As the seasons begin to change and the new year begins, many people have their minds on organizing the year’s simchas, or hosting a large number of people in their home for Yom Tov meals. Coordinating simchas can be both stressful and expensive, but the myriad of gemachs around New Jersey, and even more around the tristate area, takes a bit of that stress away. The variety of gemachs provide everything from gowns to centerpieces for either a very low cost or free of charge.

Located in Teaneck, the Centerpiece Gemach lends everything from classic vases to mirror sets and candelabras. When renting centerpieces from the gemach, there is a suggested donation of a minimum of $15, although many of the centerpieces that are being lent can cost much more than that for each individual piece. The centerpieces from this gemach must be returned within five days of the simcha so that others can use them. Fragile centerpieces may only be used locally.

The Teaneck Simcha Gemach provides folding tables, chairs, cocktail tables and coat racks free of charge for any simcha that you are hosting. People borrow from the Simcha Gemach for kiddushim, bar or bat mitzvahs, and so much more. The gemach gets about four or five reservations a week and has over 150 chairs, but reservations are limited to smaller amounts. There are also more than 10 banquet tables and even more cocktail tables. All of the funds raised by the gemach are used to replenish and repair equipment, and the remainder is used to support local yeshiva scholarship funds.

Also located in Bergen County, the Tablecloth Gemach, which was established in memory of Chaim Yissachar ben Yechiel Zeidel Dov, loans out tablecloths for various simchas. The gemach has a myriad of tablecloths in a variety of colors and patterns. There are over 100 styles of cloths; about 2,000 total tablecloths. People come to the gemach daily to look at the array of tablecloths, and the cloths are loaned out for about 20 parties a week All donations to the gemach benefit Project Yechi and are tax deductible.

For many women, the most stressful part of any celebration is finding the right gown while staying in budget. The Fair Lawn Gown Gemach loans wedding gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses, flower girl dresses and more, all free of charge. The gemach is run under the auspices of Anshei Lubavitch in Fair Lawn and holds a selection of over 1,000 gowns in an assortment of colors and sizes.

The large number of gemachs in New Jersey and the rest of the tri-state area allow people to make simchas both beautiful and on budget. As a result of the great work of gemachs, people do not have to pay enormous amounts of money to buy lavish centerpieces, dozens of tablecloths or exquisite gowns in order to make their simcha elegant.

Many of the gemach organizers are volunteers. Therefore, it is extremely important to be courteous to the people that run the gemachs and follow their instructions for using and returning their supplies, so that the materials can be reused. Also, it is gracious and considerate to make a contribution to the gemach that you are borrowing from, so that they can continue to flourish and support important causes.

By Shana Adler