Reaching Out With A Helping Hand
BY ROCHELLE MARUCH MILLER of the Five Towns Jewish Times
Since its inception, Avigdor’s Helping Hand has been picking up the pieces, rebuilding shattered lives one at a time. A chesed organization like no other, Avigdor’s Helping Hand is a disaster relief fund; its essence is to
be there immediately during those first moments, rendering succor and financial support. Through its wedding program, the organization provides much needed financial assistance to orphans who are approaching the major positive event of getting married. But all too often, what should be the most joyous time of their young lives is marred by poverty and distress. With the absence of one or both parents, this poverty is compounded. Avigdor’s Helping Hand provides funds to qualified yesomim, thereby alleviating the unfortunate anxiety that can distress their happy lives.
Avigdor’s Helping Hand is a fitting legacy to Avigdor Glaser, z’l, who was the very essence of a ben Torah. A devoted family man who touched the lives of all who knew him, Avigdor was adored by his wife, Frumi, and their three children, and beloved by his parents and siblings. Warm and compassionate, this extraordinary young man was blessed with the ability to succeed in all of his endeavors.
After studying in Merkaz HaTorah in Eretz Yisrael, he pursued his undergraduate studies at Queens College, and then went on to Fordham Law School, where he graduated at the top of his class. Brilliant,
gifted, yet unassuming and personable, Avigdor was a successful bankruptcy attorney at a prestigious downtown Manhattan firm.
Avigdor was just 30 years old when he tragically passed away on September 29, 2005, leaving a terrible void in the community. Immediately, his family and friends sought to create a charity that would memorialize Avigdor’s precious life and be a treasured legacy for this exemplary ba’al chesed. Frumi felt that the most fitting legacy to memorialize her beloved husband would be an organization that would offer comfort to grieving families during a time of chaos and intense pain. Thus Avigdor’s Helping Hand was founded.
We all know of families that have suffered the tragic loss of the wage-earning husband or wife, leaving the surviving spouse and their children bereft and in unbearable pain. These are people, just
like us, who have led normal lives until tragedy indiscriminately struck, wreaking havoc on their lives.
The effects of such a loss are devastating; children without their precious parents, wives without their beloved husbands, and husbands without their cherished wives. Their suffering is too great to bear, even before the economic impact begins to engulf them.
Even in cases where benefits, such as insurance or governmental assistance, are available, it may often take weeks or months for those benefits to be processed and made accessible to the family. Avigdor’s Helping Hand seeks to provide immediate, emergency and short term fi nancial relief to the families in our communities who have sustained the recent loss of their primary breadwinner. They are the fi rst call that a family makes when tragedy strikes, r’l—often prior to making funeral and burial arrangements. All throughout the Chassidishe and yeshivishe communities, Avigdor’s Helping Hand is recognized and endorsed by all of the Gedolim.
“Everything is done according to da’as Torah,” Eli Glaser, Avigdor’s father told the Five Towns Jewish Times. “Among the esteemed rabbanim who are our rabbinical advisors are Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, Rabbi Dovid Weinberger, Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rabbi Henach Savitsky, and Rabbi Yakov Friedman. We consult with them whenever there is any ‘sheilah.’” “We are considered to be possibly the largest hachnosas kallah organization,” Mr. Glaser explained. “We dispense large amounts of money to those in need, all throughout the United States.”
True to its mission of rebuilding the future for widows and orphans, Avigdor’s Helping Hand has, since its inception, dispensed $2.2 million to 86 families that have suffered the loss of a spouse. To date, this outstanding organization has made 350 weddings for orphans.
Each applicant is required to submit two letters with his or her application; one from their rabbi, the second from a chesed organization. With meticulous attention to every detail, the application is carefully reviewed; rabbis and other references are called.
“Every application involves a very intense due diligence process,” explains Eli. “We have established a committee to evaluate each applicant with the utmost degree of confidentiality and sensitivity. We step in immediately with a cash stipend to provide the spouse and children with fi nancial support.”
Unique in its noble mission, Avigdor’s Helping Hand serves as a beacon of hope amid a sea of despair, a veritable lifeline for families bereft of their loved ones. The money is discretionary and may be used to offset any expense, such as food, housing costs, mortgage payments, childcare, utility bills, etc. Indeed, Avigdor’s Helping Hand is a tzedakah like no other, operating with no paid staff and no overhead.
For the 25 volunteers who give selflessly of themselves, AHH is truly a labor of love. “The devotion of these young people, who are starting out in their careers, is immeasurable,” Eli tells us. “They are
doctors, lawyers, hedge fund managers, working long hours, with young families to support. Each volunteer has a unique job to perform, which is done with such dedication. They tell us how their lives have changed and of the tremendous chizuk that they are getting. Each and every one of these wonderful young people is our partner. They are the reason, b’ezras Hashem, that we are successful. Every cent of your donation goes directly to help the widows and orphans.
We have no overhead; everything is done by volunteers. We are looking for people to contact us if they know of a relative, friend, or neighbor who is in need of Avigdor’s Helping Hand. Everything
is done with the utmost discretion and the highest level of tzniyus. We are getting tremendous accolades every day. We’ve been guided by da’as Torah since the very beginning; the names of the esteemed rabbanim can be found on our website.”
You are cordially invited to enjoy an elegant evening of fi ne cuisine and relaxing music at the Sixth Annual Avigdor’s Helping Hand Gala Barbecue. Catered by the inimitable Michael Schick and featuring the Neginah Orchestra, this not-to-be-missed event will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Labor Day, Monday, September 5 at the Moradi residence, 72 Muriel Drive in Lawrence. Please join AHH in their noble
mission of rebuilding the future . . . hand in hand by showing your support on this very special evening.
“We are honored and fortunate that David and Bilhah Moradi are graciously hosting our event in their beautiful home for the fifth consecutive year.” Eli says. “They are an integral and treasured part of our Avigdor’s Helping Hand family.”
Please show your support for this exemplary organization by gracing the event with your presence. To help Avigdor’s Helping Hand in any capacity, as well as to make reservations or obtain additional information about this exceptional tzedakah, please call 718-568-9720 or visit www.avigdorshelpinghand. org.
Tizku l’mitzvos!