The joyous day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev is still fresh in our hearts, when we celebrated the Rebbe’s recuperation from his heart attack. It is thus a most opportune time to reflect on the medical needs of our community and increase our awareness of and dedication to the mitzvah of bikur cholim.
We live in a time when many of our neighbors, friends, and relatives are tested with diverse medical challenges.
“It is our responsibility to be there for them in whatever way we can and anticipate their individual needs,” says Shaina, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights services coordinator.
Five years ago, a team of young Bikur Cholim directors joined forces with the legendary team of Bikur Cholim pioneer founders and its many volunteers. In addition to offering many new services, they began using modern technology to reach out to the community, recruiting and partnering with hundreds of additional volunteers via text and facebook. They also looked for innovative ways to increase community awareness of this important mitzvah on a broader scale.
Children are often at the forefront of chessed organizations in their communities, inspiring others with their energy and enthusiasm, and the mitzvah of bikur cholim is no different. Within the first year, a group of dedicated mothers representing all our schools launched the very first community mosaic, prepared by 250 seventh graders. This project is proudly displayed on the wall of Apple Drugs Pharmacy, graciously hosted by the Gutleizer family.
Now, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights is once again reaching out to the generosity of all young children to commemorate Rosh Chodesh Kislev in a meaningful way. Between Rosh Chodesh Kislev and Yud-Daled Kislev, thousands of children will be bringing in coins or a few dollars to their schools to assist in the organization’s many activities.
The Rebbe stresses the significance of encouraging young children to participate in giving tzedakah:
Educating a boy or girl to donate of his or her own money to another, ([money] which could have been used to buy sustenance for his soul), and especially educating [the child] to perform acts of gemilus chassadim with his body as well [such as helping out another or giving of his time], ingrains a child with the attributes of compassion and bittul (Likkutei Sichos Vol. 16 p. 626).
Most of our schools are listed on the accompanying flyer, and all schools have acknowledged the value of children participating in this timely tzedakah. No matter what school your child attends—whether in Crown Heights or elsewhere—he or she can take part in this charitable act.
One six-year-old has taken this project to the next level. Elchanan Korolitzky, whose mother is also a board member, has been busy on the phone collecting hundreds of dollars from friends and relatives.
In keeping with its motto “Healing with kindness,” Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights assists hundreds of families and individuals in our community each year through a broad variety of services. Our board members and hundreds of volunteers make this mitzvah their priority each day. High school girls from all our schools volunteer a certain amount of hours each week, assisting families who are experiencing a medical crisis or are celebrating the arrival of a newborn by helping take care of the children after school hours. The families and individuals in need of help who turn to the organization need our ongoing support, some as often as every week or even every day.
Coming from the auspicious day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev in the auspicious month of Kislev, a month characterized by redemption and miracles, we wish and pray on behalf of the entire community that all our friends, neighbors, and relatives who face medical challenges should experience true redemption from the limitations of pain and illness, and as did the Rebbe, they should speedily celebrate true miracles of healing.
We thank our sponsors, The Printhouse and COLlive.com, for promoting this project.
To participate online, please visit www.bikurcholimCH.org.
kol hakavod to bikur cholim of crown heights for outstanding work
all of our kids should be involved in this. what greater mitzvah than helping our own.