Largest Group at Florida Marathon Runs for Rabbi Yitzi

Run4Yitzi 2023 has just concluded its 8th marathon to help support Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz and his family.

It was another successful and memorable year with over 125 runners ranging from 8 years old to 53 years old; and a goal of $250,000! Many runners were Run4Yitzi alumni, others their first time, families were running, people completed the half marathon and the 5K.

Run4Yitzi was the largest group at the marathon. As each runner completed the race they continued to stay on by the finish race to cheer on their fellow teammates (and others). This is something specific and special that Run4Yitzi does, and was noted by the marathon MC.

“To see the green and yellow Run4Yitzi shirts everywhere you turn among the marathon runners, was such a joy! 125 runners, young and old, wow!” said Rivka Teich, one of the Run4Yitzi organizers.

The participants enjoyed non-stop weekend full of fun in Florida. It started with a meet-and-greet at The Bagel Cove on Friday, moving onto a carb-loading and dance party Motzei Shabbos (with a Shine A Little Light kumzitz), completing the Miami 305 5K and 13.1 marathon Sunday morning, and culminating at a final banquet Sunday afternoon.

The runners got to listen to the moving words of Dina Hurwitz, whose meaningful talk came from the heart. Various runners shared their thoughts. Rabbi Fogelman from L.A. said words of encouragement, and Yitzi himself sent a personal message to the Run4Yitzi team.

As Rabbi Mushi Fogelman noted, “Run4Yitzi was an incredible event. We watched people use all their kochas hanafesh physically running, mentally preparing and verbally soliciting. All for the life of another Yid!! How truly incredible!!”

Run4Yitzi began in 2015 by Brocha and Mendel Lipkind with four runners and a $10,000 goal. Here we are in 2023, with over 120 runners, a goal of $250,000. Since its inception, Run4Yitzi has raised over $950,000+ for the Hurwitz family.

Shlomo Feldman, a first-time Run4Yitzi runner, told us, “When you join Run4Yitzi, you’re not just joining an organization, you’re joining a family. To have a support team, people cheering you on, people who just barely met you showing you so much love and support, is so so powerful and incredible. What goes on over that weekend is something you can’t put into words.”

Chana Elazar, a runner from Florida who ran with her mother had this to share, “This was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. There were several elements that made this so memorable. From training for months in advance and truly pushing myself to finish the run, reaching out to people to raise the money, and cheering each other on at the marathon, this will forever be engraved in my mind as an absolutely magnificent event that I would love to attempt again. Being able to be surrounded by people with a common goal (such a beautiful one might I add) and cheering each other on every step of the way was just so incredible.”

Run4Yitzi would like to thank their corporate sponsors, who made it possible to put this incredible marathon weekend together: Mendel’s Backyard, YN Design, Ness Paper, Brickhouse Inspections, Crown Heights Print & Ship, FLA PA, A. Roth & Co., Brooklyn Brokerage, SBA Loan Group, and RSJ Builders of Florida Inc.

Please continue to support Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz Run4Yitzi.com HurwitzFamilyFund.com

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