By Ron Benvenisti. I just found out that if we can raise $5000 by Wednesday, December 12, we may be eligible for up to a $50,000 in a Federal Grant! Please help us get there. Thank you.
I am a 9/11 NYC Law Enforcement first responder. I have not received any benefits from NYC, as many of my brothers and sisters in LE, EMS, FD and others in the Public Sector have not. Lawyers want to bleed us and our pensions have all gone to medical expenses. It seems like there is a funeral every week from all kinds of lethal complications. Many were close friends from FDNY downtown and DOI/NYPD Manhattan South (where my office was a half a block away on Maiden Lane).
Throughout that fateful day, I personally rescued close to a hundred people and led them to safety in the deep basement of the Chase bank, my office building at Maiden Lane or to immediate triage.
We were sworn to and willing to give our lives for you. So many of us did selflessly and bravely and continue to do so, actively or suffering after that tragic and most horrible attack on our great nation. Will you help me out with whatever you can?
In the Fall of 2009 I was diagnosed with a rare liver disease that had been growing for years until it formed into a huge abscess that practically killed me. I spent nearly six weeks in the hospital. There were only 2 prior cases known. A young micro-biologist from Rutgers university came up with an experimental cocktail in the last two weeks and it worked! Thank God it was like a miracle. I was the only one to ever survive this illness. I actually was read my last rights. Of the three known cases I was the only one that survived. B’Chasdei Hashem. And a cure was found.
It was a super-bacteria that takes years to evolve with no symptoms until it’s too late. This has been written up in the medical journals. The doctors suspect it might have been due to someone I had close contact with (of the hundreds I rescued) or something at Ground Zero. The other possibility is from a case where I was tracking a a fake UPS truck connected to a Brooklyn mosque which was registered next to the US Army Ammunitions Dump in Pennsylvania. Should that truck gone live, untold thousands would have been killed. This year I started to feel discomfort and pain in that area again until in July it became unbearable. From July through September I had been in the ER 5 times. Finally after several tests (needed to get pre-approval for) on October 18, I had surgery again to clean out what was there including removing my gall bladder and opening up obstructions. Thank God again, so far so good.
In November 2017 I suffered a severe pain in the area, despite being on pain medication and I fell and I fractured my knee. Surgery nor replacement was not an option in my case. Replacing the knee or screws and metal was not feasible as the injury involved numerous small fractures that were underneath the knee. The immobility for 8 weeks led to venal thrombosis which is a blood clot that can Chas V’Shalom travel to your lungs, heart or brain and is potentially fatal. I still have some trouble getting around, but God willing, with continued Physical Therapy, blood thinners and pain medication, in time it will be better.
As you can imagine, being out of commission for a year can add up really fast. Now, our modest house is in foreclosure and we are battling for disability for one of my beautiful children. I am seeking financial assistance to keep our home and pay off the accumulating debts and medical expenses as well as to cover everyday necessities. This is why I need help. I never thought I would ever try a Chesed Fund or GoFund Me, but my friends urged me to do it. So here I am hoping to get some relief for my family and myself.
We are getting a little medical assistance but the battles with the insurance company are frustrating. We are on a fixed income, as I took Social Security early to help out. We get Meals-on-Wheels but we are in over our heads for over $50,000 dollars including back mortgage payments and that increases every month as it adds up.
Will you help us out with whatever you can?
Thanks to all those who have donated and may God bless you and yours in everything.
With your generous help IYH we will be able to re-dedicate our house by Chanuka!
Will you help me out with whatever you can? Thanks and God bless you and yours in everything.
I have haskamah from Rabbi Gissinger, Shlita, of Khal Zichron Yaakov, Lakewood.
Ron Benvenisti
Mr. Benvenisti,
I am so sorry to hear about the tzaar that you have suffered. I’m just wondering why you don’t start a chessed fund account as opposed to a gofundme. The chessed fund does not take any fees which can save you a significant amount of money. Please update ASAP if you decide to change this so I can donate
Thank you. Good shabbos.
Hmmmm? That was not my experience with the Chesed Fund. Unless you know something I don’t, they wanted a significant amount upfront and have different programs, each one more expensive than the other. It actually turned me off.
I’m not sure which fees you are referring to. About a year ago I ran a fundraiser on there to provide basic needs for Pesach and there were no fees or percentages at all. That is the foundation they were built on. It is possible it has changed over time.
Just checked again: $100 upfront, just to get in the door.
This is it:
https://thechesedfund.com/
Correct?
Ron, please check out these pages:
http://Www.thechesedfund.com/faq and
http://Www.thechesedfund.com/terms-of-service
It clearly states there is no percentage or fees. I’m confused as to where you saw there were fees when you checked into it. People have been very happy using that platform as far as I know. I just want you to be as successful as you can and be able to keep as much of the incoming money as you are able to instead of giving a portion to the website running the campaign.
I see! It was asking for an account verification which support just told me was optional. Thanks for your help. Here it is:
https://app.thechesedfund.com/ronbenvenisti
Thanks for sharing your story with the Lakewood community Ron!
Refua shilaima!
Hey Ron, that is really a sad story, you may want to get in touch with a realtor or short sale specialist to get you a buyer for your home or make a settlement with the bank. If you live in Lakewood your house is probably worth a mint, and you can probably move to a retirement village where there are gorgeous houses for people who can’t do steps etc.
Instead of being a Tipesh give a donation and keep your mouth shut.
not from Lakewood, donated. Appreciate all you gave. wishing you lots of luck and good health.
Ron, every time I see your writings I wonder if we are related way back. The Horowitz family originally was benvenisti or related closely to them going back came from them. They are Leviim. You seem well read, I wonder if you ever explored this.
You are 1000% percent correct. A few years ago I had the Zechut to restore a damaged copy of the Bostoner Rebbe’s Grand Rabbi Pinchas Duvid Horowitz) family tree dated 1926. To my amazement I discovered my family name on the document!
Here is the Dropbox folder where you can see the restored chart, and another version with the family name highlighted and as a special bonus: the original music engraving I restored of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav by Naomi Shemer! Please everyone feel free to download these amazing pieces of our history. Have them printed and framed if you like!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mztzrdl3ul4rb7n/AACEGj9eCAgNK2amJ1bHG91Ta?dl=0
And please don’t forget my Emergency Chesed Fund Page:
https://www.gofundme.com/wh22y7-emergency-fund
Thank you to all have contributed. May Hashem bless you and yours in everything good.
To “To Chacham”. Chacham actually has a very good point. Instead of giving a measly donation of a few dollars that won’t do anything for Ron in the scheme of things, he’s actually giving him direction on how to have a house in the future. Your donation will give him money to buy himself a bagel and a coffee. Not too helpful
We are working on every angle. Angles are expensive. Angels are the best! May Hashem remove all of Klal Yisraels’s Tzarot with HaMashiach Tzedkainu B’Karov. Amen! Thank you for your generous donations and advice. PS: We love bagels!
Thanks Kishron, from the sound of it Ron probably doesn’t even eat bagels.
Ron,
Let’s make this happen so you don’t lose your house to the bank and have even greater problems. Because ultimately that’s really where your issue is. Once you have a secure house the rest is something hopefully that we can all contribute to.
Let’s also make sure that no one hacks the bank before you sell it which is common with all the malware and viruses which we know your very familiar with and keep us updated on.
Wishing you much luck on securing yourself a new home and stability in all areas.
Ron,
Someone actually hold me that peanut butter is good for liver issues. While it may be hard eat a lot of peanut butter, there are some snacks that you may be able to have as a good sore. One is granola bars in peanut butter flavor. Hey second one is an Israeli snack called bamba Which is also peanut butter flavor.
Yup. Peanut butter is great. Try a peanut butter and lettuce sandwich. The lettuce adds a nice crunch and liquid to help the peanut butter not stick to your teeth and throat. Yum. Thin out some peanut butter with hot water until you have a nice saucy consistency. Add some hot toasted sesame oil as you like and pour it over your favorite noodles! Rice noodles are quick and in a couple of minutes you have an amazing authentic Chinese dish. Add baby corn, broccoli, water chestnut and you’ve got a great large dish. Kids love it although you may have to back off on the hot sesame oil for the little ones. Of course those with peanut allergies have to stay away.
Oh wow thanks Ron, we are cousins of the bostoner rebbe..as a matter if fact he made by my inlaws and my fatherinlaws parents shidduch. Thanks for the info.
Refuah shlaima