On August 25th, 2010, the memorial service for Reva Esther Robin who was killed in a fatal car accident in New Hampshire on 14 Elul 5770 was held. Today is her Yahrzeit
Reva Esther was known for her chesed and in the last few years of her life, she dedicated herself to help people who passed away and did not have frum relatives to properly take care of their burials and perform zechuyos (merits) such as saying kaddish. She often used her own money for this purpose as well as for the mitzvah of obtaining a burial plot for those who otherwise would not have one. In one case she saved a father and son who died on the same day from cremation by convincing the family to arrange a Jewish burial.
At the service, Rabbi Herschel Welcher told of all the amazing things that happened after she died that allowed her to be buried on the day after she passed away in the absence of her closest relatives being available to make the arrangements. Rabbi Matis Blum also discussed that because she was often consulting Rabbis with her questions regarding these mitzvos her phone book was found and the Rabbis were contacted immediately after her passing.
Rabbi Tzvi Hebel from Lakewood, the author of a sefer called “The Neshamah Should Have an Aliyah,” also spoke as this was the sefer that inspired Reva Esther aâ€h to start a Gemach for the purpose of doing mitzvos in memory of deceased individuals who did not have frum family.
Reva Esther was one of those amazing Baalei Teshuva who accomplished so much in her lifetime. She knew what it was like to have a small support network and she focused her chessed on helping Neshamos who had no one to support them after their passing.
The Aliyah Neshama Gemach has been set up in her name for people who do not have any family to honor their memory. The gemach will take on zechusim (merits) to elevate the neshama.
If you know of someone who needs their efforts please email aliyahneshama@gmail.com with the deceased’s Hebrew name, father’s name and yahrtzeit date. If you would like to volunteer, seen an email to aliyahneshama@gmail.com. You can make a tax deductible contribution to Congregation Ahavas Yisroel, and write in the memo, Fund for Reva Esther A”H. Checks can be mailed to Congregation Ahavas Yisroel, PO Box 670503, Station C, Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367.
The memorial service for this amazing woman can be downloaded here.
