From the COLlive Inbox:
I remember years ago, I was walking on a street in Crown Heights, just doing my thing. Deep in thought and mostly unaware of my surroundings.
Reb Avraham Lieder saw me stopped me and asked me, “What’s wrong?”
My question to him was… “Who are you? Why are you asking?”
I didn’t know him or of him… out of the blue, he showed up.
With no details, I said, “I’m a father, a husband, a head of household. I don’t know how I will feed my kinderlach tonight for supper.”
He told me, “one minute, please.” Turned around and spoke on his phone. 3 minutes later he said to me… “Mr. Mayer Schriber at this address is waiting for you. Go he will help you. Don’t say a name or anything. Just say ‘Leider sent you.'”
Mayer gave me $500. I hadn’t seen so much in months. He saved my life, my marriage, and my family.
I went back every 2 weeks and received $500. No questions asked. I don’t think he ever knew who I was.
I cry for Reb Avraham. Hashem took an angel away from us.
Never said this story publicly. Thought it was time as both have passed on.
Gmar Chasima Tova
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On the first night of Rosh Hashana, Rabbi Lieder, the great heart behind the “Ahavas Chesed” organization, who for 35 years dedicated his life assisting others with medical emergencies, literally saving lives of thousands, suddenly passed away at the age of 61.
A fund has been launched at charidy.com/rabbilieder to raise $1,000,000 for the Lieder family. Every donation makes a difference.
We ask that you please join and give to a family amidst grief. Your gift helps the Lieder family know they are neither alone nor forgotten by their community as they navigate tremendous loss.
Rabbi Leider passed away toeless and toothless sacrificing his own heath running around hospitals to make sure every body was taken care of who now will take care of his Yesomim and Almana ???
We Anash must all pitch in for this great Baal Chesed!
Rabbi lider was like avrohom avinu in our times . I have worked with him for many years . There is no one in my entire life that I saw that done so much chesed like avremal . He paid for and took care of levayas ,brisim ,weddings ,bar mitzvas ,poor families ,kidney transplants The list goes on and on He ran day and night 24-7 . Shabosim and Yom tov didn’t exsist for him . If he received a call on shabbos from hatzalah he would run to help . It was like battery that just kept going .… Read more »
BH
Many years ago a I was a student at 4th Grade OT. One day Rabbi Lieder walks into the classroom and asks the teacher if he can have a few moments. He walks up to each of us, one at a time, and asks us our address, phone number, etc. It had nothing to do with his job description or anything like that. He was a teacher in the school and wanted to see that all children know how to get home safely.
May his merit stand us all in good stead.