My grandmother Sahava Michelsohn was a fighter and trailblazer.
She joined Betar as a partisan during World War II to save Jewish lives; rescued babies in a Hungarian orphanage; she literally wore army boots as a soldier in the Hagana. After marrying and moving to Washington Heights, NY, she immersed herself in a myriad of chesed projects: running bazars to help her son’s yeshiva, raising funds to buy a new incubator and other specialized medical equipment for Hadassah Hospital, ‘adopting’ a pair of intellectually challenged boys and helped to fund the residential facility in EY that cared for them. She was heavily involved with Bnai Zion and was its president for many years. She worked to get boys out of public school and into yeshivos – finding placements and scholarships for them. When her own son’s tuition bills became too steep, she drove a taxicab in New York City to make sure the bills were paid. Nothing fazed her.
She volunteered for EVERYTHING. She stuck her neck out for her friends and family, and threw herself into any cause she believed in. She was like Nachshon, always the first to step up. Towards the end of her life, she became a fixture in her new shul in Fort Lee, NJ. There she raised money for a new kitchen, established a weekly women’s Tehillim group, and of course, was chosen to be its Ladies Auxiliary president. She was a can-do person who didn’t know the meaning of NO. She loved the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael with every fiber of her being. Chesed was in her DNA. She was beautiful and poised and used her charisma to do good in the world.
My Babi passed away when I was 8. I was old enough to remember her spunk and her stories (which she had an endless supply of), and how fashionable she was. But I wasn’t old enough to know her on a deeper, more mature level. I never talked to her about her past, about the two little brothers who were murdered by the Nazis, y”sh. I was never able to ask her for advice or have her see my accomplishments.
Once again, I am raising money in her memory.
My Babi, Sahava bas Ze’ev, was a true eishes chayil. I know without a shred of doubt that if she were here she would be rooting for me and for the JCN, an organization that goes ‘above and beyond’ all the time. I am raising money for this organization that went above and beyond to help MY family in OUR time of need.
I am raising money in my grandmother’s memory to elevate her soul, and make her proud. I missed out a lot of time with my Babi. I feel comforted in knowing that she’s watching me from up high as I try to emulate her, this queen of chesed.
I am excited to be participating in the JCN 5K Glow Run to light up lives and make a difference for families facing serious or life threatening illness. Please partner with me to support all the important work JCN does to support these families and the Tikvah House. Your generous tax deductible donation means a family can know we are there for them as one.
Thanks so much!
Eliana Woodland
