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A LETTER FROM A MOTHER...

Dear Nechama's Closet,

As you may have noticed by now, I am a “regular customer” at Nechama's Closet. I am writing this letter to thank you for all you have done for me and to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a middle-aged, (seemingly) middle-class Lubavitcher woman - a wife and mother of a (k"ah) large family who is deeply grateful for Hashem's blessings.

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A LETTER FROM A MOTHER…

Dear Nechama’s Closet,

As you may have noticed by now, I am a “regular customer” at Nechama’s Closet. I am writing this letter to thank you for all you have done for me and to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a middle-aged, (seemingly) middle-class Lubavitcher woman – a wife and mother of a (k”ah) large family who is deeply grateful for Hashem’s blessings.

I said that we are middle-class, but I like to think that in terms of chinuch, mentchlichkeit, and Yiras Shamayim, we strive to be, and at times reach, upper-class status. We are not timid or frugal when it comes to the spiritual and physical well being of our children. We carefully choose the best institutions for them, even when we cannot afford to. We cheerfully send them off with Hashem’s rachamim and our tefillos and bitochon and somehow, the s’char limud gelt materializes.

When it comes to basic survival we seem to be squarely middle-class. Boruch Hashem, we pay for our rent, utilities, and food for weekdays, Shabbosim and Yomim-Tovim. Yes, sometimes there are disconnect notices. When it comes to everything else, clothing for us parents, furnishings and upkeep of our apartment, we are definitely of lower-class status. I don’t shop at Loehman’s, or Macy’s or even Conways. I “shop” at frum thrift (read: used clothing) stores in Boro Park, or the Five Towns. For the ordinary weekdays and simple Shabbosim, out-of-date, somewhat worn (yet decent) used gemach clothes are good enough.

I comfort myself with the knowledge that my husband is a terrific guy, our children’s neshamahs are being nurtured, and Hashem wants some people to be lower middle class. However, there are times when my cheerfulness, my “rejoicing in my lot,” my contentment with my husband, is put to the test. Sometimes, when a Yom Tov rolls around, I realize that I’ve worn last year’s outfits for a solid year already, I feel a little sadness, a twinge of self-pity. That is when I say a kapittel Tehillim, pick up the phone, and call Nechama’s Closet.

“Did anything come in, in my size, which I can wear for Yom Tov?” I ask. The answer is almost always, “Yes!” When I come for my appointment, I am thrilled with what I find. New merchandise from a regular retail establishment!

“Two hundred,” one price tag reads, another says $350. Boruch Hashem, I am able to wear at least one new outfit l’kavod Yom Tov.

And sometimes I’m put to a bigger test – a real simcha emerges, a Bar Mitzvah, an engagement, a chasanah. Oh, the ecstasy!

Oh, the agony! What will I wear? Well, for the last simcha, my “baby’s” Bar Mitzvah, Nechama’s Closet outfitted me with a gorgeous suit. It was a glorious moment for me. I felt, and looked like, a million bucks. Thank you, Nechama’s Closet!

Then there was my daughter’s engagement…The L’chaim, the first time meeting the mechutanim, the Shabbos Kallah, the Sheva Brochos…on all these occasions, my old, used clothes would look (and would feel) too poor. Once again, Nechama’s Closet was there.

G-d bless Nechama’s Closet for sparing me tears of shame and possibly, G-d forbid, marital strife; for alleviating some of the considerable financial stress that my husband battles with every day. G-d bless the wonderful women who run and organize it.

G-d bless Nechama’s Closet and G-d bless its financial supporters.
Sincerely, Devorah

NechamasCloset.com

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14 Comments

  • chitas

    What is wrong with wearing last year’s outfit this year? Maybe our standards are way too high. If it still looks good and you like it, then what is the problem?

  • ch resident

    good luck you guys are doing great work, i never really heard of you guys but hatzlacha, do you do the same as ten yad? and keren simcas chossen v kallah.

  • NECHAMA

    NECHAMAS CLOSET IS LOCATED ON EMPIRE BLVD BUT ITS BY APPT ONLY.
    HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE AUCTION.
    MARCH 2 AT LUBAVITCH YESHIVAH.
    ADELE FABER WILL BE SPEAKING
    DYNAMIC YOSSIE ROSE WILL BE SINGING!

  • S.L

    Thank you Elka Ezagui and Fradie Chein for your time and effort in making this a success!

  • FEIGE

    A KALLAH IS STARTING A NEW PHASE IN LIFE.
    SHE IS THE ATTRACTION FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS. EVERY WOMAN KNOWS HOW GOOD AN OUTFIT MAKES HER FEEL. THE MAJORITY OF WOMEN WHO COME TO NECHAMAS CLOSET DON’T HAVE “LAST YEAR’S GOOD OUTFIT” MANY ARE ORPHANS OTHERS JUST DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO MAKE ENDS MEET. MAYBE YOUR DAUGHTER IS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES AND HAS “LAST YEAR’S GOOD OUTFIT” BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON’T. USUSALLY THESE OUTFITS THAT THEY RECEIVE IS THIR NEW WARDROBE FOR THE YEAR AND MORE. ( I KNOW THAT I WORE MY SHEVA BRACHOS OUTFITS FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS).
    FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE THAT COMMENT“WEAR LAST YEAR’S OUTFIT” REALLY SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER FELT THE EMBARRASSMENT OF NOT HAVING WHAT TO WEAR!THERE ARE MANY WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO WILL NOT GO TO FUNCTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING DECENT TO WEAR!
    IN GENERAL TEN YAD AND KSCVK TAKE CARE OF ALL THE NEEDS OF THE WEDDING, SUCH AS BAND, FLOWERS HOUSEHOLD ETC. .THE KALLAH AND WOMEN ARE LEFT WITHOUT RESOURCES. NECHAMASS CLOSET IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION THAT TAKES CARE OF THE CLOTHING. IT IS AN AREA THAT IS OFTEN NEGLECTED AS EVERYTHING ELSE IS SEEN AS PRIORITY,
    JUST READ THE LETTER THAT THIS MOTHER WROTE AND UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION AND EMBARRASSMENT THAT THEY FEEL.
    IF ONLY WE COULD SHARE WITH YOU THE APPRECIATION THAT OUR CLIENTEL FEEL.
    NEXT TIME YOU GET DRESSED AND LOOK IN THE MIRROR – I WONDER WOULD YOU WALK OUT TO SHUL,WORK,SIMCHA OR ANY OTHER FUNCTION PROUDLY,OR …..? CLOTHING MAKES A WOMAN FEEL GOOD – INFACT IT IS A MITZVAH THAT A HUSBAND BUY CLOTHING FOR HIS WIFE FOR YOMTOV.DOESN’T THAT SAY IT ALL.

  • FRUSTRATED

    TO RESPOND TO “WEAR LAST YEAR OUTFIT’

    WHY DON’T YOU READ THE MOTHERS LETTER AGAIN AND YOU WILL GET YOUR ANSWER!!!
    THIS MOTHER SAYS HER LAST YEAR’S OUTFIR WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH TO WEAR!

  • Boruch

    This letter was so touching, it belongs in a chicken soup for the soul book. To see a heart to heart conversation in the form of writing is precious.

  • for future reference

    What is the criteria for someone being eligible for your help and yes what is your phone number?