[COMMUNICATED] On a side-street in the bustling city of Bnei Brak is an address known by those who struggle: The office of mekubal, talmid chacham, and community leader Rav Dovid Chaim Stern shlit”a. Countless poor and suffering people aspire to meet with him, in hopes of receiving some help or guidance. For 60 years, his organization Beit Avraham has saved needy families from starvation.
This winter, 11 families’ stories were chosen by Rav Stern as particularly tragic. The details go on and on: Two kallahs getting married without parents, families with many kids and no form of income, another family of many children whose father is in a coma.
Their identities have been concealed for their privacy, but some details of their stories have been released.
The organization, together with Rav Stern personally, have now started a very special campaign. Those who donate to help these 11 particularly poor families will have their names added to a list. That list will be hand-delivered each day of Chanukah to the office of Rav Stern shlit”a himself. He will pray fervently for each name, blessing them for their contribution to individuals whose suffering he has seen himself. This will reach a peak on Zos Chanukah, a powerful time for prayer, when Rav Stern will bless and pray for the contributors once more.
Many have seen yeshuos in shidduchim, parnassah, and other areas of life after giving to this important organization. Some might say that knowing that a child will eat because of your contribution, however, is reward enough.