Pure. That’s the word that comes to mind when we think of Reb Aryeh Laskey. He taught young children Torah, and he showed them, by his example, how to love Hashem. It was the warmth of his lessons that set the foundation for Yiras Shamayim for his students. ​Click here to donate! Rabbi Laskey ZTL struggled with debilitating diseases—pulmonary fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis—which caused him to become uninsurable. He continued to teach until his illness made working impossible. ​ Rabbi Laskey ZTL was relentless in his effort to make sure that his children with learning disabilities received the support they needed. Even as his health deteriorated, he forged on—carrying his oxygen tank and his ever-present smile—and doing whatever he could to care for his family.

The Neve Yaakov community was struck by a tragic loss this Rosh Hashana, with the passing of 30-year-old father of 4 Moshe Bergman. Moshe was a grandson of Rav Shach, and was known for his dedication to Torah learning & prayer, as well as his sense of humor. Bergman left behind a wife and four children, aged 6, 4, 3 and 1.   When Moshe was originally diagnosed with cancer one year ago, doctors felt confident that it was not a severe case, and that with treatment he would be fine. Unfortunately, that could not have been further from the truth. Though the initial treatments were successful, months later Moshe was at a dentist’s appointment when the doctor noticed another growth.

Twelve devastated children gathered at the Sanhedria cemetery last night to mourn the passing of their father, 48-year-old Rav Menashe Schiff. Schiff lost his life to coronavirus complications.  The Schiff family has been shaken not once or twice, but three times in the last month: The Rav’s father, Rav Yosef Schiff, passed away from the same virus as well. Rav Yosef’s wife, the matriarch of a large family, was so shaken by the news of his passing that she, suffering from COVID as well, had a heart attack upon hearing the news and passed away as well. The triple death has left the Schiffs deeply shaken.  Rav Menashe’s wife is now left to raise 12 children alone, without her husband or in-laws. It is a daunting, seemingly impossible task.

The cost to subsidize one family is $250. Please help so we can subsidize 400 families this Yom Tov season. Sukkos. Zeman Simchaseinu. It’s one of the most joyous times of the year, anticipated by one and all, young and old. But this year, it will be different. For the first time in history, due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, Yerushalayim will be devoid of the tens of thousands of guests who arrive each year to celebrate the grand Yom Tov of Sukkos in the Holy City. There’s no Sukkos like Sukkos in Yerushalayim. The feelings of festivity are almost tangible. Prior to the Yom Tov, the streets are filled with vendors selling daled minim and all sorts of Yom Tov paraphernalia.

It is Erev Yom Hadin. We are busy with seemingly mundane things; showering the children and wiping the kitchen floor. Putting away the pots, taking out a baking pan, back to the store for more challos, setting the timer for the lights and maybe the air conditioner too… In another minute the Mishpat begins. Fatal decisions affecting an entire year. Life is hanging in the balance. Recent events demonstrated what can happen.  Most would love to be at the Kosel Hamaaravi right now, standing by the holy, ancient stones and offer a prayer that immediately flies up straight to Heaven.  In truth, we are there.

Choked sobs filled the air in the streets of the southern Israeli town of Yerucham as family members gathered to mark the passing of 35-year-old Rabbi Pinchas Waldstein. Rabbi Waldstein was the father of 7 children, the youngest of whom is only 6 months old. He learned in Yeshivas Beit Meir. Waldstein was hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus, and ultimately passed after the disease reached his heart.  Those close to the family know this is not the first time they have seen tragedy. Just two years ago, they lost a 1 year old child to cancer. The Waldsteins had only just begun to heal from their loss when COVID robbed them of the very foundation of their family: their beloved father. Mrs.

On the Chofetz Chaim’s Yahrtzeit (24 Elul), you have a unique opportunity to bring the merit of Shmiras Haloshon to advocate for your friends and family for a good, healthy, prosperous year. The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, dedicated to spreading the Chofetz Chaim’s teachings, is running a “Tip the Scale” Charidy Matching Campaign (charidy.com/cchf) aimed at raising $500,000 for its extensive, global network of programs to foster the mitzvos bein adam l’chaveiro.  For the first time ever:  While donating, please be sure to include your name and that of your family to be prayed for by the kever of the Chofetz Chaim Zt”l on the day of his Yahrtzeit!  Deadline for submission of names for prayer is Motzei Shabbos at 1:00 AM – don’t miss out!

Not everyone will have the privilege of mastering Shas in their lifetime. According to the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Yitzhok Scheiner, shlita, Avraham Moshe Yavrov has already done that and he is only 23. He has even authored books on Shas and Halacha. When one considers that he lost his father at 13, his accomplishments in learning are the more incredible.  Recently, Avraham got married to Devora, a girl from a family of Yirei Shamayim. His mother, a widow with 10 kids, had a hard time paying for the wedding. At one point, it looked like the wedding wouldn’t be able to take place but with Hashem’s help last minute, she was able to provide a beautiful wedding for her son, giving the family a welcome respite from their usual hardships. After the wedding, the chassan’s hardships continued.

generation’s leading Rabbanim, including Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita, the Belz Rebbe shlita, the Viznitz Rebbe shlita and Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi shlita, is making headlines. Many families have been impoverished by Covid-19. The leading Rabbis are overwhelmed by the sheer number of families who need help to prevent imminent starvation and homelessness. Knowing that something had to be done quickly, the 28 Gedolim convened a special Beis Din empowered to make decrees.

Very few people will ever go through the difficult challenges Pinchas Deutsch has, let alone live to tell about it. At the age of 7, an eye injury caused by protruding, sharp objects caused him to go blind in one eye, despite extensive surgery. The other eye developed Sympathetic Ophthalmia, a painful disease so rare that he was the only one in all of Israel to have it. Since no local doctor had any experience with this ailment, he had to go to the US for extensive surgery. His situation became so dire that the Steipler Gaon, ZT”L, took upon him to daven 3 times a day for him. He was prescribed Cortisone, the only medication able to treat this rare disease. The pills came with a hefty price tag, but because his life depended on it, there was absolutely no choice.