In 1994 when I lost my mother, I was a 9-year-old who wondered how long the pain and longing would last.
But I was the good kid. The fun kid. I bounced back and looked normal so nobody wanted to rock the boat.
In high school, I was finally ready to talk — but how do you start a conversation about something that happened six years prior? And with whom?
I felt crazy. I wanted to sit shivah, as I’d never had the opportunity to do, and I wondered if I could spend a week six years later talking about my mother nonstop.
I wrote letters to her and to Hashem. I truly felt like there was something wrong with me.
And thus began my acquaintance with the way grief works.
It has no stages. While Hilchos Aveilus have a beginning, middle and end — the feelings of grief and the sensitivities the Ribbono Shel Olam insists yesomim receive — do not expire after that first year.
Because grief lasts forever.
In 2006, I founded Links Family to service children and teens who lost a parent with the Zisel’s Links division for teen girls, Shlomie’s Club for boys, and Little Pearls for little girls.
What began as a support magazine evolved into branches the world over with events, weekend retreats, therapy referrals, case management, therapy funding, bar/bas mitzvah programs, dating services, chosson/kallah programs, legal services, Yom Tov gift cards, a year-round clothing store, educator trainings, school advocacy — and it doesn’t stop there.
Because grief isn’t the same for everyone. And support needs to be tweaked around the needs of the child and where they’re at.
Our campaigns are always a dual experience of education around grief and of course, fundraising. But as we planned this theme of Forever, an email from Abie Rotenberg came in saying he had a new song “The Neshama Lives Forever” and would we have a look at it.
This was too perfect a fit and also exactly the tempo of our organization: an upbeat song about a tough topic.
This year, we were privileged to get to know and interact with 87 amazing Lubavitcher families who lost a parent. Some in the community watched what we did and offered to spearhead a Team Chabad page to ensure that the community had the opportunity to take part in the $304K budget that was spent this year on these families.
And I ask you, how long do these kids who lost a parent deserve the support? We say, forever.
Click Here to Watch the Full Video
As a unmarried young lubavitcher who benefits from links, i encourage you all to donate!
They do so much for us
Thank you for sharing. I’m reading each of these comments and my heart is overwhelmed.
Sarah Rivkah Kohn
Theres so many lubavitcher families that have lost their parent and there are little kids involved. Links truly takes care of us. Theres nothing like a 5 year old growing up without a mother… Hashem should bentch them. Everyone donate even if its a little, theres so many of us benefiting from what they do and nobody would ever know..
This organization seriously helps us yesomim. Nobody knows the pain and the emotional rollercoaster until one is in it c”v.
Grief is known to be forever even though we think its just a year or two. Links takes that responsibility.
As lubavitchers, we thank links for everything they have done for us and encourage those reading to invest in this cause. They save lives for real
It is really the zchus of the donor to have the opportunity to partner with such an incredible organization that does all their with with their hearts. I can never thank them for the kind ways they’ve been there for my family. No one should need their loving services.
Reiterating what others have mentioned.
This organization is A++, best place you can put tzedaka erev yom Kippur
There are no words that can describe how helpful shloimys clubs has been. they can never give u back a parent, but they can (and do!) Definitely give lots of love. Moshiach now!
Please help this organization. They do so much for us. Thank you LINKS!
Links has been so helpful to our family. Grief especially when you’re young on a daily basis can be very lonely. Links is that space where you can connect to so many others going through loss and find support. Sarah Rivkah makes an extra effort to accommodate each type at the shabbat on. We literally have nusach Ari and lubavitcher shechitah. Please don’t just scroll. Links is the family you would never want your children to be part of. Be part through your donation.
Thank you Sarah Rivkah for all you do!!!