Tribute to an “Unsung Hero”

An overflow crowd gathered Wednesday night in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva Hall on Crown Street to celebrate the life and achievements of a true baalas chesed, Mrs. Miriam Slater a”h, a quiet and unassuming long-time resident of Crown Heights who excelled in helping as many people, Mosdos and organizations as she could.

The Shloshim gathering was chaired by Rabbi Lipa Brennan, a close personal friend of the Slaters, who gave an insight into Mrs. Slater’s many accomplishments.

The evening began with Tehillim for the safety and security of all Jews in Eretz Yisroel, for cholim and for Sholom Mordechai Halevi ben Rivka.

Tehillim was recited by Rabbi Aron Cousin, a noted educator and friend of the family.

Rabbi Brennan began by quoting from a sicha of the Rebbe, said at the conclusion of the Rebbitzin’s shloshim in 5748, about the different phases of aveilus, shiva, shloshim, yud beis chodesh, and on, and how a person gains strength entering each new phase from the posuk of “Vehachai Yiten El libo.”

He told a story about Rabbi Sholom Ber Gordon, the veteran Shliach of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe in Maplewood N.J. Rabbi Gordon always referred to himself as a “self made man,” being that at the time of his Bar Mitzvah he was away from home in Yeshiva and his parents sent him a pair of tefillin but could not be with him together on his special day. He put on tefillin himself without all the hoopla associated with a Bar Mitzvah, and so he termed himself a “self made man.” Rabbi Brennan continued that Mrs. Slater was also “self made”, moving here from Connecticut with her husband Michoel after their marriage and establishing herself as a dedicated teacher, mother and volunteer for many of our community’s Mosdos and organizations.

One of those organizations, “Soul to Soul” has already announced the dedication of this year’s Journal at their annual concert in her memory, as a token of appreciation for all her hard work each year ensuring the success of the journal campaign.

Dovi Slater, a son, made the Siyum on the whole Mishnayos followed by Kaddish by all the sons. He then shared with the audience some anecdotes of his mother a”h, stressing the fact that at all times, her family was her main concern, and the efforts she went to to ensure the finest education for them all the years. Dovi asked everyone to accept upon themselves this unconditional love for their families and to try to bring sholom amongst their families and friends.

Next to speak was her brother Larry Lambert from Connecticut, who told also of his sister’s love for her family and helping out whoever needed a helping hand. She was known to attend weddings and take pictures at the chuppa and present them to the Choson and Kallah as a gift.

One of Miriam’s most outstanding accomplishments, that continues to bear fruits to this day, is the involvement she had in establishing a special class for students that needed a little bit of extra encouragement. This began over 16 years ago, and together with a few other parents she took the lead in raising the funds to pay the teachers, and was the inspiration that carried the class from its beginnings in Rabbi Shain’s shul to becoming part of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva school where the Shloshim event was held.

One the early teachers of that class was a young married man developing his skills in Chinuch and Shlichus, Rabbi Boruch Jacobson. Rabbi Jacobson then came to the podium and told recollections of how he came to know Mrs. Slater and how he began to work for her. He told of her keen insights into Chinuch, many of which he has utilized in his Shlichus with great success.

The Guest Speaker of the evening was Rabbi Yaakov Klar, Associate Director of the Crisis Intervention Team of Chai Lifeline. Rabbi Klar discussed “How to provide Chesed for people in need.” During his very informative and uplifting remarks, Rabbi Klar gave tips and guidelines when dealing with situations of emotional stress. He quoted from the Rebbe’s first maamar, Bosi Legani, noting that the Rebbe told a story of an act of Chesed from each of the Rabbeim. This is how important chesed is and in this, Mrs. Slater excelled, and led us all by example.

The evening concluded with hachlotos tovos by all the participants L’iluy Nishmas Miriam bas R’ Moshe Yaakov Hakohen Slater.