To the Choshuva Members of Yad Avigdor,
This is a long overdue letter that I have meant to send many times over. I am a member of the Miami Beach community and I have had the privilege of knowing R’ Eli Glaser and his Eishes Chayil for quite a few years. Our relationship began when I contacted him regarding a local family that had tragically lost their mother, leaving 4 orphans, including a 9 month old baby. I was amazed by the sensitivity, professionalism and generosity of your organization and the way they stepped in at such a crucial time. My friendship with the Glasers continued and although I had hoped to only share in simchos with them, unfortunately it was necessary for me to contact them again recently for a very unique and heartbreaking case.
This time it was a local family who had already lost their father about 10 years ago. The mother had taken ill on Pesach and was niftar only 2 months later, leaving behind a married son, as well as 3 single sons, including a 23 year old Chasson. This Chasson had lost his father only 2 weeks before his Bar Mitzvah and had often said that his Bar Mitzvah had felt more like a funeral than a simcha. It was very important to all of us that this Chasson would have a special wedding, regardless of the significant hurdles, both emotional as well as financial. I contacted R’ Eli and the wheels of your amazing organization swung into action. The Phase one application was emailed to me and proccessed immediately so that the mortgage and credit card payments would be able to be met. Simultaneously, the wedding application was handed over and that process was started as well. We were so overwhelmed to receive the wedding stipend and immediately put it to good use.
I wanted to share with you how far that contribution went, both to grant you the nachas you deserve as well as to give you extra chizzuk in your avodas hakodesh. Because each vendor involved in this wedding was moved by the situation and determined to do their part, everything was given to us at cost price, enabling the $5000 you sent us to go very far. We were able, with that sum, to cover the cost of the florist, band, photographer and the chasson’s wardrobe and to do so in a Bakovidika manner. The Chosson, ________, felt like a million dollars. The family was able to rejoice with a full heart together. And those of us who are involved in the financial needs of this family, were able to breathe easier.
The wedding was a special affair, with a palpable feeling of simcha shared by all the participants. But more importantly than that, the Nachas that Hashem must be feeling is truly indescribable. To have a group of young men (or as R’ Eli calls them- the boys) working tirelessly, united in this cause of providing for orphans whom they never met, while bringing an aliya to the neshama of Avigdor is priceless. Life is so busy and I am sure that you are all overwhelmingly busy with good things-Parnosa, family life, Torah learning…but the fact that you all make time to help these families is enormous and should serve as a tremendous zchus for you and your families.
Unfortunately while we were working on this wedding another tragedy hit our community as a young Rav in our community, a father of 8 with a new baby on the way, was suddenly niftar. Once again I reached out to Yad Avigdor and once again Yad Avigdor responded. I am well aware that Miami tragedies are just a tiny percentage of the cases you are involved in and the assistance you are offering. May Hashem bring refuos and yeshuos and may your special work soon become unnecessary.
Dvorah Wechsler
I never imagined I would be in the situation I am in. When I lost my job in January I took it with stride, it was a sign of the times. Then when the unimaginable happened and my healthy, vibrant, wonderful 37 year old best friend and husband was suddenly niftar, my world fell apart. My neighbours, family and shul quickly stepped in and made sure my husband had a proper levaya and kevura. People from all over came to be menachem avel. The outpour of genuine concern was incredible. But after the Shiva ended real life had to start and bills needed to be paid. Avigdors Helping Hand sent me a check almost immediately and while I picked up the pieces of our lives the concern of putting food on the table and making sure the electric bill was paid was not something I was overwhelmed with.
The last 6 months have been challenging but it is organizations like yours that have made it bareable. As someone who has been involved in chesed and communal work most of my adult life it was hard to be on the receiving end, but I never once felt anything less then complete kavod and for that I am truly grateful.
My bracha for your organization is that you never have to help another woman again and that all your fundraising efforts be used only for Simchas.
Thank you again for your generosity and genuine kindness.
Warmest regards,
_________ _____________
Dear Eli and all of the volunteers at Avigdor’s Helping Hand,
Thank you so much for the gift you made toward my wedding. It helped make it possible for my family to fly to Israel to be with me on my wedding day. (My husband’s mother has difficulty flying, so the wedding couldn’t be in my hometown of Los Angeles). Not only did your gift allow my wedding day to be one of pure joy, rather than a day on which my thoughts revolved around those who couldn’t be with me, but it also allowed my mother to meet her biological mother (whom we were able to locate while in Israel) for the first time. It’s been my mother’s lifelong dream and need to understand where she came from and what her roots are. Again, thank you all very much for the hard work you put into this wonderful organization. I know it means a lot to many people and I know that you all do this work voluntarily. I haven’t gotten many photos from the wedding yet, but I have attached the one that I do have that shows us walking to the chuppah.
Have a lovely week.
Sincerely yours,
___________ __________
I am writing to just say what a wonderful organisation you are. Let me tell you i have 2 brothers whos wife’s both passed away some 9 years ago after long illness with in 6month of each other ,leaving 13 children mother less the hardship was great and having to raise money so both familys that they should have to eat and dress . After a few years it was time for the children to get married .B”H the first one got engaged and now we needed money for the wedding. we heard about Avigdor s helping hand and i called eli he was really nice on the phone( I think it was the 1st year of the organisation) we got the papers out and a few weeks later the help came, what a G-D send, the smile on the brides face, and the amount they sent, and all they asked was that the bride should daven for someone. there is no way we can thank you . that not all some years later a boy got married they helped again with a smile. and then a girl was ready and again you helped and now a boy is getting married we asked again . I know you are having a fund raiser this Monday I what you to say what a great mitzvah you people are doing .thank you is not enough . your organisation is a very great one.on behalf of all the boys and girls thank you once again. we should know of no more sorrow .
