Letter to my sisters

Dear:
Rochie
Chanie
Devora

They say that “out of every darkness, a treasure emerges”, and a lesson is learned,
Chanie--Rochie-- Devorie turned out to be our treasure, and the price we received for enduring the pain quietly and silently protecting you. You guys turned out great in spite of him, not because of him, and for that I thank Hashem that we were blessed

For the 5 of us who suffered from a very evil man we couldn’t possibly imagine that anything vaguely positive could possibly come to pass, yet it did.

But our suffering is beyond your comprehension, and we do understand. I didn’t understand, and I was actually shocked to learn that you were even considering naming a child after such an evil man, but Leah and Meir seem to think that you don’t really have a clue, and of course you weren’t born yet, so I will take it upon myself to make sure that you do know and that everyone knows, and when you make your decision, it will be an educated choice.

I begged mommy to protect us from him, but she didn’t, and life took advantage of us, Shmuel was responsible and I will not coward away from the task of making sure no one ever forgets what he did to us. Perhaps someone else may learn from the mistake and save the life of another helpless child.

If you want to have your child named after a man that has destroyed the life of, 5 innocent children and a poor widow, so be it, but I can assure you that for us me, leah, Malka, Uri, and Meir it would be a huge pinch in our heart every time the ugly name is mentioned because we have suffered so much in his hands. It will bring up the memory of all that we have suffered, and still we do suffer the residue of his deeds.

And Uri, well, he never had a chance in life and it was Shmuel that destroyed his life. For that alone, I don’t think he should have the zchus to have an innocent child named after him certainly none of the 5 who suffered in his hands would ever name a child, or grandchild after him, I don’t personally see how you would want to name your child the name of an evil man or anything related to his past.

But if there is to be a child running around with his name it is time the world knows the truth about what he did and who he really is.
Why do you think mommy made sure that none of you were named after anyone in his family, she promised me when Rochie was born that she would never name her children after anyone in his family and she kept that promise.

I feel compelled to tell my story to you and to a Rav you respect. I am sending you the first chapter of the story I wanted to tell for years.
I only wrote the first chapter, (even before I left New York) but I will describe every tiny ugly incident we had to endure and perhaps you will have a better idea of our suffering.

I wanted to take this evil man to Bais Din and to court so he could pay for what he did, but Mommy said it would hurt our treasure, she said it would not be good for a shidduch, and I guess she was right. but I will do my best to try and relate it as clearly and as honestly as I can.

If you give me the name of a Rav you know and trust, I can explain to him what happen and let’s get a psak din for now and for the future on this mater, I can’t speak for everyone but I guess the 5 of us who suffered will accept it
It's time we break our silence and tell the gory details of our pain.
The truth is, nobody knows because we have been silently suffering. It would be a great dishonor to all of us 5 to have any child named after this horrible creature.

I know you will never fully comprehend the depth of our pain and why it’s still with us,

I have been asked by Hashem to forgive him and I will, therefore I will not harbor hate any longer, but I will never forget and its time everyone knows all the gory details of our years in hell.

He was not much of a father to you either, but he was the sperm donor, yet, he didn’t abuse you as he did us. If Hitler was your father would you name your child Hitler? He was our personal Hitler, he is responsible for the death of our brother and the destruction of our life. He was an evil man, torturing us and mommy every single day, beating the crap out of Uri every day and basically displacing and destroying the life of 5 orphans and a widow. Our life was in his hands and he did destroy it. And out of those ashes we were left broken and alone with one dead brother, left to pick up the pieces for ourselves, and this is the man you want your child to have? Mommy prayed she wouldn’t have a boy, see how we turn out just like our parents?

Mommy didn’t protect us from him, I didn’t pursue justice from him and he never paid for what he did, but a low life evil man like that should not have anyone named after him or anyone in his family.
Having a child named after him would be bad luck and bad karma, but it is your choice, my job is just to make sure you make that choice fully aware of the facts.

I was Rivkey’s age when mommy brought him into our life and after 2 years in a living hell, I was displaced with no home, walking the streets of Brooklyn looking desperately for a place to call home, feeling all alone in the world. With a mother that refused to listen to me and a home that made me suicidal. What would you do to a person who would come into your life now and abuse your children, would you protect them from him or would you let them roam the streets looking for another home while you linger in his hell hole?

But, do understand this, Every time any one of us including Uri (alav hashalom) would hear this horrible name it would hurt us inside-- especially Uri who has lost his life because of him.

You will always be our treasure, but naming a child after the man who destroyed our life is too much to endure. Please let me call the rav asap so that the question can be settled for now and for the future babies that you Chanie and Devorie may have.


Thank you
Tippy