A dinner marking a decade of the Shifra and Puah organization

00:00 I want to thank you, the mothers who have given birth, for agreeing to accept help at all. At the beginning, we didn’t know how you would receive us. After all, the Rebbe said to offer help to everyone—to those who need it and those who think they don’t. In a conversation between Rabbi Chodakov and Rabbi Shlomo Madanchik, Rabbi Chodakov put it this way: “A diaper in a stroller.” A diaper and a stroller. Simple, practical help. I remember that Friday when Shoshik, carrying the first Shabbos meal she had cooked, stopped beside me and said, “Shoshana, I’m afraid they’re going to throw me down the stairs.” And today, boruch Hashem, Shifra and Puah has become a part of our lives, something we take for granted, and for that I want to express my gratitude. I must also thank Aliza Safrani for years of dedication. More than once, we came to her right before Shabbos and asked her to cook for a mother’s large family. With unparalleled self-sacrifice, she stood there and cooked. And thank you to the young girls from the elementary school who helped and continue to help—and really, to all of you who helped us help others. And thank you to the Rebbe shlita, who gave us Shifra and Puah.

00:01 I had jaundice. At the time, jaundice was rare. Perhaps there have been more cases in Kfar Chabad recently, but back then it was unusual. Of course, people heard about it—the news spread quickly—and everyone knew I was sick with jaundice. They were frightened and kept their distance. I understood, and I understood very well, why no one dared come to my apartment or even near the house. We didn’t have a telephone in those days, so I was completely cut off. And of course, I understood. One morning, while I was at home, I heard someone knocking at the door. Someone knocking? I couldn’t understand it. All of a sudden, when I was alone, there was a knock. I went over, opened the door, and saw a representative of Shifra and Puah standing there. When I saw her, I was alarmed. I said, “You dared come up here? Run! Get out of here!” But she stood her ground. “No, I’m not afraid. I’m here. I came to see you.” I told her, “No, run! You could catch it. Even if you’re not worried about yourself, you could bring the illness home to your children. Hurry and get out of here!” And she said, “No, I’m staying.” We really argued. In the end, we reached a compromise: she agreed to go down three steps while I stood in the doorway, and that’s how we talked. That visit really touched my heart. I felt that although I was alone and cut off, I knew people were thinking about me. I knew there was someone sitting at home, thinking about how to help in a case like this. And not just thinking about it at home—she came, she showed up without fear, to offer help at a time like that. Another story happened to me a year ago. It was after I gave birth by Caesarean section, with some complications involving the stitches, pus, an infection—it doesn’t matter. This time too, I came home after ten days, certain I was already strong enough to manage. The next day, when everyone went out and I was alone with the baby, I thought: I’ll roll up my sleeves, I’ll

02:46 get to work. Let’s begin. I tried, but I saw I wasn’t up to it. I was still walking a little hunched over. I couldn’t do what I’d planned. Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and who was there? The representative of Shifra and Puah. She looked at me and said, “What are you doing? Are you working? How are you? Straight to bed, of course.” And of course she sent us Mazal. I don’t know whether she’s still here, but she became an inseparable part of our home. The children could recognize her from a distance, and to this day, when they see Mazal, they reach out their arms to her, because Mazal came to our home and visited us very often. And it wasn’t only Mazal. We also found another lovely woman who would come in the morning and help me get things ready, in addition to the help I received from family members, of course. As for the cooking for Shabbos, there was no meal service yet at the time, and Mrs. Tzafnai, who normally cooked for Shifra and Puah, had recently left that work. So they couldn’t provide hot food. I remember how the representatives of Shifra and Puah worked and struggled to persuade Mrs. Tzafnai that, despite all her other work, she should try to make something. She sent me salads and meat, and I said—this was after a week or two, when I already felt I could walk upright, something I couldn’t do before.

00:11 Speaker 1 A decade of the Shifra and Puah organization. About ten years ago, Rabbi Chodakov, on the instructions of the Rebbe shlita, approached Reb Shleimke Maidanchik, who was then at Beis Chayeinu, and asked him to establish an organization to help new mothers. The Rebbe asked that the organization be called Shifra and Puah. Several women immediately took on the far-from-easy task of helping new mothers. After several years of growing pains and many difficulties, we have, boruch Hashem, developed extensive activities covering every area in which we can help and ease the burden on a new mother and her family. To give you a glimpse of the great deal of work that goes into these activities, we will let the pictures tell the story. Our thanks go to Yisrael Elinson for preparing the video.

02:50 Speaker 2 The Shifra and Puah equipment storeroom holds many items: strollers, cradles, beds, infant car seats, and more. Every woman can borrow equipment according to her needs. Let’s visit the storeroom together, in the center of Kfar Chabad.

05:21 Speaker 3 The Yad Batya kitchen is named for our friend Batya Tenenbaum, of blessed memory. It was established with substantial help from the Gopin family, the participation of the Emek Lod Regional Council, donations from Kfar Chabad residents, and, of course, the Shifra and Puah organization. The kitchen delivers fresh, hot meals every day to the homes of new mothers, elderly people, and anyone else in need. The esteemed Mrs. Sarah Gopin manages the kitchen with boundless devotion and dedication. Working alongside her are a cook and several assistants who help prepare the meals.

09:04 Speaker 4 There is no need to say much about the nursery. In the segment ahead, you can see its wonderful work up close and how much it does for children who need special attention at precisely this time, when their mother is weak and cannot give her other children her full attention.