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Rabbi Yaacov Schwartz - Rebbetzin Chani Schwartz
Supporting Wounded Chayalim With Simcha and Song
Bikur Cholim b’Lev Sameach (Accompanying the Sick with a Happy Heart)
In response to the Gaza War, as Founder/Director of Kanfey Shemesh [ESMF] (a registered non-profit in New York and Israel), I’m honored to share this story with you:
With support from the Beren Family Foundation, and the Association for Spiritual Care in Israel, Livuiruchani.org.il ESMF Kanfey Shemesh answered the call for immediate projects to assist the wounded and their families. Our grant-winning project is entitled Bikur Cholim b’Lev Sameach. We formed a traveling bikur cholim team and musical band (led by my sons Akiva and Elimelech Schwartz) of enthusiastic teen and adult volunteers; including from Mesifta High School (Bet Shemesh) and Ohr Somayach (Jerusalem). We played and brought Simcha and Sweets to hospitals and rehab centers, and offered support, prayers, and comfort to soldiers and families. We were deeply moved by their outpouring of appreciation – especially considering that it’s their sacrifice and great mesiras nefesh that allows us to live, learn, and thrive in the Land of our dreams!
Our unified goal was to encourage those recovering from physical and emotional injuries. In typical Israeli fashion, of course, the soldiers returned inspiration to us ten-fold. These are a few of their stories:
A soldier who survived an attack that caused the transport vehicle he was driving to erupt in flames and how he managed to escape relatively unharmed. Sadly, the other soldiers manning the vehicle perished. He told us that it could only be Hashem who spared his life.
The 55-year-old career reserve commander who broke into tears when he saw young people donating time out of love and concern for the soldiers.
A chosson whose kallah was visiting. We were able to play wedding music that thanked Hashem for his survival while he fought for the Jewish People.
One battalion’s (non-Jewish) commander asked one of the Jewish boys to stand at a particular location to
pray for them while they battled terrorists. The commander attributed this boy’s request to wait until he
could say mincha to a miracle… the delay meant the unit avoided a booby-trapped building that terrorists
had prepared to detonate at a certain time. Thus, that entire platoon was spared. When mincha ended, the
commander told the boy to stay where he was and continue to pray while they moved to their next
objective! The commander knew that the prayer was the true weapon and shield!
Our visits include various facilities associated with Shaarei Tzedek and Hadassah Hospitals in Jerusalem, Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, and Sheba Tel HaShomer Hospital in Ramat Gan. Through lobbies, hallways, rooms, and even rooftop lounges we sing, dance, pray, and play instruments. Sometimes, we are joined by other musical groups we meet in the halls! As a longtime medical chaplain, I guide the team through the various hospital wings to perform for soldiers and anyone who requests to hear us. Ahavat Yisroel, Hashem’s Divine Providence, and the surge of emunah poured from every story. We hope to continue to uplift our soldiers during our Purim hospital visits, and in the future as needed.
Hashem never fails to remind us the Jewish People are truly an eternal unit. At Sheba Tel HaShomer, we met an elderly Jew who also enjoyed what we were doing. He called us over and said, “You need to stay here and play for many, many more hours and bring joy to everyone here who is sad…” He then turned to me and profoundly declared, “You learned how to do this from your father!”
For readers who didn’t know my father, Rabbi Avrohom (Albert) Schwartz zt”l who passed away a year ago), he was the Director of Chaplaincy in the Fort Lauderdale Federation for over 20 years and a longtime pulpit rabbi. His signature simcha, dancing, and bringing happiness to suffering people was legendary! And somehow, a stranger tapped into this – from what would seem like the ether – just days before I concluded saying Kaddish. (My father’s yahrzeit was on 23 Nisan).
I personally arranged special tefillos to be recited on your behalf at kivrei Tzadikim – in Yerushalayim, Tzfat, and beyond – on Purim Day. Please send a kvittel of names (in Hebrew, if possible) to esmfksinc@gmail.com so they can be easily read by those reciting tefillos. May we merit immediate rescue – yet again – from the clutches of Amalek!
Donate online www.kanfeyshemesh.org and click the DONATE button (Tax Deductible)
Zelle to esmfksinc@gmail.com or rjyschwartz@gmail.com
Mail Checks, Payable to YTC Emergency Aid Fund | PO Box 249 | Cedarhurst NY 11516