The PSG was started as long ago as early in 1996 with the aim of spreading smiles around the world. The idea had been hanging around for some time, but as is often the case with good ideas, no-one bothered asking it in for a cup of herbal tea. Eventually we noticed that this rather ill-formed, but interesting idea had been with us for so long that we just assumed that it lived here. Once we realised, we officially invited it in to stay. The rest, as they say, is mystery.
The official origins date back to the point when Sharon and Alan Silver (founding members) decided that the only gemach lacking in the otherwise well-served Prestwich Jewish community was a smile gemach. We were firmly of the opinion that everybody should smile at least once a minute (yes, even through gritted teeth) in accordance with the Talmudic dictum
With this in mind, we began our career of trying to make people smile. The most successful outcome of this career is the PSG - a band of truly dedicated men, women and children (well, one man, one woman and three children if the truth be told).
The PSG works tirelessly to bring a little weirdness into the lives of the people around us. Since we went electronic (that's this internet business for those pre-techno-age people amongst you) we now have the ability to bring weirdness and happiness to people all over the world. Frightening isn't it ?
To find out what we get up to, see the PSG Services page.
(puts on slightly serious voice) Although the PSG was only ever intended as a joke, we have realised that there is sufficient need for a smile gemach that it has become a serious joke. In other words, we are out to get you (smiling) !!
(puts on slightly more serious voice) Although the idea for the PSG came from one of my more frivolous moments, we recently discovered that the idea had been suggested before. I bought Sharon a biography of Chedva Silverfarb (see below), in which was included a small section of her diary where she suggested the idea of a smile gemach. The PSG is proud to have (unwittingly) adopted the suggestion of a true tzedekas of our times.
Chedva was a young mother who, rachmona litzlon contracted cancer. Knowing that she only had a short time to live, she decided that she would spent the few months left to her engaged in strengthening the world in mitzvos. She chose to concentrate on a mitzvo for which the Chofetz Chaim was particularly well-known, shemiras haloshon (guarding one's tongue against speaking evil).
Despite tremendous personal pain and inconvenience, Chedva spent the remainer of her life speaking at public rallies, encouraging groups and organisations all over the world. She was directly responsible for the huge world-wide resurgence in interest in shemiras haloshon.
The whole of Klal Yisroel owes a huge debt of gratitude to Chedva for the light that she showed us. May her blessed memory bring us closer to the final redemption.
(Please note that the above piece is a very brief, possibly inaccurate summary of the life of an amazing person. Hopefully the PSG web site will soon include biographies of people whom we feel are worthy of honour. Chedva will certainly be amongst the first of these and a more detailed, researched biography will be included)
Fantastic web page (c) 1996 PSG Inc Plc etc etc