By Aaron Goldsmith
Postville, IA
When it comes to cherished memories we have an inherent problem with truly accurate recollections. We tend to embellish or reimagine and sometimes diminish key memories.
We find that Chazal touched on this in Masecta Sanhedrin. When the Sandedrin was deliberating life and death sentences, even with 2 scribes recording their arguments, Chazal found that this was troubling and could result in a miscarriage of justice. They profoundly understood that that “heart felt sentiments cannot be written”. These sentiments are critical to bringing true justice to the case.
In civil law personal notes from a special moment carry significant weight, sometimes more than personal testimony from a witness who was present. It is my good fortune to share personal notes from a special time many years ago.
Some 30 years ago, a precious woman from Crown Heights, Mrs. Rendel Alenick, slipped away from us and this great loss is still felt by many chassidim.
Providentially Mrs. Alenick’s birthday was the same calendar date that the Rebbetzin passed away. Special souls have special connections.
In December 1978 I transitioned from University and made my way to the world of Lubavitch and Kfar Chabad. Along the way, Rabbi Moishe and Sterna Kasowitz set up a connection with Sterna’s mother Mrs. Alenick.
I started in her basement with many other bochurim and as my visits increased she moved me into one of the main floor bedrooms. As time went on she gave me a key and told me that there was no need for me to call her and ask permission to stay. I should consider her house my house. When I married, Mrs. Alenick told me that when we visit Crown Heights, that my family was to stay with her. Sure enough we came with our new born son and she treated him as a new grandson.
When I learned of her passing, I was in California and completely shattered. Somehow I was unaware of her crushing illness and the news of her passing was devastating. Unable to travel to New York, I locked myself in a room and began to write about my feelings for her.
For many years, I searched for these notes and somehow to my great delight they just resurfaced. I felt that it was worth sharing these notes as a way of honoring and educating a generation that may not know the virtues of this special woman.
Since these notes were written with great emotion, they may be lacking syntax, grammar etc.. The preamble was also written quickly and I respectfully apologize for obvious errors. Parentheses were added to clarify where my words were incomplete.
“Only a few moments have passed since I heard of the untimely passing of the dear Mrs. Alenick. This news has brought forth a surge of despair and a burst of unexpressed appreciation. Almost nine years ago I entered her home straight off of a college campus.
Mrs. Alenick welcomed me with warmth and immediately spoke (to me) with words of encouragement……I became a Shabbos bochur in her home and this continued on for many years.
She cared for me physically and spiritually. She uncritically encouraged me to reach out to (fulfill) my potential.
Even with the many things that were on her mind, she always remembered (the) little things. With so many people eating at her house she always seemed to know If I had not eaten, she would see that I did.
If I seemed to be down she would cheer me up. If I was happy should would share my joy and accomplishments.
When I was in Crown Heights I had an extra mother. She saw me through my early days in Yeshiva. She supported me through my shidduch. When I was visiting from Israel with my wife and four month old she opened her house (to us).
When I would talk with her about what life would bring and my uncertainties about what to do she would always say “Aaron Ben Tzyon, with the Abishters help, I am sure that you will be successful. I know that you will do good.”
She always greeted me the same way. Her face was filled with joy. She would call my name and ask how I was. At that moment it would make no difference what I was thinking or what was (happening in my life) I always felt very happy to see her.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I am sure that she made every person she knew feel very special.
She had difficulties in her life. She never allowed them to stop giving. I cannot believe that she won’t be there when I go to visit Crown Heights. I am certain that she will continue to watch over all of us.”
My husband met Mrs. Alenick’s daughter and son in law in Iowa and came close to Chabad. When both of us were in Crown Heights, Mrs. Alenick made our shidduch. She was gracious, friendly, and exuded both nobility and simplicity. We miss her.
Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute! I’m the last grandchild to remember my grandmother and hold every memory close. I treasure the times when I meet someone who knew her, who can share their special, unique memories of her, but universally, they all say that she was a tzadekes without parallel…. If anyone has any other memories or stories to share, my family and I would be so grateful. [email protected]
Her home was open to everyone! She always had a kind word to say to anyone she met! May she bring brochos to all her all!
She was a good friend of my mothers in C.H. and used to send over Challah for Shabbos for our large family Ka”H. I will never forget it. A true Tzadaikis!!
She organized and ran the women’s Chevra Kadisha,a true chessed
I remember her so vividly
I was a child and she would stop to talk to me
When I met her she would ask me about my mother
She actually listened to my answers
I recall that I called her a ” holy” women in my mind. and she definitely was
Thanks for sharing ;))))
Beautiful!!
Thank you for sharing this story. As you were one of many buchorim and guests in her house. As her namesake we try to keep up here legacy.
Rendel Alenick was my grandmother whom I am named after. My whole life I have been told stories about what an amazing person she was and all the acts of chessed she has done. I always enjoy hearing new stories about my namesake and the tzadekes that she was. Thank you for sharing this story and the beautiful tribute to her.