“I am Musya Keller, the proud older sister of Mordechai Dovid a”h who was killed in a car accident….”

So began Musya’s poignant speech delivered at the Imahos Ubanos finale BBQ last Sunday. For years, Musya and her mother, Mrs. Nechama Dina Keller, joined the 20 other mother-daughter pairs at monthly study sessions at Kahal Chassidim. While Musya, at 20, has aged out of the learning program, she was asked to attend this celebration in honor of her brother.

“I am very grateful that in memory of Mordechai Dovid and Sholom Meir Rimler, another little boy who passed away this year,” continued Musya, “that all of you have been filling out Thank You Hashem cards. 

“The Women’s Circle has always been a reliable presence for our family. A happy place we could go to for some fun and meaning. And also a place we could turn to when things were difficult. Once again, the Women’s Circle has come through for us.”

Nine years ago, The Women’s Circle’s Director, Mrs. Chanel Lipskier, envisioned a setting where mothers could sit with their daughters for solid study time. The program began with a handful of families in 2017. This year’s season saw hundreds of mothers and daughters learning together at 9 locations across Crown Heights and the United States. After learning a set curriculum (or studying for upcoming tests or doing homework), girls say the 12 pesukim. Then they fill in a Thank You Hashem card that is hand-delivered to the Ohel each month. There are treats and raffles for both the mothers and the daughters.

At Sunday’s BBQ, 200 girls and their mothers enjoyed sizzling BBQ fare and ice cream while Mrs. Rishe Deitsch and Chaya Kramer shared stories, and Yocheved Zalmanov spoke about what being part of Imahos Ubanos means to her. Each girl decorated a cap for the summer and created a candygram to personally thank her own mother. Adding to the theme of ahavas yisrael, participants also made friendship bracelets and enjoyed games with Zappy by Zeesy.

As with all the Women’s Circle’s programming, tremendous gratitude goes to the sponsors who make it possible. Thank you to the Smetana Family for sponsoring the Crown Heights chapters. Thank you to Mr. Greens for their continuous generous support. Much appreciation goes to Klein’s Ice Cream. 

Thank you to the coordinators: Chaya Altein, Shayna Rochel Bialestok, Chaya Blackman, CM Drookman, Shaina Gopin, Rena Greenberg, Dvora Lakein, Hindel Levitin, Nechamy Rabin, Sheva Sputz, and Hadassah Zirkind who work throughout the year to create engaging Imahos Ubanos study sessions in their individual locales.

Please check out www.chwomenscircle.com to sponsor an event or for more information about the Circle’s regular classes and special programs.