in such a way-affording her no privacy at all. Not everything needs to be posted. A little aidelkeit please.

• dtw

  Maybe some good could come of knowing what happened if those who are in contact with elderly living alone in CH could persuade the elderly residents to give them a key to their homes in case of an emergency. There are also these devices that can be worn around the neck and activated if the person falls and cannot get up. This alerts a 911 service.

• CHT

  To all who is concerned about saying “loshon hora” and lack of privacy – I disagree, this is learning about the problem to avoid such situations in the future. Do you know that there is another woman with same problem in CH. The one that screams on African Americans in the 3 train. I seen entrance to her apartment in Brooklyn Ave. – it is clear she has same issue. BTW, where is she, I did not see her for some while.

• Tzippy

  Shlima was a very special lady. She was always B’simcha!! Shlima was great with kids. Once when She ate by my mother for Shabbos and I was there with my newborn colicky baby, she took the baby and with her sweet voice sang to him, immediately he calm down and stopped crying. We will miss Shlima!!!!!!!

• Devorah

  This was regretfully a tragedy for the poor deceased and for the communty as a whole. However, I am shocked that Crown Hts.info should have the insensitivity to post the details of her personal situation. What shame you are bringing on the deceased.!! this is an outrage! She was a loved a respected friend to many in the community. If CHts.info wants to make the public aware of helping people, do so in a way that does not shame anyone, especially the deceased.
  The editors should think twice before they look to print“sensational” news.

• Gitty

  Shlimah Eshter had a magic touch with babies. This past pesach, the morning after the seder, Shlima Esther rocked my 6 week old baby to sleep with the sweet sound of her singing the songs of the haggadah. She did the same for my sister’s two week old baby, so that two tired mothers can get some sleep. Shlima Esther, will always remember your sweet singing, your gentleness with babies and your joyously contagious laugh! We will miss you “Tante Shlimah Esther!”

• An out of towner

  Thank you everyone, for your kinds words about Shlima Ester. I knew some good would come out of your article. Please keep on posting the positive stuff. I feel much better already!
  One final word: Thank you to all the kind people in Crown Heights, who did invite a lonely lady over for Shabbos and Yomtov meals. What a mitzvah!

• Chana

  To CHT I totally do not agree with you. Knowing about her problem and spreading it will not help anyone of us gain something. I’m sure there are some good things we could say about her.

• Sara

  The last time I saw her was when we walked home from the Nshei Chabad Shalosh Seudos together, 2 Shabbosim ago. She was SO concerned about the (declining) tsnius of our neighborhood. Every time I saw her, she spoke of caring for other yidden, to be hashpaah on them, about learning and davening ….

  I am sure she will intercede for Moshiach lemaylah !

• Rosey

  This is very sad, as I knew Shlima Esther
  30 years ago when I first came here.
  Unfortunately, unlike many of her peers, she did not get married and I venture to say that those THINGS were a comfort to her. I say this because Kol hakavod to all who were her friend and kept her in mind for Shabbos and Yom Tov. In the Zchus of her memory we can and should look around for all those in the community NOT connected to family and or friends. We should invite them for Shabbos, and stop them on the street and
  say hello, how are you, with a smile and
  ahavas yisroe. This simple Shalom Alecheim said with sincerity and a smile
  can MAKE someone’s day.

  Shabbat Shalom

• it-s about balance

  There is merit in publishing this information as maybe those of us who know someone in the earlier stages of this disorder can try to intervene BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE as it was for this poor woman. However, I think the website has an obligation to have kavod ha meis. These two things must be carefully weighed and balanced.

• stb

  from all the times shlimah esther a’h ate at my sisters house i was in awe at the way she bentched.we can all learn from teh way shlimah esther bentched. she said each word with care slowly clearly pronouncing each word. i am sure that her bentching was precious to hashem like the korbonos in the bais hamikdosh. in her zchus we should all be more attentive when we bentch and may we all be gebentched.

• Goldie

  I am in such shock to read all this…
  She was a special lady and will always be remembered by those she knew. My kids loved when she was visiting at their grandparents house and she always had a sweet word for them.
  We will miss you Slima Esther!!
  Boruch Dayan Ho’Emes.

• chaya L.

  slima ester’s brother spoke in a very moving,loving way about his sister and about how his children and grandchildren loved her. He also thanked the community for their caring and closeness to her. It hurts to hear people speaking about this kind soul in a derogatory way. None of us are perfect. The world desperately needs Moshiach. May we be reunited with Shlima Ester speedily and of course all of our loved ones.

• Bal Tashuva

  I keep reading the coments about Shlima Esther obm. And I can’t help thinking as an “Orthodox, Lubavitcher (which I think most or all of us know means the city of brotherly love) community RETHINK THE MIND SET ! SINGLE women we give up our lives and our not religious families think we are nuts . We believe in G-d we change our lives and become frum. And many of us become your mitzvah bank. You call for a guest on Shabbos and Yom Tov for us to come to your house So YOU CAN HAVE THE MITZVA OF HAVING A GUEST ! If you are religious and Lubavitch I remember The Rebba TEACHING US AHAVAS YESROEL IS 24/7/365 . I hardly knew her over the past 30yrs. AND I KNEW THAT SHE HAD A HORDING PROBLEM so you want to say that you were her GOOD friends and had her over to your homes on Shabbos and Yom Tov and you NEVER WALKED HER (THIS WOMAN WHO LIVES ALONE) HOME AT NIGHT TO HER DOOR ! Did you know that she had been struggling for many years loosing job after job , That the last job she had (WHICH She lost 2 weeks ago, so she had no income and at 61yrs old what job can she get) She would sleep in the office on the couch so she said she would not be late the for work. Did she have food Sun-Fri. DO YOU EVEN KNOW !
  A couple of weeks ago a Jewish boy was robed and beaten. If that had happened to Shlima Esther obm or any of us who live alone without family here ? We would die and be berried by the city. Who would even try to recognize us . Women don’t have beards and wear tisis.
  I challenge you to make a difference. Let her life change how you see and treat those of us that live here alone . MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS TO COME OVER ONCE A MONTH or once in 3 months for a cup of coffee laught in my home. Call during the week, CARE Sun- to Friday .Your kid or you sister would not have to beg you to come over, YOU would want to, not just when you think you need a mitzvah.

• someone that

  I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it,she was a very nice woman and I think that we have to have a bigger meassure of ahavas yisroel and care more for our neighbors and everybody around us, especially those who don’t have any family support around here,even if they are already married try to reach out and say a kind word,invite them for shabbos,smile and say good morning,good shabbos,ask and care how people are doing and about their feelings annd lives etc…it is important to show love and appreciation to every one around us,
  this is something very very sad.

• Starr Gill Peotone Illinois

  Shlima Esther (she let me call her Sandy) was my sister’s (Miriam Rochel) best friend for many years. They had many good times together, and when my sister got sick, Sandy was always there for her. She was there for me also. She stayed with me all night the night my sister died. She did many things that I could not do for my sister because I am not Jewish. We held each other and grieved together. No matter what, Sandy was a good person and a wonderfull friend. I will never forget her.

• Stephanie /Sara Leah Gross

  I’m glad that many people have responded about the coverage of this beautiful woman’s apt. clutter. It had little or nothing to do with the beauty of the person. I knew her for over 20 years as an educated, devout and devoted individual. I desperately tried to get information about the funeral, but only learned about it too late. I truly wanted to attend and to extend my wishes to the family. Please post any shiva/contact information appropriate. Shlima Esther z“l was with my dearest friend Miriam Rochel z”l when she passed on a few years ago. If it weren’t for our fellow BT’s, we’d truly be “af tsuris”. I say this as FFB families cannot always accommodate us as we can one another. Perhaps a fitting way to remember Shlima Esther z”l is to continue her legacy for as long as we live, never forgetting the good that open hospitality and support that is derived from the community as a whole. Good shabbos.

• soshi

  Nobody realizes she was also an artist. She was a expert classical musician.

• Devora

  I also knew Shleima Esther from my home town of Milwaukee, and I am truly shocked to hear of her passing. She had eatten by me Shabbos meals and was also a meaningful friend. She was a very sweet, intelligent, sensitive, and caring person. I hadn’t seen her in years but I will surely miss her. It is truly very sad for what happened to her, but we must all learn a lesson from this that people need to take more interest in the people who live around them, and not only after something like this happens then you hear everyone talking about it!!!!!! We need to PREVENT these things from happening in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!! SHOW YOU CARE BY GOING OVER AND BEFRIENDING SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT. Take the time, even 5 minutes, on Shabbos or during the week to see if there is something that a single person needs help with. Many times they are embarassed to ask for what they need and so if we are there for them it will be that much easier for them to say what’s wrong. In the merit of Shleima Esther’s neshoma let’s take it upon ourselves to add in this mitzvah, a very big and important and desperately needed one, please dear G-d.

• Zepporah Berger, Esq.

  I met Slima Esther one time at a Shabbos table and knew she was someone I would like to get to know better. She was an individual.

  The story written in crownheights.info was not nice, inasmuch as the “clutter” part was not who she was; it may have been how she lived.

  I visit Crown Heights often although I live in Durham, NC. However, I read your website daily to catch up on what is happening. Had I not met this lady and been impressed with her, I would have been very misled by your choice of words in the article.

  I hope in the future (G-d forbid) if you have a similar story, you will concentrate on the person and not the surroundings.

• knows a compulsive hoarder

  There is a positive aspect to printing the sordid details – she is NOT the only one to suffer from this (compulsive hoarding) problem, and many people are in great denial about their own problem. Perhaps (iy”h) someone can see themselves in this article and get the help they need.

• frum single female

  i just recently came upon this article. i must say that i am saddend to hear of shlima esther’s death. though perhaps it is important to make others aware of psychological illnesses and how they can be fatal, i think that it is a shame that this article made this the defining characteristic of the deceased. this article made her seem like some dotty old woman . i shared many a shabbos and yom tov meal with shlima esther. she was an intelligent, caring individual who looked twenty years younger than she was. i also think that she would be very embarrassed to have her illness so publicly disclosed. fortunately for those who knew her this will not be how we remember her. we will remember her for the truly remarkable individual who she was .