by Shoshana Lepon (via email)
Now, before Yom Kippur, I would like to tell you about a crazy man named Reb Chaim.Last year Reb Chaim of Yerushalayim opened a program in Jerusalem to help street kids who have no self worth, no home to go to and no life to speak of. He called it Simchas Torah and had three full-time and three part-time students. In the course of the year each one had a life-changing experience and began to pick up the pieces of his shattered existence.
At the end of the school year, Reb Chaim decided to disband because the program had zero income and high costs. His financial concerns were exacerbated by the realization that by having devoted all his resources to these young men, he was left with no funds to make his oldest son's wedding.
Ironically, as soon as Reb Chaim closed down, he was approached by six full-time and three part-time students begging to enroll for the second season of Simchas Torah. As a matter of fact three kids already moved into the Jerusalem dorm in anticipation and one kept calling him in the States, every day, to find out when he would be returning to Israel.
Oh well! No easy way out!
Reb Chaim immediately started fund raising for the six full-time students, who would need full room and board while they struggled to move beyond their troubled teenage years. He was successful in finding two sponsors who have dedicated a portion of their monthly expenses to support one Simchas Torah student.
Still short 4 sponsors, Reb Chaim is going forward. But that is not what qualifies him as a crazy man.
Reb Chaim has a wife of three years who is his life and his world and who stands by his side 24/7. Last year he put in 11-14 hour days to help the kids in the program and this season he hasn't slept in days. He is now dividing himself among 6 very needy young Jews and everyone wants equal time. But that is not what qualifies him as a crazy man.
Reb Chaim also runs the Shabbos Awareness Center in the Old City of Yerushalayim. He and his wife have hosted close to 13,000 guests in the past 3 years. Returning last week from his trip to the USA for his son's wedding, he was about to board the plane when he received a call from a special Jew who wanted to sponsor Rosh Hashana! Reb Chaim only managed to attract 200 young folk for the Rosh Hashana meals, because most people figured he'd never get it together having arrived just three days before the holiday. Imagine if they had really known how crazy Reb Chaim is--what a crowd he would have had!
So there he is, at the end of Rosh Hashana, so wiped all he wants to do is go home and get one good night's sleep. As he walks to the Rova parking lot, literally falling on his feet, he thinks back to all the meals, the shlepping of tables and chairs, the serving, the talking, the sharing, the cleaning and then more cleaning. Surrounded by his students, he heads to his car, packs in the kids, and drives to the dorm.
An interesting thought crosses his mind. "Am I crazy?" he thinks. "I'm taking six students back to a dorm for which I don't have next month's rent. I say a quick prayer to Hashem, 'Dear G-d, please tell me how I can go on!' and as soon as I ask this question the cell-phone rings. A couple married just 2 weeks tell me it's an emergency and they must see me right away."
Reb Chaim drops off the kids and races to the young couple's apartment. He talks with them for an hour, helping them work out many issues, yet they are still not happy. He asks them what else is going on and the wife urges her husband to talk. But he says "Honey, you have no idea how busy Reb Chaim is with his Simchas Torah program and his Shabbos Awareness Center. Let's just drop it!"
Reb Chaim insists that he is not too busy for them and the young wife says, "Reb Chaim, Avraham wants to learn in kollel half day and work half day. But he needs a kollel for beginners who can't yet learn Gemara -- and no such kollel exists!"
Reb Chaim looks at them and proclaims, "Kollel? What's the problem? I'll open one right after Succos and we'll teach you beginners Chumash, Nach, Halacha, Marriage Hashkafa, Chesed, Community Service, etc." They look at him and both break into smiles. "Thank you, Reb Chaim!"
On his way home, Reb Chaim looks up to heaven, "Dear God, am I certifiably insane or what? I don't have money for Simchas Torah and I just opened a kollel."
The next day Reb Chaim finds a teacher, a place and a program. What about the funds needed to pay this teacher and give a monthly stipend to the young married men now joining this kollel? What about the funds for the Succos meals at the Shabbos Awareness Center? And what about funds and for the four un-sponsored Simchas Torah guys?
I guess only one thing is for sure...Reb Chaim is one crazy, crazy man.
Wishing you all the sweetest year ever!
Respectfully,
Shoshana Lepon
G'mar Tov & Good Shabbos!
Inspired to be crazy? If not, I'm hoping you'll be at least inspired to be generous.
Simchas Torah has a pending 501C3 not for profit status and is a registered non-profit organization in Israel. Your tax-deductible checks can be out made to:
A.F.O.S. (American Friends of SimchasTorah)Or in Israel:
110 Harrison St.
Lawrence, NY 11559
Simchas Torah
PO Box 60700,
Jerusalem, Israel