This coming Monday (22 Kislev / 29 Nov.) marks Rivka's shloshim (thirtieth day since burial). Rivka's family and friends will be visiting her grave that morning at 10:00 am, to recite Tehillim (Psalms) and Kaddish. All who wish to attend are welcome.
Update:
The Tehillim and prayers that will be recited can be found here.
Rivka's grave is at the following location in Har HaMenuhot: גוש צ', חלקה ק"א, שורה ב', קבר 1 (block צ', plot ק"א, row ב', grave 1) [Note, however, that we will gather first by the gate at the entrance.]
If you are planning on attending, please leave a comment in order to help us ensure that there will be a minyan present.
May RivkA's family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Please daven (or send happy thoughts) for RivkA bat Yishaya HaLevi.
The following initiative is being launched by RivkA's friends, with the blessing of RivkA's family.
Dear All,
We want to tell you about an amazing Tzedakah/Charity opportunity we are launching in RivkA's memory: A Breastmilk Pump Lending Service (Gemach) to serve the women of Jerusalem and region with top-of-the-range, new pumps.
The idea for the Gemach came from RivkA’s friend Noa Hirsch-Choritz, a certified lactation consultant, during the funeral while Moshe recounted the story of RivkA breastfeeding her youngest daughter while hospitalized. It suddenly became clear how we could honor RivkA's memory with something she was truly passionate about. While there are various pumps available for hire, no service currently exists in Jerusalem offering modern, high-quality pumps (the kind that lactation consultants recommend to patients). This was something that RivkA- a staunch breastfeeding advocate, educator and La Leche Leader- wished to change.
And so, the Gemach idea has taken shape. "Meneket RivkA", (the name chosen for its biblical reference, meaning "Rivka's Wet-nurse") will be initially housed in the Jerusalem Breastfeeding Center in Talpiot, with a satellite branch in Gush Etzion. Uniquely, lactation consultants will provide free professional consultations, “fittings” and advice for each woman renting the pumps, which will be loaned at a nominal charge based on models provided by other successful pump gemachs around the country.
We hope to raise enough money to purchase up to 20 pumps, incorporating several models. We've built an initial budget and have plans for strategic growth together with The Eden Center, the mikva/women's center project which RivkA wholeheartedly supported.
It is envisaged that Meneket RivkA is developed over time into a full-service breastfeeding center, providing subsidized lactation consultations, La Leche League support groups, pre-birth breastfeeding classes and of course, low-cost/free breastmilk pump rental.
We truly believe that this project is really in consonant with RivkA's thoughts- she believed that breastfeeding knowledge and skills should be available to everyone, without pay (as is La Leche League's directives). We think this would make her really happy. We are overjoyed to have received the blessing of her family in creating this project, and we hope that all those who shared her vision, or who wish to honor her memory, will consider supporting us. No donation is too small to realize this dream.
Anyone interested in being on the "4 RIvkA" community list, where you can volunteer to help RivkA's family, please join "lots of helping hands" by clicking on the following link:
RivkA's family requested that the video-recorded eulogies from RivkA's funeral be posted.
They are being posted in sequence, from top to bottom, in the order they were given. Each video clip states the name of the person who gave the eulogy, and the language it was presented in.
Updated: Moshe part 1
Moshe, part 2
May RivkA's family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Please daven (or send happy thoughts) for the memory of RivkA bat Yishaya HaLevi.
The JBlogosphere (world of Jewish bloggers) has a weekly roundup of interesting and noteworthy posts called "Haveil Havalim" which has been going on for more than 5 years.
This week, the founder of Haveil Havalim, the Soccer Dad blogger, dedicated this week's "Haveil Havalim" in its entirety to RivkA's memory, and compiled a list of blogs (though not exhaustive) that remembered RivkA over the past week.
Shacharit at 7 AM Mincha at 4:40 PM Arvit at 5:20 PM
During 12 - 3 PM every day the family will be on a break, so please do not come during those hours.
Visitors should not come later than 9:30 PM, to allow the family for private time as well.
If you need directions to the shiva, you can contact me at muqata@gmail.com
Update -- The following request originally appeared last week in the comments section, and we're reposting it now, open to all. Not just bloggers...but anyone who was positively impacted by RivkA.
RivkA has asked me to compile a book.
She would like her friends to write about any positive impact she has had on your life, any way in which she has touched your life.So, get... thinking, and get writing, and please EMAIL me your contributions, under the heading: "Written for RivkA."
It doesn't have to be long, but it can be as long as you want it to be.
The "First Rule" of the Blogosphere is: Post every day.
Try doing that on chemo!
I love my loyal readers! So for you, and you know who you are, I try to post at least 2-3 times a week.
This blog is OPEN -- so share it with anyone you think might be interested.
I want to hear what you have to say, so COMMENT FREELY!
For newcomers who know, or don't know, me:
I am a Red-Head (to know one, is to love one), Zionist (last of a dying breed), Idealist (can't help it, I still want to change the world), Enthusiastic People Person (love to meet you!), Mom (my kids are EVERYTHING to me), Wife (married to my best friend), and Cancer Survivor (read on!).
Cancer History in 3 sentences or less:
Diagnosed with DCIS (stage ZERO breast cancer) at age 39 (June 2005). Three surgeries and 2 years later (July 2007)... I became a statistical anomaly: breast cancer mysteriously metastasized to my bones, liver and lungs. 2 years later (July 2009), we discovered metastases in my brain.
Diagnosis: Cancer is a "chronic illness." You can live with it.
Translation: I hope to be on chemotherapy for a LONG time!
CODES:
Y = eldest daughter MD = middle son A = youngest daughter
MIL = mother-in-law FIL = father-in-law SIL = sister-in-law BIL = brother-in-law
Posts
