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Shock waves were sent through the community of Neve Dekalim this month after the arrest & imprisonment of special needs 24-year-old Hodaya Monsango. Hodaya is a kind and gentle young woman whose mental capacity remains at that of a child. She became involved in an elaborate hoax recently when she was hired to babysit for a woman’s two children during a vacation to Peru. 

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Those who reside in Israel know that finding proper health coverage can require ‘protexia,’ also known as knowing the right person. Though some of the leading medical research in the world comes from Israeli doctors, the socialized system is such that many patients spend countless hours navigating the system. Making several phone calls and bussing to clinics is challenging to most, but especially so for those suffering from cancer.
Cancer patients young and old often struggle to find the best surgeons, to secure appointments with recommended doctors, and to find access to medications not covered by the national health insurance. This struggle is endured amid the chaos of physical, emotional, and financial burden.

A young Israeli mother has spent months apart from her children, after illness has separated them and forced her to live in an American hospital.
Tzippy’s shocking story began just a few years ago when she was diagnosed with what appeared to be a ‘simple’ virus. The virus took an unexpected turn for the worst when she went into septic shock. One by one the young woman’s organs began to shut down. Against all odds, she survived – but it was only the beginning of her medical journey.

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A community was shaken to its core on Friday after a horrific fire in a Netanya apartment which claimed the lives of two young children. The blaze was reportedly caused by a nightlight.
Once danger was detected, young couple Ofir & Tzipora Ochana frantically attempted to save their children and themselves from the house. Tragically, Refael (age 3) and Elazar (age 5) passed away. Mother Tzipora is just one month after the birth of her youngest child.
The family was treated for smoke inhalation and other minor injuries. The levaya for Refael & Elazar was held on Saturday night. Family, friends, and community members gathered from afar around two tiny shrouded bodies, as hysterical sobs escorted them to the grave.

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On behalf of the Kaplan family a fund has been set up to help provide financial stability for them.
At this moment Reb Nissan is being pulled in two primary directions.
He needs to be there for his family who have just lost their mother.
At the same time, the talmidim at Daas Aaron cannot continue without their rebbe.
The reality of the situation is that Reb Nissan Kaplan and his mishpacha need your help now.

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They say that shared struggles bring two people closer together. If that’s the case, there are few in this world closer that 22-year-old Ruti Goldschmidt & her mother Tobi. Tobi’s life as a mother of 4 began to spiral into chaos when her husband Moshe was diagnosed with cancer. When Moshe entered into remission, the family breathed a sigh of relief. In a shocking turn of events, the cancer came back, then once again was conquered, then came back a third time. It was the third battle with the disease which ultimately ended Moshe’s life. He left behind a devastated widow and children, one of which was the now 22-year-old Ruti.

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Does everything happen for a reason?
Most Jews would say yes – it is our tradition that every person that you meet, every ‘coincidence’ in your life, is an opportunity to do good. One Rav who has taken this opportunity is Rav Naftali Nussbaum, the Rav of the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem and a world-renowned posek who answers questions from all over the world. Rav Nussbaum has opted to volunteer his time to help a group of young poor people who need his help to make their weddings this month. Each of the young brides & grooms has lost at least one parent, and is struggling to make ends meet.
Rav Nussbaum made the following commitment via a letter written to the public:

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Readers around the world were moved this week by the story of father-of-10 Yosef Binder, and his journey to rehabilitation after a severe stroke:

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He’s awake. I can’t believe it, he’s awake.”

These were the first words Reb Yosef Binder heard as he groggily opened his eyes, and was flooded by the light of his hospital room window. Doctors informed Binder that he had suffered a severe stroke, and had been unconscious for two months, hooked up to a respirator. During those two months, his wife and ten children remained by his side, in a state of desperate prayer.

It was not long after waking, however, that Binder realized he would not be returning to his work as a cheder rebbe, or any of his normal activities. He was now unable to walk, or to speak clearly. What has followed since has been an intense journey of struggle, and rehabilitation.

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Those among us who have been touched by serious illness know that in some terrifying cases a second, third, or even fourth opinion is necessary in order to reach a correct diagnosis. One Israeli family’s experience proved to be fodder for that fear, after Miriam Shammah, a mother of twelve, began suffering from mysterious leg pains. Miriam went to a doctor and was told that there was nothing wrong. When the pain persisted, however, she continued to push for further testing. The testing continued without clear results for two months.
Two weeks ago, doctors diagnosed Miriam as having cancer. One week later, she passed away.