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Poverty in Israel remains to be a significant problem in 2021, with a whopping 21.2% of the population living in poverty according to statistics. To make things even more alarming, the statistics show that a large portion of those living in poverty are none other than children. Though one might assume that this kind of third-world societal issue is obsolete at this point, the truth is that Israel is far from it.
The Kenigsberg family is a prime example. The lively family has eight children and they are barely getting by in impossibly cramped conditions– In a tiny two-bedroom apartment. Though many of our readers may be horrified at the thought of living with so many children in such a small space, for the Kenigsbergs, it’s simply their reality.

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Those who have lived in Israel for more than a few years are almost used to it: the grisly headlines announcing victims when there is a wave of terror attacks. Some victims of stabbings, rammings, and suicide bombs live to tell the tale, and even become a symbol of the Jewish People’s bravery and resilience. Tragically, however, as their stories fade into history, many victims of terror are still struggling with complications from their wounds years – and even decades – later.

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It was a bittersweet celebration for everyone last week, when the Erlau Rebbe arrived at the vort of a young chassan to say ‘mazel tov.’ The young couple smiled shyly for pictures and the men enjoyed shots of alcohol and a small arrangement of cakes. The celebration was extremely limited however, for obvious reasons: The chassan had lost his mother less than a month before.

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In the kitchen of a small, old Israeli apartment, two bearded men get themselves another cup of coffee before returning to their night learning seder. The men do not live here, in fact a week ago they had never heard of this family in their lives. But shuls were closed due to corona, and mother of 7 Mrs. Chana Phillips insisted that they open up her home to as many avreichim as they could host. The weather outside was harsh, and she was more than happy to give of her own privacy & space to enable Torah learning. In the freezer, several meals sat waiting to go to women in the neighborhood after birth. They were poor, but Mrs. Phillips had a talent for turning cheap ingredients into delicious family meals.

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The date: May of 2021, just one month ago. The rest of the bochurim left the beis midrash for dinner break, but their friend Nosson* stayed behind to finish the daf he was engrossed in. This was typical of Nosson. The young man took his learning very seriously, to the point where, despite his young age, he was highly regarded by many well-known rabbanim. The Rachmastrivka Rebbe even referred to him as a ‘choshuve talmid chacham.’ The other talmidim respected him, and some even envied him – If only they knew.

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A recent tragic incident has caused some to call into question the safety regulations of Israel’s playgrounds. Eleven-year-old Nachi Levi was playing with friends on a ropes course Shabbos afternoon when he slipped and fell from the top. Those who live in the area say the point Nachi fell from is approximately four stories high. He suffered severe damage to his internal organs and was put into a coma.
For an excruciating week, Nachi’s parents & 9 siblings sat by his motionless body, praying for his recovery. The family was dumbfounded when the boy awoke and, despite them having been told that he had had no awareness of his surroundings, the first thing he did upon regaining consciousness was to thank them for their prayers.

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When Rina Rubin took her son to the skin doctor for a harmless looking freckle on his face, she never thought that it would be the beginning of a long and arduous journey, one that she is still climbing every single day.
Mordy was 11 years old, and he was a healthy and relatively easy child. In fact, Rina and husband Shlomo had seven lively children, one being special needs, and Rina always had a secret soft spot for kind-hearted, soft-spoken Mordy. Never one to make trouble, always there to offer someone a lending hand when they needed it. But when the doctor mentioned cancer, the 35 year old mother realized that their lives would never be the same from that day onward. 
“Things have never been simple,” she says.

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For years, the Lewis family’s neighbors were used to seeing them around. Whether in the stairwell of their apartment building, the elevator, the park, or the makolet, young mom Tzila Lewis was spotted taking kids to and from school or running errands. In recent months, however, Tzila’s appearance had changed. She was pale and visibly more withdrawn. In recent weeks, neighbors stopped seeing her around at all. The family in the apartment next door noticed she didn’t even seem to be leaving their 2-bedroom home.

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In light of this unstable period, including the events of the past year and a half:
A Unique Opportunity to Participate in the “Increased Shmirah” Fund Initiated By Maran Sar HaTorah HGR’ Chaim Kanievsky shlit”a

Participants in the “Increased Shmirah” fund merit additional brachah and shmirah in our present situation, in which the middas hadin is prevalent Tzedakah received by the “Increased Shmirah” fund is earmarked to assist hundreds of additional poor families who desperately need support

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Up until a year and a half ago, the Lewises were the picture-perfect family. Yechezkel was learning, Tzila had an excellent job in a bank, and the five kids were happy and got along nicely with their peers. But all of that changed one year and a half ago when Tzila came home one day from work and almost fainted as she walked through the door.