Ashkelon’s ‘VeSamachta’ Providing for Soldiers on the Front Lines

There’s not a soldier in the IDF who is taking Ahavas Yisroel for granted right now. It’s the incredible life force of Am Yisroel’s war effort, and it’s the sole focus of the Lerer family of Ashkelon, Israel.

Rabbi Avremy and Ricky Lerer run the VeSamachta Foundation, a humanitarian organization providing support in Ashkelon’s Barzilai Hospital. Over the past fifteen years, VeSamachta has steadily grown into a huge chesed operation. Barzilai Hospital recognizes the organization’s work as an integral part of their patient support system, authorizing VeSamachta’s ten volunteers to oversee several Kosher food carts stationed throughout the hospital, visit patients, assist patients and their family members in wrapping tefillin, and even operate an ambulette service to transport sick patients.

VeSamachta has drawn national recognition, receiving the highest award for volunteer work from Israel’s minister of health. Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog visited the organization last Chanukah, joining the Lerers and several volunteers in lighting the menorah in front of the hospital.

Recently, a delegation from Bais Shmuel Chabad of Crown Heights visited the chesed center to observe the organization’s critical work. President and founder of Bais Shmuel Chabad, Rabbi Moshe Pinson, was deeply moved by VeSamachta’s humanitarian work. “It’s just mind-blowing,” shared Rabbi Pinson, noting the impact of the Lerer’s work on the staff, patients, and family members alike: “It’s absolutely amazing to see how much love the doctors, nurses, and patients have for this shliach. He’s doing amazing work.” Sam Stern, a member of Bais Shmuel, expressed a sense of honor to be able to visit and observe VeSamachta’s work. “It was extremely impressive to see how organized they run this amazing chesed organization, down to every detail. You can see how genuine the volunteers are about the care and compassion they give to each person they help.”

The VeSamachta Foundation is now raising funds to support their efforts to meet every non-medical need possible for soldiers in Barzilai Hospital the main hopital treating wounded soldiers 2 miles from the Gaza border. In addition to overseeing the delivery of care packages, fresh food, new clothing, and personal items to soldiers on the front lines and in the hospital, they’ve expanded their operations even further, seeking to purchase more sets of tefillin and new clothing for injured soldiers, and purchase an additional ambulette so that their services can reach everyone in need of assistance in the area.

Now is the time for us to stand up and join Rabbi Avremy and Ricky Lerer and the VeSamachta Foundation. Show your support and gratitude for our IDF soldiers by partnering with VeSamachta. Your donation has a tremendous impact – please visit Charidy.com/FrontLines and donate today!