On Shabbat of Heroes, Ezer Mizion brought true heroes to Englewood. It started Friday morning with Former Israeli Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau’s visit to the Moriah School.

Following Rabbi Lau’s visit to The Moriah School, Shabbat of Heroes continued over Shabbat with Rabbi Lau speaking at the Benaroya Sephardic Center, at a private dinner with Ezer Mizion supporters, on Shabbat morning in Ahavath Torah’s Straus Sanctuary and again at East Hill Synagogue on Shabbat afternoon. The community also enjoyed Chazan Yitzchak Meir Helfgot’s beautiful davening, especially when he sang the tefillah for Medinat Yisrael and the misheberach for Tzahal.

On Saturday night, hundreds gathered for a musical Havdalah with Simcha Leiner and to learn more about Ezer Mizion. Nachum Segal, the emcee, described the scope of Ezer Mizion’s global life-saving mission. The crowd gave three IDF heroes a standing ovation as the three soldiers explained why they donated their bone marrow to total strangers to save their lives. The very close partnership between Ezer Mizion and the IDF was on full display for everyone in attendance.

The highlight of the evening, however, was when Aaron Grady shared his story of surviving leukemia because of the selfless act of Avi Feingold, an IDF soldier who had donated his bone marrow to save Aaron. The complete shock on Aaron’s face when he was introduced to the person who saved his life left not a single dry eye in the room. The embrace of the donor and recipient was intently moving to all present.

The evening culminated in the creation of the Englewood Community Donor Pool where members of the Englewood community partnered with Ezer Mizion to swab a large cohort of IDF soldiers who will be linked to the community for up to 40 years. Ezer Mizion looks forward to sharing the news with the Englewood community about the lives they will hopefully save through their donor pool. Those who are interested in joining their neighbors and friends who have committed to the Englewood Community Donor Pool may do so by going to www.ShabbatOfHeroes.com to play a role in saving lives around the world.

For additional information or questions, please contact Ryan Hyman, Ezer Mizion’s national director of development, at 718-853-8400 ext 109 or [email protected].