COMMUNICATED
Yehuda Zak, young father of 6, is faced with a seemingly unsolvable problem: During the two years that his wife Batsheva underwent treatments for cancer, he was forced to stay home in order to take care of the needs of their large family. During this time the Zaks survived off of a modest stipend provided each month by Bituach Leumi.
Two weeks ago, Batsheva passed away, leaving behind a devastated family of young children. The stipend has consequently been discontinued. Now that the family is up from shiva, Yehuda must face a nearly insurmountable task: being home enough to manage the basic tasks of a household so that his children are taken care of, and working enough to pay their bills. These two tasks, typically divided as full time jobs among two individuals, are now wholly upon his shoulders.
As of now, the family is not only out of money, but in debt. With the new school year approaching, the children are sorely in need of school supplies, and clothing. These expenses take a back seat however, as their father addresses how they will afford electricity.
Yehuda has been forced to explore the only option he has left: To ask for the tzedaka of strangers. A fund has been opened with a very particular goal in mind: Allowing the young father to take care of his children while pursuing an income, and once he has that income, affording childcare to look after his six kids in his absence. It is not the ideal family structure but at this stage, it is their only hope.
Those who are able to donate can rest assured that the family’s situation is truly urgent, and that each contribution is food on the table of children who have experienced a pain far worse than hunger.