You Are Yudit’s Lifeline

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Shalom ​Psalm 71 is King David’s enduring prayer to God in his old age, as well as a call to care for those in their later years: “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” (v. 9) The Bible also teaches “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). Clearly, we have a biblical mandate to honor these men and women and return the blessing of their wisdom and sacrifices for us. I believe that you have a loving heart for the Jewish people. And I am asking your help to continue the holy work of caring for suffering elderly Jews in the Holy Land today. They simply cannot meet their most basic needs for food, medications, rent, and utilities. And many struggle with crippling loneliness, missing the companionship of their spouse and families. This suffering takes an enormous physical and emotional toll. It breaks my heart knowing Israel’s impoverished elderly deal every day with the human indignity of having to choose between eating, keeping the lights on, staying warm, or having medications. Elderly Jews like Yudit face these gut-wrenching choices each day. Yudit is a Holocaust survivor whose childhood tragically changed forever the day the Nazis stormed into her small Ukrainian hometown in 1941. To save little Yudit’s life, her terrified parents rushed her off to their non-Jewish neighbors who hid her from the soldiers. Thankfully, she eventually made aliyah(immigrated) to Israel and escaped persecution. Though she survived the long horrors of the war, she now faces deep loneliness and sorrow after her husband of many years passed away. Fortunately, Yudit found the Fellowship-funded Yad LaKashish workshop (Hebrew for “Lifeline for the Elderly”) in Jerusalem that assists older women and men—who often feel lonely and useless—find purpose and friendship as well as meaningful ways to supplement their food, clothing, and shelter needs through the crafts they make and sell in the shop. Without question, this ministry—that your prayers and gifts help make possible—is a true lifeline of hope for Yudit and many elderly survivors like her. It is a wonderful, fulfilling, and successful way that your prayers and generous contributions work to care for “the least of these.” And until the blessed day comes when Israel can devote more funds to social services than to needed national defense, the vulnerable of Israel count on you as a safety net. You can provide this “safety net” of provision along with the heartening message, “You are not alone,” to someone like Yudit through your best gift today. Thank you for your compassionate heart for Israel With prayers for shalom, peace, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein Founder and President Donate Now PS Your generous and life-changing gift today will help care for a Jewish woman or man whom God has placed in your care. Make no mistake, you are a bright ray of hope for these elderly Jews whose situation is so desperate.