Rav Dovid Cohen was learning in his living room when something disrupted his absorbed thoughts. The wind was howling outside. Freezing rain poured down mercilessly on the ground. Who would possibly be knocking during this crazy storm? The Rav quickly put a tissue in his gemara to save his place and rushed over to open the door. But when he did, it took almost all of his will not to break down and cry.
Eight shivering kids stared up at him with wide eyes, dripping rain onto the hallway floor. The Rav quickly ushered them inside, handing out blankets and hot drinks. After a few minutes, the oldest one piped up. He told over a wild story.
He explained how the eight of them had stood on helplessly for years, watching their mother battle a very painful disease. Over time her health deteriorated and the strong women that they once knew became paralyzed and wheelchair-ridden. Groceries in the house started to become sparse, clothing began to tear. Then recently, they stood at their mother’s grave crying their hearts out, with noone left in this world.
Rav Dovid Cohen’s heart went out for these grieving little children sitting in his living room. He decided that Hashem has sent them to him for a reason and has made it his personal mission to get them the food, clothing, and warmth that they so desperately crave. In R’ Dovid Cohen’s words,
“The cries of eight orphans have come before me, their mother has passed away, and their situation is difficult in the extreme, as they have been left completely alone. It is a great mitzvah to save these eight orphans, similar to the story mentioned in the Gemara (Bava Basra 11) that Binyamin HaTzaddik saved 8 lives and 22 years of life were added to his lifespan, and measure for measure all those who donate should merit a long life, with good days and abundant parnassah, with nachas from all their descendants.”
