- which Chazal felt were important enough to recognize
in Atah Chonein, the first “middle” brachah of Shemoneh Esrei - for granted. He praised BINA’s incredible
devotion to those they assist and concluded with a fervent brachah that all of Klal Yisroel’s challenges and
difficulties be brought to a close with the coming of
Moshiach.
After thanking the host committee and BINA’s staff
under the direction of Mrs. Chavie Glustein, Rabbi
Schwarz welcomed State Senator Simcha Felder, who
spoke of his affinity for this humble but highly effective organization that “knows how to get the job done.”
Reminding the gathering that only the family members
truly understand the confusion and upheaval of a brain
injury, Senator Felder noted that they also share the
common factor of the huge burden that is lifted from
their shoulders once BINA steps into the picture: “BINA
stands at their side. Please help them continue to do so.”
A moving and inspirational video featuring brain
injury survivors telling their stories and describing BINA’s impact on their lives was shown. At the conclusion
The Toras Emes Hall was filled on Sunday, March 1, Flatbush.
of the presentation, the audience was treated to an enwith devoted supporters of the BINA Stroke and Brain
In his heartfelt remarks, Rav Zolty exhorted the audi- thralling interview with one of the “stars” of the video,
Injury organization who gathered despite inclement ence never to take the precious gifts of da’as and binah Moshe Blachorsky, who recalled his accident, his long
weather on behalf of
journey to recovery, and
the only Jewish organihow BINA has helped
zation providing guidhim every step of the
ance and assistance to
way.
stroke and brain injury
BINA provides resurvivors of all ages
habilitation
referrals,
and their families.
case management, crisis
BINA’s
Director
intervention and eduof Crisis Intervention,
cational events to thouElchanan
Schwarz,
sands of stroke and brain
LMHC, thanked the
injury survivors resulting
assembled guests for
from car accidents, falls,
braving the snow and
strokes, brain tumors and
then opened the proother neurological congram by introducing
ditions that can affect evRav Herschel Zolty,
ery function.
BINA can be contactrosh yeshiva at the
ed
at 718.645.6400 or
Mirrer Yeshiva and
Elchanan Schwarz, BINA’s Director of Crisis
Senator Simcha Felder speaking.
Rav Herschel Zolty speaking.
[email protected].
rov of Bais Medrash of
Intervention, with Moshe Blachorsky.
BINA Hosts Reception
to Benefit Stroke and
Brain Injury Survivors
Ezer Mizion: A Hand In The Dark
“As a United Community,
the Sky’s the Limit”
It’s all over now, but there was a time when
Colonel Uri Cohen and his wife, Nurit, did
not think they would ever be able to say those
words. A year and a half ago, Nurit, a mother
of six, was diagnosed with cancer and the sky
fell down on their young lives. Nechalim, their
community, rallied and provided the support
that only good friends can provide. At the same
time, the Cohens grew to know Ezer Mizion, the
organization that assisted with every imaginable
service and many that they couldn’t imagine.
“They knew before we did what our needs would be,” the Cohens say. “They really understood. They really cared.”
There was professional therapy of the highest caliber, a suite
to live in close to the treatment center, summer camp for the
whole family, a volunteer to do homework with the kids, another
one to take the kids shopping for school supplies, volunteers for
this, volunteers for that, retreats, trips, and fun days. There were
rides to and from the hospital and meals for whoever was staying
at the hospital and for the family at home. Then there was the
bone marrow registry, should the need arise for a transplant. The
list goes on and on.
And then it was thank-you time. The Cohens decided to host
a mesibas hoda’ah for their friends, providing their community
with the ultimate gift as an expression of their appreciation: an
opportunity to grow even further by becoming partners with Ezer
Mizion.
Ezer Mizion’s International Bone Marrow Registry is mostly
funded by private parties. A donation of $30,000 to fund genetic
testing of potential donors creates an individual personalized donor pool of those whose genetic testing was funded by the donation. When a potential donor from the pool is found to be a match
for a cancer patient and a transplant takes place, the contributor is
notified with the electrifying words: You have saved a life!
In a new, unique initiative, the Cohens incorporated into their
March 27, 2015 | 7 Nissan 5775
mesibah the concept of a community uniting to save lives.
The mesibas hodaah took place in Moshav Nechalim,
with the participation of Rabbi David Greenwald, rov
of the community; Shimon Sousan, head of the Modi’in
District Regional Council; and Rabbi Chananya Chollak, international chairman of Ezer Mizion. Hundreds of
people from the moshav, young and old, took part in the
moving event and came to rejoice with the Cohen family over the miracle of Nurit’s recovery. Buoyed by a
special feeling of mutual responsibility and the desire to
become partners in saving lives, the community pledged
the substantial sum of 150,000 NIS to the registry. As a result,
Nechalim was privileged to become the first community in Israel
to establish a pool of 600 registrants under their name.
“Everyone was swept up by the cause,” Nurit said emotionally. “Each person did what he could for the success of the initiative and it was just wonderful. Even the youngsters donated what
they could from their allowance. We explained to them that giving five shekels also makes them a partner in the mitzvah. There
was a very uplifting atmosphere, and we felt that as a community
together, the sky’s the limit.”
Ezer Mizion decided to carry forth the innovative project,
which Uri calls a “life-saving purchase cooperative,” to other
communities across the country. They are seeking other communities that will take up the gauntlet and fund a pool that will carry
their community’s name and render all their members partners in
saving lives. The project was initially established in the United
States with the West Hempstead and Belle Harbor communities
leading the way.
The community is now looking forward to the phone call that
will bind them even closer together: Moshav Nechalim, you have
saved a life!
•••••
For further info, call 718. 853.8400 or visit www.ezermizion.
org.
Torah Umesorah
(Continued from Page 144)
forts by an askan to forward the agenda of chinuch habonim, went to Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe
Grunhut of Williamsburg. Reb Moshe has for
decades lovingly championed the cause of
the Nitra mosdos, which services about 1,000
talmidim and talmidos in a number of schools
in Williamsburg, Monsey and Mt. Kisco. A
Nitra summer camp is among the projects that
benefit from the Grunhuts’ benevolence.
TU’s menahel, Rabbi Dovid Nojowitz, delivered his message following that award. Noting that we are at a time between Purim and
Pesach, between one geulah and another, although we are still in golus, we are urged to
celebrate our lives that are steeped in nissim.
Citing a Ramban, Rabbi Nojowitz noted that
the objective is to realize that our lives are
completely determined by the hand of Hashem.
Witnessing the miraculous way in which Torah
flourishes today, a mere seven decades after the
churbon in Europe, makes one feel gratified,
thankful and determined to forge ahead in the
avodas kodesh as TU does.
Rabbi Nojowitz then announced a special
award given this year to the dinner’s guests of
honor, Reb Yaakov and Mrs. Shwekey. Rabbi
Nojowitz noted that although renowned for his
singing talent, Reb Yaakov and Mrs. Shwekey,
residents of the Deal, N.J., make a major investment of time and effort in chessed activity,
in particular taking a personal and active role
in a school for special needs children. Reb Yaakov was not able to attend the dinner as he was
called away to handle another commitment, although Mrs. Shwekey was in attendance.
In typical TU style, the dinner concluded in
a timely fashion, offering a maximum impact
upon attendees while avoiding taxing their time
in these crucial pre-Pesach days.
YatedNe’eman 145