Rechnitz Jets Special Boy to Israel

By COLlive reporter

“I’m going to Eretz Yisroel on Sunday. Let’s make this boy’s dream come true,” Los Angeles-based philanthropist Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz told Jewish music superstar Yaakov Shwekey on Thursday.

Rechnitz has read an article about Chaim Leiby, a wheelchair-chairbound Jewish boy from Lakewood, NJ, whose dream was to visit Israel despite the logistical complexities of coordinating such a trip.

Shwekey’s Special Children’s Center in Lakewood was supporting the Go Fund Me campaign to fulfil the dream of Chaim Leiby, a student of Yeshiva Mayon Hatora and the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence (SCHI) in Lakewood.

Rechnitz offered to take Chaim Leiby, who has a serious debilitating life-threatening condition, on a private plane to Israel. But to make the dream come true in one business day was a more of a dream than anyone expected.

On Friday morning, the first task was to get clearance from the bochur’s doctors. After much work that included information about the trip and equipment and more, the doctors approved.

“There was cheering and clapping when we got the approval,” said Mrs. Jenine Shwekey, wife of Yaakov and the director of the Special Children’s Center.

But that cheering was short-lived, when they found out at about 2 PM on Friday afternoon that Chaim Leiby’s passport had expired. “This was a big hurdle, and seemed like a trip-killer. We’re talking a couple hour left to the week,” Shwekey said.

After a series of failed phone call attemps, a call was placed to Rabbi Zvi Gluck of the Amudim organization. They soon discovered that he was traveling in Poland.

At about 2:30 AM on Motzoei Shabbos, Rabbi Gluck made contact and got to work. “Rabbi Gluck worked miracles,” said Mrs. Shwekey. By 4 PM on Sunday, just 7 hours before takeoff, the passport was in, and it was a go.

Once the green light was given, many others sprung into action.

Rechnitz contacted Yossi Fraenkel, ZAKA’s Operations Officer of the International Units, requesting and ambulance to pick up Chaim Leiby with his team from the airport.

Without even batting an eyelid Yossi responded, “It has been taken care of, Mati Goldstein, Chief of Operation’s for the International Units of ZAKA will meet you on the runway with a specialized vehicle to pick up Chaim Leiby.”

Simcha Shain, a veteran Lakewood Hatzolah Paramedic, and Flight Medic from Jet911, swiftly gathered the equipment and everything else that was needed, and he was on his way to the airport.

About half the plane was filled with medical equipment as they prepared for takeoff with Rechnitz, the Shwekeys, Mrs. Chaya Bender, Freddy Friedman, and Chaim Leiby’s devoted counselor Chaim Birnhack and medical personnel.

The flight was filled with singing and music – a favorite combo for Chaim Leiby, passengers said. The group then grabbed some sleep, until a few hours ago – about a half hour before landing – when they woke up to the joys of Chaim Leiby.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, I feel the Kedusha of Eretz Yisroel,” Chaim Leiby exclaimed excitedly, loud enough to wake up the others on the plane.” Everyone wake up, we’re in Eretz Yisroel.”

Hearing Chaim Leiby so excited, was enough to move everyone on that plane.
“The flight attendant, the pilot and co-pilot were all in tears,” Mrs. Shwekey related.

Upon arrival, members of the ZAKA team were on hand to assist with whatever was still needed to ensure everything in Eretz Yisroel went as smoothly as possible.

Upon arrival at the hotel, a group of volunteers and friends greeted Chaim Leiby with singing and dancing before going in.

“The scene was unreal, seeing a person living a dream was amazing how much more so to be involved,” said Fraenkel. “There are only three words to describe such a trip, made possible by one of Kal Yisroel’s biggest hearts: Mi K’amcha Yisroel!”