Dear Friends,
The current spike of terrorist violence in Israel began with the murder of Aharon Benet, a close friend of ours. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef and Miriam Gal, our neighbors and long time friends. Aharon and his wifeOdel, along with their 2 small children, were on their way home from the Kotel shortly after the Shabbos of Sukkos, when both parents were stabbed in cold blood. Their two-year-old son , Natan, was shot in the leg. He was a witness to everything that took place that night. Miraculously, their 7 month-old baby was unharmed during the disaster. Natan is recovering in Hadassah Hospital with his mother, Odel, who received 13 stab wounds and now needs time and a lot of assistance to heal. They will need support physically, emotionally, and financially.
Why they need help : They have just been released from the hospital and Odel can not yet function on her home. The family is lacking an apartment that can house them together. Community members are searching for a suitable place for them to stay as well as raising funds to cover the moving costs. Odel’s parents, Miriam and Yosef Gal, are close friends and strong members of our community. Unfortunately they do not have any family to rely on.The web of friends and neighbors they have built around themselves over the years are their family. Odel’s seven month-old baby is now under the care of a wonderful neighbor, whom we would like to compensate for her time and efforts. They had to buy a stroller and will continue to need baby formula, as Odel is unable to nurse or be with her baby. The family is staying together in the hospital and they need food, clean clothes... they need the basics.One of the major expenses is going to be housing and steady help at home. Odel will not be able to use her right arm for at least six months; she cannot begin physical therapy on her right hand until the vessels and tendons and nerves that were severed in the arm have enough time to heal. With two young children, she is going to need a lot of help. That's why we've put this campaign together--to help cover the costs that none of us have the resources to handle, and which government aid will not provide. These are the things that the government would consider "extras"--but they're not extras, they're necessary for knitting this family back together. This terrible tragedy has ripped through our community and many months of recovery are ahead for the family. Every Jew is intertwined with one another. We ask that you join our community, that you become part of Odel’s greater web. Please support the family through this extremely difficult ordeal with prayers and any financial means to ease the pain of the survivors.
As community members have remarked, Odel does not have a lot family who can help her. Although it is accurate, in a sense they are wrong. Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people are her family and we are one.Please take a minute and donate and help spread the word. Send this campaign to family members or friends . May Hashem ease all of our suffering and may we merit to see the total redemption of Am Yisroel soon and in our days! For any questions regarding this campaign feel free to contact me: Saramelman@gmail.com
Shlomzion is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt registered non-profit organization in the USA.
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