They were just regular shluchim.
They built their community from the ground up for over 10 years, priding themselves in a now thriving Hebrew School, weekly adult education classes, and more recently, plans for a beautiful, new mikvah.
Rabbi Yossi and Mushka served a Jewish population of a few hundred families, bringing them closer to Yiddishkeit with an open home policy and a warm, listening ear for all. The Kinus Hashluchim was the highlight of their year, where they could finally reconnect with old friends and join the farbrengens they dreamed of during the long months away.
They sent their eldest daughters to sleep-away camp every summer, and the girls returned with big smiles, strong values, and added pride in being shluchim of the Rebbe. Although it was difficult to live far away from family, the fulfillment they felt watching the Jews in their community come closer to Yiddishkeit made the hardships all worth it.
But then, they had a son. When their new baby boy entered the world one Sunday morning, life as they knew it shattered in front of their eyes.
You see, Schneur was born with a disability.
In middle America, they don’t have HASC. There’s no Yeled V’Yalda or Hamaspik to take some of the weight off the parents’ shoulders in a disorder like Schneur’s. They don’t have the government funded programs offered to families in larger Jewish communities.
The regular shluchim were not so regular anymore. They were all alone. There was nowhere to turn for help.
Soon, the long and constant hospital visits began to overtake the routine they once knew. With depleted funds and no reliable babysitter in the vicinity, Yossi and Mushka’s older children were suffering. They had to cut down on the kids’ music lessons, as the debt built from each specialist visited and every resource exhausted.
The Chabad House they worked so hard to develop was becoming more neglected every day, as the responsibility for their family became more apparent.
One day, they received a call from a fellow shliach, whose child had a similar diagnosis to theirs. “Call Yaldei,” he told them.
That day, they made the call that saved their shlichus.
Yaldei sprung into action, providing Rabbi Yossi and his wife with information, specialist recommendations, and reassuring support. Within a few days, they had appointments set up and a care package for their children in the mail. And of course, the kids’ music lessons were re-booked.
Rabbi Yossi and Mushka breathed a sigh of relief. They weren’t alone anymore.
From there came a long journey to finding the right care for Schneur. But this time, they had Yaldei by their side.
Yaldei held their hand through every appointment and each decision. The Yaldei staff was their anchor during times of financial difficulty, and kept them going when things got tough. Soon, they found a more consistent routine for Schneur and made striking progress with his care and development.
Mushka continued joining the Kinus every year to meet up with old friends. She now looked forward to an added benefit, Yaldei’s annual breakfast for Shluchos that had challenges similar to hers. With Yaldei’s help, Yossi got back on his feet and began fundraising for his Chabad House again, which grew tremendously in the years following.
For Rabbi Yossi and Mushka, Yaldei was the helping hand they needed when there was no one else.
As many shluchim like Yossi and Mushka continue to make the phone call to Yaldei, please take a moment to hear their stories. Join us in giving shluchim the support they deserve through this unexpected challenge.
In supporting them, you are taking part in their shlichus.
Together, we can be their shoulder to lean on.
Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe: Special Kids, Special Mission.
