Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

17 Ellul 5761 - September 5, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

OBSERVATIONS

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS
Making a Big Difference -- Even on a Small Scale
by Moshe Schapiro

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."

 

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.