By Dvora Lakein- co-director of The Beis Medrash Women’s Circle.
This isn’t your typical mother-in-law story. The sadness and frustration I feel are results of my mother-in-law’s absence, not her meddling.
My husband’s mother, Mrs. Miriam Lakein, passed away when he was 13, a few months after her youngest child’s birth and many years before I came into the picture. I have gotten to know her through her incredible family and through the stories I hear everywhere I go. The stories from women who knew Miriam and respected and loved her, who still get emotional two decades after her passing.
This Tuesday, yud Tammuz, is my mother-in-law’s 20th yahrtzeit. To honor her memory, the Beis Medrash Women’s Circle is hosting our first annual Garden Party. The evening will open with reminiscences by two of her close friends, Mrs. Dinah Borenstein and Mrs. Fraida Perelstein. Mrs. Chanie Wolff, a popular Bais Rivkah educator will answer the provocative question, “does Chabad believe in Yirah?” Following her talk, Elisheva Maister and Rivka Eilfort will perform a musical duet on cello and guitar.
The Garden Party will take place in the back yard of 667 Crown Street. For more information, please [email protected] or call Chanel Lipskier at 718.778.6712 or Dvora Lakein at 347.342.5688.
Monday, June 17
8:15 p.m.
667 Crown Street
Admission $8 in advance/10 at the door
Am still in tears whenever I speak of my dearest closest friend. We were best friends since our childhood in Minnesota. The expression BFF applies here. Miriam was an exceptional person in every way. I am so grateful to her for being an inspiration to my entire family. The loss we feel is tremendous. Miriam was a giant in sincerity, Yiddishkeit, Mentschlikite & in everything she participated in. In every conversation with Miram we discussed Moshiach. I am so blessed to have had such an incredible friend/sister in Miriam. I miss you so much & will love you forever. May… Read more »
I wish I could be there this evening! Dvora, you are following in your mother-in-law’s footsteps. You are joy and a blessing to your family and your community. I am so lucky to be your sister.
Miriam , although we were not priveleged to meet in this world, I am sure that you are schepping much naches from our Lakein einiklech, ken en hora. I see every day that your memory IS a blessing .
May we meet right now, with Moshiach!
Miriam was so special……. Once I got a ride home by her in her large van filled with her brachas and groceries from the kollel store in b. park. She offered me a ride home … that was a ride to remember. She excused herself while she said piskim and sang with her kindlach. she was one of the few women that was menachem avil to me erev Pesach. She herself was sick, which I learned later. Her conforting words were so personal and I remember dearly……… in later years I did find out that she graciously welcomed my husband… Read more »
I have tears in seeing Mrs. Laiken picture, because I really miss her.Hope to see her soon again with Moshiach. Mrs.Laiken opened her home and heart for me when I was a student at Machon Chana and I felt very lucky, because i always felt she was just very special.Big smile , good sense of humor, emesdik, excelent hostess, caring and very wise……………. My family waited to tell me about her passing, until few days after I have given birth to my first child on 12 of Tamuz. So then ,when my little girl Devora turned three, we opened Gan… Read more »
I remember Miraim as a fun loving sweet woman. Always looked at the best in every situation. When she was diagnosed with the dreadful disease, the neighbors offered to help and did and she was so gracious about it.
She said every thing is a “nissoyon”,
Her personality, kindness…it totally intrigues me to come to the garden party to hear more.
Looking forward to an inspiring beautiful evening.
I remember walking down Montgomery Street when Miriam was very ill. I spoke to her as she was going up her stairs. I said Miriam “you’re going to make it” She turned to me with a big smile on her face and said “Bluma, I already made it!” You can’t speak about her without getting tears in your eyes. For real, “They don’t make like her any more!”
I also remember Miriam Lakein. she was obviously a very fine and devoted mother also very friendly to people she didn’t know so that makes sense (what i just read in the comments) – that she wanted people to be friendly to one another it was very disturbing when she was diagnosed and then heartbreaking when she passed away and suddenly we would see the dad walking with the kids on the street, no more mom as the Rebbe said when Pesha Leah Lapine passed away, we can demand of G-d, “How could You take away a mother from her… Read more »
Indeed a very special woman with her own kind of warm and bubbly energy, much missed and not forgotten!
I didn’t realize that this event was in memory of Mrs. Lakein who sounds like such an unusual woman. I always feel like it is a z’chus for us limatah to learn, as a community, about the incredible lives of people like Mrs. Lakein whom we never knew.
brings back memories. Such a lebedige, good-natured woman, with a larger-than-life spunkiness that she used for Torah and mitzvos, and a great sense of humor. I recall her saying how she urged and helped her children to call a non-Shomer Shabbos relative every Erev Shabbos to wish her good Shabbos and tell her the correct candlelighting time. That vibrant neshama still vibrates in the world, especially in the memories of those who knew her… that’s why we still become emotional after all these years. May Moshiach come now and reunite her with her loved ones, and reintroduce her to everyone… Read more »
garden party is a great idea, something not often done in crown heights, looking forward!
a very special person. May her memory be for blessing.
i will definitely do my best to be there monday night!
soon after they set up a home I became a ben bayis which lasted until after we married and set up our own home in manchester england. In the article somebody writes that so many years later they still become emotional on thinking of miriam-well Ifeel the same on thinking of the chessed that she did for anyone who needed it and maybe those that didnt.An aishes chayil of the greatest stature and one who left a massive void which hopefully her children can in some measure fulfil. wishing the family arichus yomim
uzi and bayla brown manchester
Chanie – you were so cute!
Dvora beautiful article!!
I still remember when she got up at a Neshei meeting in Oholei Torah & made a simple request that all the women should greet each other when they pass on Kingston on Shabbos. She was from the bitter cold Midwest but had the warmest heart. MOSHIACH NOW from one of the Oldies but Goodies. We should be in Yerushalayim way before this gathering !!!!