Mrs. Scheiner Goes Shopping

By Chaya Sarah Cantor

Tuesday morning, May 12th, a group of twenty-five women gathered outside a two-story brick home on Montgomery Street, where five vans waited, motors running.

The lady of the house, Devorah Scheiner, approached the group with a special request: to say Tehillim in light of the recent tragedies.

“Yosef Yoel Hochauser ben Avrohom,” she said. “Son of a cousin of mine. Fourteen years old.” Yosef was found dead on the bathroom floor, where he had collapsed from an aneurism.

“He was a budding Torah scholar,” Devorah continued. “Full of joy, kindness, life — kind hearted, lover of fellow Jews. He could always be counted on whenever needed.” Now he was the korban tamid, the sacrifice.

The women opened their prayer books to Psalm 15: Mizmor leDovid Hashem mi yagur beoheleicha . . . .”

Next was Chaya Mushka bas Menachem Mendel. Eleven years old. After a longtime illness, her pure soul finally returned to Shomayim.

They turned to Psalm 12: Lamnatzeach al hasheminit mizmor leDovid . . .

The third — a shaliach’s daughter, Menucha Rochel bas Gila Elke, five years old, who was suffering a critical illness, although, B”H, lately seemed on the mend.

They turned to Psalm 6: Lamnatzeach bunginot al hasheminit mizmor leDovid . . .

Afterwards, all lined up and entered the vans.

Destination: Boro Park. At the entrance to the grocery store, the women were treated to hot drinks and danishes. Then each took a shopping cart and rolled through the aisles. Cottage cheese, butter, sour cream – and, of course, meat, fruits, and vegetables – everything needed to prepare cheesecake, blintzes, and everything else for the upcoming Shavuos holiday was placed inside the carts.

Each lady was treated royally. The staff accommodated them with every desired item; at the check-out counters each lady received a discount.

Later that night, the calls came in, tying up Devorah’s line for hours.

“They were so grateful,” she explained. “They knew they could have a decent yomtov.”

She added, “My Shavuos wouldn’t have been complete without this.”

While elsewhere women rushed around buying new clothes, planning their meals and swapping dairy recipes, others faced a bleak holiday with empty cupboards and closets. Widows, single mothers, wives with sick children or spouses – all too poor or overwhelmed to provide for themselves or their families.

Thanks to Devorah Sheiner, each and every one was able to celebrate the holiday properly. For years, come every mark on the Jewish calendar, she has been there to arrange truckloads of produce, special deals, and even her own time, where she will often accompany these women individually or together. No one has ever been turned away.

She was especially delighted over the recent trip to Boro Park. “For this I managed to raise three thousand dollars,” she said.

But she still needs much more to cover the remaining expenses, and is turning now, to the community, for help.

Please, would you kindly donate to the Mrs. Scheiner Yom Tov Fund. Or send a check to Mrs. Scheiner Yom Tov Fund, 519 Montgomery Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225.