Dearest Gayle,Thank you for your beautiful email. Clear memories of the day we heard the tragic news of Batya came to the sur-face...We were in the auditorium prac-ticing for school production and the music stopped...Batya’s petira impacted us all. Gayle, the hasgacha of your Batya a'h story is amazing... Loose ends being tied. A thought to ponder.... it’s inter-esting that you chose her- " Bat-Ya" the "daughter of Hashem" as your "contem-porary role model" of how one is to look and be as daughter of Hashem.

Shabbat shalom,Sheri

Dearest Gayle,Thank you for your kind words. We feel blessed to have you as a sister.As an inter-esting footnote to your story, I knew Batya a”h from high school. She was a grade older than me. When I got engaged and came to school to deliver my wedding invitation to the principal, I discovered that I was getting married the same night as Batya a”h. Such a small world that we live in…

Shavua tov Umevorach,Emily

A f t e r t h o u g h t : Hashem's loving ways are so hidden, so mysterious. People from our past who return in unexpected circumstances... Losses of loved ones…Blessings that crop up when we least expect them... The "Batyas" (people who touch us briefly and leave their mark). Though so much is beyond us, fortunate are those of us who travel alongside loving and dear friends who lift us, inspire us, and cherish us as we plod along.

AUCTION 2016 PRIZE WINNERS

Grand Prize: Rebecca Kesten1. Israel Getaway for 2: Raizel Feder

2. Car Lease: Solomao Faintuch

3. KMR Tours: Pnina Kramer

4. Dini Wigs: Shoshana Fried

5. Florida Family Vacation: Shifra Sandberg

6. Shuly Wigs: Kulefsky

7. Allegra Jewelry: Yael Shandpour

8. Custom Beds: Miriam Ganter

9. $2500 Roy’s Bikes: Aliza Goldbrenner

10. $2000 Bloomingdale’s/Saks/ Barney’s: Susy Schwartzstien

11. $2000 AMEX: Tammy Roz

12. $2000 Drimmer’s: Devorah Hassan

13. $1800 Molly’s Jewelry: Ed Silver

14. $1800 Grand Sterling: Tamar Faintuch

15. $1800 Pomegranate: Inslicht

16. Bella Wigs: Leah Nemon

17. Artscroll Shas: Leah Nemon

18. $1800 Living Quarters: Fraidy Goldbrenner

19. $1800 Emporio: Ronnie Levy

20. Tori Wigs: Mary Steinhertz

21. $1500 Impressions China: D. Schick

22. $1500 Oh Baby!: Shayna Melool

23. $1500 Elegance NY: Adina Miller

24. Best Massage Recliner: Rachel (Motti) Abbott

25. The Setai Spa and Reserve Cut: Karen Einhorn

26. $1000 at Ben Barber Linen: Orit and Hudi Newman

27. $1000 Best Buy: Rella Weinreb

28. $1000 Amazon: Nechama Friedlander

29. $1000 Cash: Mimi Loeb

30. $1000 Costco/BJ’s: Gloria Perl

31. $1000 Yellow Door: Eric Silber

32. $1000 Batya’s Kitchen: J. Fruchter

33. Night in Manhattan: Statfeld

34. IPad Mini: Erz Abiv

35. Bosch or Kitchen Aid Mixer: Chavi Kohn

36. $500 Visa Card: Rochel Smith

37. $500 Duddy’s Electronics: Tova Rosenfeld

38. $500 Brooks Brothers/ Charles Tyrwhitt: Shani Braun

39. $500 Target/ Century 21/ Home Goods: T. Miller

40. Fit Bit and Smart Scale: Sara Boles

41. Gas and Muni Meter Card: Lewitin

42. $500 Container Store/IKEA: Brach Family

43. $500 Zara/ J. Crew: Birnbaum

44. Magnatiles and TikTak: Spira

45. Italian Luggage: Knopfler

46. Nespresso Machine: Mimi Grossberger

47. $500 Mikes Dinettes: Chany Gross

48. Toby Adler Photography: Esty Landau

49. $500 at Your Spa: Mindy Kramer

50. $500 Zappos: Barbara Garfinkel

51. $500 Toys ‘R’ Us: Henna Kornitzer

52. $500 Micro Scooters: Yocheved Ohevshalom

53. 2 Tickets to Florida: Kasden

54. MAC Makeup with Devorah: Batsheva Kohn

55. Hammered Flatware: Jen Hande

56. Joola Ping Pong Table: Miriam Lichtman

57. $360 Lenappe Linen: Nechama Kramer

58. $300 Ugg Australia: Miriam Werther

59. Jackpot: Leah Sarah Miller

C O N T I N U E D M Y B AT YA >

g A y l e ’ s f r i e n d s r e p l y …

Thank you to the entire community for joining us this past March, linking hands with Yad Batya in providing

for hundreds of kallahs. Rabbanit Yemima Mizrahi touched the hearts of all who attended, inspiring each

woman to strive for greatness.

STAY TUNED FOR THIS YEAR’S GALA EVENT

FEATURING A UNIQUE PROGRAM.

A couple celebrating a milestone anniversary was looking for a special way to express their overwhelming gratitude to Hashem. What better way than to pass on some of their own joy to newly married couples. They decided to provide brand new silver

leichter sets to financially challenged newlyweds. In order to bring their beautiful idea to fruition, they contacted Yad Batya.

When YBLK was contacted by the generous benefactor, we were so excited to help facilitate such a unique chessed. With a donation large enough to cover ten sets of candlesticks, Yad Batya volunteers set out to Grand Sterling on Avenue J.

Upon hearing the story surrounding the dona-tion, the Rubin Family of Grand Sterling wanted to participate in this opportunity. They reduced the prices of the leichters dramatically and now the original donation stretched to cover an additional 5 sets of candlesticks.

A discreet plan was put in place where the “shop-pers”, chassanim, kallahs and their families, would be offered a broad selection of premium candle-

sticks, the same selection being offered by Grand Sterling to their best customers. The kallahs had no idea as to the source of the gift. They were just thrilled to receive such a beautiful present from their chassanim.

The families related to us how they were treated “like exclusive, high end customers” being offered “a large selection with such warm personal service”.

“In our wildest dreams” wrote one chos-son, “we didn’t think we’d be the proud owner of such a gorgeous leichter set”.

One mother went to choose a set of candlesticks for her daughter-in-law. After leaving the store, she emailed her friend who had referred her to YBLK, “The salesperson was so nice. It literally was the nicest experience I’ve ever had in a store...He gave me so many choic-es. I felt like a millionaire in the lap of luxury”.

d e A r M r . A n d M r s . Z A k h e i M , When you asked me to pen a few memories of Batya and I sat down to write, I couldn’t believe how clear my memories were.

Batya and I went to Machon Devorah seminary together. She

started an aerobics class and we all gathered in her dormitory apart-ment, dancing and jumping all night. Her energy was contagious. She just loved healthy fun! I see her so clearly in front of me now, leading and moti-vating us to join in.

There were many petty arguments in school but Batya never joined in it. She personified shalom and simcha. She was loved and loved everybody.

Batya was loyal, and once someone was her friend she wouldn’t let go. Batya wasn’t spoiled. Many of us took taxis often but because Batya loved the people and the land of Eretz Yis-roel, she traveled by bus. She always had the funniest stories of her bus experiences.

I think though what stands out most was the program she started where we would go dance at Israelis’ girl’s weddings. The kallahs were either Balei Teshuva or orphans from broken families. She drove us nuts, and almost every night she was run-ning to join a “chessed wedding,”and begged us to join in. Being very or-ganized, she had charts with whose turn it was. She truly ran the entire

program single-handedly. Most of us were studying or just plain lazy but Batya was an excellent student and she was never lazy. Baruch Hashem, I had the opportunity to join with her a few times. She did her hair beauti-fully and put on her nicest Shabbos clothes and made these Kallahs feel like they were her family. Without knowing, she looked like the Kallahs best friend. To watch her was mes-merizing. She was an amazing danc-er and directed all the dances. I can still see her bangles popping up and down with her as she moved each step. She made the Kallah feel like a princess, and her warmth made the Kallah feel like she was her friend forever. I see her smile right now.

GEMACH KOL TEFILLOS CHUPA CARDS: 718-258-0415

All Proceeds Benefit Yad Batya L'Kallah

SIDDUR & CHUMASH RENTAL for your simchaBrooklyn: Aliza Lichtenstein: 347-244-6613Five Towns: Faigy Elefant: 516-371-0160

C O N T I N U E D >

Brand new candlesticks… Just like every kallah

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR YBLK WORK IN YERUSHALAIM

Yad Batya L’Kallah’s operations extend to kallahs living across the United States, Canada and South America. In addition, we operate a special division in Yerushalaim. The needy of ירושלים are considered ,the poor of your own city ,עירך ענייsince it is the city belonging to all of k’lal Yisrael.

Our efforts in Yerushalaim are run by Mrs. Chani Segal, providing for over 500 kallahs each year. Kallahs receive a voucher to the Chen Tov bedding store. In addition, some applicants receive a 400 NIS voucher towards the purchase of necessary, personal items.

1256 East 26th StreetBrooklyn, NY 11210

I know this letter cannot articulate the memories. They are just words, but I see her so alive in front of me. Batya never spoke badly

about anyone. She didn’t see bad in anyone. She had the most beauti-ful eyes, which only saw good.

We once went for a Shabbos with our whole seminary, to an Israeli seminary, where the girls were mostly from broken homes and didn’t have family. It was the year the Ethiopians arrived in Eretz Yisroel and they were placed in this seminary. Batya spoke a magnificent Hebrew and connected with the girls right away. She really broke the ice for all of us and we took her example. Her and another girl, made a huge circle Motzei Shabbos and taught the girls what a Kumzitz was… We sang all night. We felt like Mashiach was coming that whole Shabbos. We were girls from all over the world coming together. We cried so much when we had to say goodbye. Batya was the leader, and definitely the Nachshon that jumped in first… she set the tone as always!

I teach tehillim in a high school, and when we get to “Ivdu es Hash-em B’Simcha”, I always stop and tell my students about Batya and how she defined simcha.

She was a princess in every way. She dressed beautifully, but never comprised on her tznius. She was so “cool,” yet so modest. She had real Yiras and Ahavas Hashem. She is a part of everybody’s life she touched.

Her namesake says it all, Bas-kah- “the daughter of Hashem”. I believe she represented what Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants a Bas Yisroel to be.

Simchos by all, Aviva

C O N T I N U E D D E A R M R . & M R S . Z A K H E I M >

589Kallahs provided for this past year in Yerushalaim ALONE:

s p o n s o r A k A l l A h

www.yadbatya.org • yblk@aol.com T: 718-377-4349 • Non-profit 501-c3

KITCHEN:• Elegant Mikasa China• Corelle Dinnerware• 15 piece Farberware pots • 2 sets Stainless Flatware• Food Processor• Toaster Oven/ Broiler

BED AND BATH:• 2 Quilts • 2 Pillows• 2 Sets of Linen (Choice of 48” or 39”)

• Set of Bath Towels• 2 Sets of Dish Towels (Meat & Dairy)

• $200 gift certificate to Saposh/ The Robe Gallery

Sponsor a kallah's Full Package $1000 Sponsor a kallah’s Kitchen Essentials $450 Sponsor a kallah’s Bed and Bath Needs $350 Sponsor a kallah’s Gift Certificate $200 Sponsor a kallah in Israel $300

Thank you to Zvi and Lisa Hiesiger for donating heavy duty bags to efficiently package linens and towels for each kallah package.

PARTIAL DISPLAY OF THE UPGRADED YBLK PACKAGE