A Tribute to our Very Own Yehudis Heimlich, a”h

A TRIBUTE TO OUR VERY OWN

Yehudis Heimlich, a”h Marking her Shloshim: Yud Zayin Kislev/December 3

Dear Yehudis,

So strong, courageous, sweet, and adoring. Always with the most cheerful remarks to family and friends! You were the favorite sister, sister-in-law, aunt and beyond but it was you who made others feel great. Your heart had room for everyone and anyone and all your nieces and nephews came straight into your open arms each time they saw you.

It’s so hard to imagine life without you. My eyes well up with tears at the very thought, but we must have faith. You wouldn’t have wanted your passing to get us down. We, all of your precious family with whom you would take such delight, feel like we lost a true diamond. So pure, like one that glistened with the rays of the sun. Your physical presence is sadly not with us anymore, however, the simchas hachaim and ahavas Yisroel that you lived with and portrayed will be carried constantly in all of our hearts! We strive to keep your memory alive, to keep it resonating within our very being. We will try to make others feel that they are the most special, as you did; to pitch in and help siblings in need of support as you did; and to always have a compliment on the tip of our tongues for those we see, just as you always did! It was so refreshing to see your shining smile and sparkling eyes as we would enter your home. The void will surely be felt.

Yehudis, you taught us such a lesson on avodas Hashem. Your tefillos were so important to you as evident from how you cherished your siddur, treating it with love and respect. No, we could never make kiddush before the Shabbos day seudah until you finished davening. You strived to have the proper kavanah in your tefillo,s making sure to be in a place that was conducive for that. You wanted to look your best on Shabbos, with nice clothing and makeup, in its honor. Yehudis, even in the hospital, on what would be your last erev Shabbos, you wanted to get ready and feel fresh for Shabbos. You made a special request that your brother, who was to come visit, bring an outfit and robe for you. That Shabbos, like every other, you were all madeup and looked beautiful! In fact, you always loved to have clothing that would make you feel special. More important still is how beautiful you were on the inside! Whenever Mommy shopped with you, you urged her to also buy something new so she would feel good.

With Hashem at your side, you were taken from this world.

Motzei Shabbos in the hospital, you were so excited to hear havdalah and smell the besamim. Your effort to be mekayim all mitzvos and to perform them in the best way possible was always part of your life, but the fact that you were so careful even then speaks volumes. Wanting Moshiach to come and to make Hashem proud were high on your priority list. We all wish to learn from you and have you in mind as we do.

You had a strength like no other. Yehudis, you were the tiniest of all but had the confidence to match the big leagues. You were an achiever and a doer. You had an idea and got it done! You made sure your family was together on yomim tovim and for chol hamoed trips and arranged exciting trips that would be fun for everyone. You took Mommy to Florida and braved the sea dolphins!

We won’t forget how you prepared an entire curriculum and purchased supplies hoping to run your very own playgroup. The beginning of the school year drew close, but for reasons unknown to us, your goals of teaching the little tots wouldn’t materialize. The effort was there. Yes, you put your heart and soul into it. You were so excited and energized with your successes. Yehudis, we, too, are so proud of how far you got with your playgroup. With Hashem at your side, you organized it and hoped. With Hashem at your side, you were taken from this world.

The staff at the hospital allowed the whole family to come, despite the Covid restrictions, and you were zocheh to have us by your side when your beautiful neshama left. You looked so at peace; your face was like an angel.

We are struggling to move on in life without you, Yehudis! We miss you dearly but we know that you are in a good place. Growing up, we always learned and repeated to ourselves that everything Hashem does is good and only good. When a challenge as great as this one arises, we are called upon to exercise that belief. That is our tafkid. Through the tears and with great effort, we will daven for siyata diShmaya and for the coming of Moshiach tzidkeinu, speedily!

Sincerely, Your loving family

Yehudis was nifteres this year at 23 years old. This article should be for an aliyah for her neshama, Yehudis Baila bas R’ Yeshaya Dovid.