The following message of struggle and triumph, is meant for you, the reader:
“Hi, my name is Benny. I was born in New York, to secular Jewish parents. My mom and dad were very special people, and when they died in a car crash, I was sent to live with relatives. Because I had seen death up close, I was always looking for answers as to what existed beyond this world. When I started learning more about Torah Judaism, my family members mocked me and cut me off – when I went to yeshiva they laughed and told me I was throwing my life away. At the end of the day, I know I made the right choice.
Five years later, I’m engaged to be married. I work in a local store and save what I can, but don’t have much savings to pull from as I spent years in yeshiva learning the basics, from the alef bais, to how to open a Gemara and learn it. I would never regret that time filling out the foundation of my Judaism, but my kallah and I are now not sure how to get started. We are struggling to afford a simple wedding, sheva brachos, or an apartment. Our families are not involved at all, so we are doing this on their own.
That’s why I applied to the Kupat Ha’Ir orphan wedding program: Baruch Hashem, Kupat Ha’Ir, together with the help & support of the rabbanim, helps orphans like me get started during engagement and early marriage, a time when most Jewish brides & grooms rely on the help of their parents.
This month, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Shraga Shteinman (son of Rav Aryeh Leib Shteinman zt”l), Rav Zev Berlin (son-in-law of Rav Aryeh Leib Shteinman zt”l), and Rav Yitzchok Shaul Kanievsky (son of Rav Chaim) will daven together for everyone who gives 10 shekel for each of the orphans involved this month. There are 42 of us, so the amount comes out to 420 shekel, or $120. Their prayer will take place at the kever of the Chazon Ish, on his yartzeit.
They even give a bracha to all donors that they should make a simcha in their home before Pesach.
My kallah and I are so moved that such choshuve rabbanim would give so much time & energy, and such a powerful bracha, to those who help us.
I can only speak for myself: Donations to this campaign would help us so much. This is my story but each of the orphans in the group has their own journey, of how they lost a parent, and how they are struggling to make a simcha without them.
If you can help us – Tizku l’mitzvos. I want to bless you that when the rabbanim are praying for you and your family at the Chazon Ish’s kever, the tremendous zechuyos of those gedolim should be cause the tefilos to be accepted on your behalf in shomayim, and you and your family should have parnassah, bracha, hatzlocha, health, and Gd willing truly merit to make a simcha soon.
Thank you.”
Benny Weiss*, 24
Donations can also be made to Kupat Ha’Ir Foundation # 7158, by phone at 1-888-587-2842, or by mailing a check to American Friends of Kupat Ha’ir, 4415 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219
*The details of the orphan’s stories are concealed/changed to protect their privacy.
