Those who have been involved in the planning of a wedding or special event are aware of the amount of time, energy and money required to execute it perfectly. For many, the joy of the occasion is accompanied by the stress and burden of financial worries. Some decide not to invest in one-time-use purchases – important as the day may be – while others truly cannot afford the costs. For those in either position, borrowing from a gemach may be the solution.
The word gemach is an acronym for the Jewish term gemilut chasadim (acts of kindness). Gemachs, which are commonly named in honour of a deceased person’s memory, recycle items and clothing, maintaining a repository of items that can be borrowed, used and returned. From bridal gowns to table linens and decorations, gemachs encourage sharing and play an important role in each Jewish community.
For most brides, finding the ideal bridal gown is of paramount importance, and it is typical to try on several options before “saying yes to the dress.” Instead of hopping from store to store and spending exorbitant amounts on a gown that will be worn once, many Jewish brides around the world visit a gemach. There, in one place, they find dresses of many sizes and styles available to be borrowed.
In 2007, Lieba Jacobson and Claudia Litvak Polachek started Gemach Naomi Gittel in Montreal, with the mission of loaning wedding gowns to brides in need. They came up with the idea after encountering young married women who were interested in donating their dresses to a charity, as well as many brides-to-be who could not afford to a buy new gowns.
Litvak Polachek and Jacobson named the gemach after a girl who passed away in Israel at the age of five. “She will never have the opportunity to walk down the aisle wearing a wedding gown, but in her remembrance, so many others will,” they said.
Gemach Naomi Gittel was started with the vision of every bride having her dream wedding, regardless of her financial status. It began in Jacobson’s home and was later moved to Congregation Chevra Kadisha B’nai Jacob Beit Hazikaron Beth Hillel (commonly known as the Chevra synagogue) as the gown collection grew. A subsequent fashion show fundraiser collected enough money to buy brand new wedding gowns to add to the donated ones.
Only contemporary gowns and veils in excellent condition are selected for the gemach. Any woman may make an appointment, borrow a gown, alter it as she needs and then return it after her wedding. Women may even travel with the gown, so long as they return it after the event. The gemach is operated on a trust system and without deposits, with only a $150 dry cleaning fee requested.
In 2008, this project came under the umbrella of the Chevra’s sisterhood organization, which sponsored the renovation of a room in a prominent synagogue where the gowns are proudly showcased.
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Many traditional Jewish weddings also involve shtick – a Yiddish word that means “piece” or “prank” – being performed to entertain the bride and groom. These performances may involve all kinds of props and costumes, which most participants choose to borrow instead of buy for an evening’s festivities.
Michal Goldreich, a Toronto-based occupational therapist, runs a gemach for shtick items. She said she lends the props for the purpose of simchat hatan v’kallah, the mitzvah of bringing joy to a bride and groom. This tradition adds to the fun of the evening and creates memorable moments for the newly married couple, as well as the guests.
Goldreich and a friend came up with the idea for the shtick gemach while working at a camp about 20 years ago. Now, with a collection of props and costumes, including the ever-popular skipping rope and parachute, the gemach has everything a budding entertainer could wish for.
Items from Goldreich’s shtick gemach are also available to those borrowing for plays and bar and bat mitzvahs, and are not limited to Torontonians, having already been taken to Israel, the United States and Montreal. There is no rental fee for the items, but a $50 deposit is required to ensure their safety and guarantee their return. Goldreich also requests a donation of $25 to Hachnosas Kallah Toronto, an organization that strives to alleviate some of the financial stress for new brides and their families.
The gemach, which is run out of her garage, is a family affair for Goldreich, who is married with five children.
“It’s important to me that my children see that anyone can show chesed,” she said. “It doesn’t take much time and the acts of kindness make a big difference.”