Word Prompt – GEMACH – Anat Coleman

When I was expecting our first child, I was still relatively new to the neighborhood. It was hard to know who to turn to – who might have baby items or maternity clothing to lend, and who wouldn’t mind sharing. After my baby was born, I set up a gemach in my apartment (I had the closet space to spare back then), lending out the kinds of things I had needed myself. It turned out to be a wonderful way to meet other local women, especially fellow new moms.

Fast forward 18 years, and things look very different. Now we have a plethora of Facebook and WhatsApp groups at our fingertips. It’s remarkable to think about some of the big life decisions I’ve made based on the advice of complete strangers online.

Over the years, I’ve lent and borrowed a dizzying array of things – from wedding outfits to a can opener. These everyday exchanges have not only made life more convenient, but also reminded me again and again of the quiet generosity that lives in a community when people are simply willing to help each other out.

Still, I sometimes look back wistfully on the days when the gemach was inside my own home – when I could invite people in, meet them face to face, and connect in a more personal way. There was something special about those real-life interactions that no app or group chat can truly replace.