(Courtesy of Yad Eliezer) In an impressive display of chesed and connection with Israel, Uri and Aliza Rosenwasser opened their home last week to host a parlor meeting benefitting American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri’s Keren Almanos (Widows & Orphans Fund).
The Keren Almanos, a life-changing program with an annual budget of $10 million, allocates monthly stipends to over 900 Israeli widows in need, ensuring they can provide their families (a collective 6,000+ children) with daily necessities. Along with the monthly support (the average is about $800), the almanos also receive supplemental funds for special circumstances-an overdue utility bill, one time emergency such as a home repair, or at especially costly times of year like the High Holiday season. Every month, like clockwork, the Keren Almanos wires the stipends directly to each recipient’s bank account, providing almanos with a sense of security: the knowledge that thankfully there will be money this month to use for food, clothing, rent and any other ongoing needs of a family. The transfer, done quietly and efficiently, also guarantees the women’s dignity is respected.
It was in anticipation of the upcoming High Holidays and approaching new year that the Rosenwasser family, along with co-hosts Bezalel Wagner and Yehuda Gittleson, were inspired to coordinate and run the beautiful AFYE/B’ezri event. With a full house, the program was both informative and transformative, as attendees gained a deeper understanding of the lives of the women supported by the Keren and the critical role the fund plays in their well-being. Keynote speaker Rabbi Yitzchok Celnik (Rosh Yeshiva Beis Medrash Ohr HaTorah) uplifted the audience, shedding light onto the struggles widows encounter while trying to raise their families after the loss of a beloved husband and father, painting a vivid picture of their efforts to remain resilient in the face of adversity.
In addition to educating the community about the Keren, the goal of the event was to raise funds and increase the number of annual sponsorships of widows – donors can “adopt” an almana, sponsoring a specific woman with support throughout the year. That was accomplished swiftly, with an astounding $145,000 raised (as of this writing and with additional pledges still coming in), and 25 new sponsorships acquired. As the afternoon drew to a close, the atmosphere was electric with optimism, setting a tone for the new year – one of giving, kindness and compassion.
As Uri Rosenwasser stated, “We want to ensure that no almana lacks any single necessity for her family.”
To learn more about American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri’s Keren Almanos and their other impactful programs fighting to end the cycle of poverty in Israel, visit their website at bezri.org.
