Just before Rosh Hashana last year, Vaad HaRabbonim in Eretz
Yisroel learned of a father of eight who needed $100,000 for a
kidney transplant. The Vaad found 12 people committed to
raising $2,000 each, and then placed an ad in the newspaper,
beseeching people to help. But it seemed like collecting the
remaining $76,000 would require a miracle.
By Yom Kippur, the man had the money and the operation, and by
now has completely recovered from his illness. His miracle
came in the form of a concerned Jew who saw the Vaad's appeals
and contributed the entire amount.
Vaad HaRabbonim was established in Yerushalayim six years ago
with the specific goal of helping people who are in dire need
and have nowhere else to turn. Since tragedy can, and does,
strike at any time, the Vaad sends out mailings and places
advertisements in newspapers several times a year.
The Vaad operates under the guidance of its Nesius, whose
members includes HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, HaRav Shmuel
Auerbach, HaRav Nissim Karelitz and HaRav Moshe Halberstam.
Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel, including HaRav Yosef Shalom
Eliashiv, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and HaRav Aharon Leib
Steinman, are strong supporters of the Vaad. Gedolim in
the United States, including HaRav Yaakov Perlow, HaRav
Mattisyahu Salomon, HaRav Moshe Teitelbaum and HaRav Tzvi
Halberstam, are also strong supporters of the organization.
But while Vaad HaRabbonim has helped thousands of people
overcome financial crisis when illness or tragedy strike, the
need continues to grow. The organization says that it can only
help about a quarter of those who need it.
This year, thousands of needy people had to be turned away and
600 families with urgent needs have been placed on a waiting
list, according to Rabbi Chaim Yosef Gafner, a Vaad HaRabbonim
administrator. "We may not be able to help them until Chanukah
or Purim," he said. "In the meantime, Rosh Hashana is coming
up."
"If we had another $10 million we could easily give it away to
all the cases of pikuach nefesh," he added.
Vaad HaRabbonim funds bring relief to families facing cancer
or other serious illness, surviving family members of terror
victims, and orphans. The Vaad also assists families who need
help paying off the heating bill or their grocery account.
Funds also help people purchase clothes for their families or
pay for bar mitzvas and weddings.
Usually, said Rabbi Gafner, the Vaad provides grants of about
$1,000 - $1,500. About 260 families this year received
$10,000.
"These are people who are flooded with debts," he said. "It
reaches a point that their whole life is bogged down because
of what they owe."
For the first time, this year the Vaad also invested in
reaching out to youths who have dropped out of yeshiva and are
in danger of dropping out of Yiddishkeit altogether.
Vaad HaRabbonim arranges for kollel men to meet with
the youths to try to persuade them to return to yeshiva, or to
help them in other ways so that they don't sever their
connection to Yiddishkeit. The Vaad tries to
accommodate the needs of the youths, even hiring private
tutors when needed.
"We try to get them back to the appropriate yeshiva, and set
them up with proper chavrusas," said Rabbi Gafner, who
noted that at least 200 boys have already been brought back.
"In some cases, we find work for them if that is the
appropriate thing."
Vaad HaRabbonim carefully evaluates all families for need
before any funding is distributed. Each family must bring a
letter to the Vaad with at least three signatures in order to
be considered. HaRav Ezriel Auerbach, son of HaRav Shlomo
Zalman Auerbach, oversees the distribution.
And this Rosh Hashana, like all others, Vaad HaRabbonim will
need nothing short of a miracle to help all those who need
assistance.
"Because the need is so great," said Rabbi Gafner, "people may
think that their donation won't help. But even small donations
help. When you add them all together, they make a very big
difference."
