(Courtesy of Vaad HaRabanim) Teshuva, tefillah, tzedaka—the trio of potent weaponry in our arsenal to nullify any painful decrees for the upcoming year, r”l. As we approach Rosh Hashanah 5780—with our fates and the fates of our families in the balance—we are presented with an incredible, easy opportunity for both tefillah and tzedaka at the highest levels.
The gadol hador, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, places only one request: that someone should daven on his behalf before the Yamim Noraim. Rav Chaim personally donates to the Vaad Harabanim L’inyanei Tzedakah and hand writes his name and mother’s name, requesting that other gedolei Eretz Yisrael daven for him in the zechus of his donation.
Can we even imagine the benefit of having the same meilitzei yosher at this consequential juncture as the ones that Rav Chaim personally seeks out?
Yes, we do not need to imagine anything. All of us can attain it ourselves.
Just four hours before Rosh Hashanah, a historic Atzeres Tefillah will iy”H be held at the Kosel Hamaaravi. Leading rabbanim and roshei yeshiva shlit”a from Litvish, chasidish and Sephardic circles will unite to daven on behalf of donors to Vaad Harabanim L’inyanei Tzedakah. Those who donate $100 and up can submit up to two names that will be individually recited by the gedolim at that Atzeres. Other tefillah opportunities, available for donors of $36 and $52, respectively, include tefillos by gedolim on Erev Rosh Hashanah, Erev Yom Kippur and Hoshana Rabba and a tefillah by Rav Chaim Kanievsky every day of Aseres Yemei Teshuva.
The reason that these preeminent gedolei Yisrael so value the donors of Vaad Harabanim L’inyanei Tzedakah is because they are intimately familiar with the lifesaving chesed that the organization does for residents of Eretz Yisrael around the clock, every day of the year. The organization serves as a single, all-encompassing address to assist those in need, regardless of background or affiliation.
Within the past year alone, Vaad Harabanim distributed over 23,000 food packages to hungry families; financially assisted nearly 5,000 almanos and yesomim; assisted over 12,000 Yidden with medical treatment and rehabilitation; and helped nearly 3,000 children with tutoring and mentoring. The sheer magnitude of these chasadim and their far-reaching, long-term implications is difficult for the human mind to grasp. The Heavenly zechus of supporting these endeavors is impossible to estimate!
In the zechus of our chesed toward our brothers and sisters around the world, may all of klal Yisrael merit a kesiva vachasima tova.
To make a donation and submit names for the tefillos of the gedolim, please call the Vaad Harabanim hotline at 877-RAB-ANIM. Or mail in your donation to Vaad Harabanim, 221 Regent Drive,
Lakewood NJ 08701.
