Dear friends,

We, the friends and students of Benji Elson, write to you with a heavy heart, asking for your help.

This past weekend, while Benji was away for Shabbos, his home was broken into, ransacked, and robbed. He returned home late Saturday Night—Motzie Shabbat to discover that the thieves had searched for, found, and took every bit of change and money in the apartment. Even the small change bowl. Everything. All stolen.

The intruders didn’t just steal valuables — they took the fruits of years of dedicated work. Many thousands of shekels from this year's book sales and therapy sessions over the past months that Benji had not yet had a chance to deposit, as well as thousands in dollars, euros, and pounds from an emergency travel stash he kept hidden since the start of the war — all gone.

Valuables and irreplaceable sentimental items without a price were taken too. All now gone. None of it covered by insurance.

Included in what was taken was every single shekel from all the book sales this year that were paid for in cash — over 100 books that Benji personally sold this year — each sale an interaction, an effort, a conversation, energy, and work. All gone. Benji kept the cash at hand because almost every person who bought a book in cash needed change due to the Israeli bill structure. Now it's all gone.

Included were many payments for therapy sessions with clients who preferred to pay in cash, which Benji hadn’t had a chance to deposit in the bank due to how full and demanding this season has been. Gone.

Earnings from music gigs, teaching events, and workshops across the country (and in other countries), paid in cash, which hadn't yet been deposited. All gone.

The money that was taken was not extra or excess. It was a large part of Benji’s yearly parnassa — what he earns during the Omer period typically gives him the breathing room to devote time during the rest of the year to writing new books, developing new classes and courses, creating new programs, and supporting more people in need. That foundation and cushion has now been taken out from under him.

But this isn’t just a financial blow to Benji. It is also emotional and spiritual. It's a profound violation — of trust, of safety, of security. They searched and went through everything. Every drawer was rummaged through and emptied, things thrown across the room. They even went through the clothing closets, throwing all the clothes to the floor, searching, looking for, and finding every bit of change and money in the apartment. Even the small change bowl. All stolen.

Many of us know how much light Benji has brought into the world. We know firsthand the trust Benji has in people, believing that people are good, that they can grow and improve. We have seen how he pours his whole self into everything he offers— as a therapist, as a teacher, as a writer and musician, as a deeply giving soul; how he is there to support us when we need it.

The trauma of such a violation threatens to shatter all that.

Benji has never asked for help like this before. But today, during this week of Hod, Pesach Sheini, and second changes, he needs us.

So, we’ve launched this crowdfunding campaign to help Benji recover what was stolen — not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually— to restore a sense of stability, to renew a trust in humanity and community, and to help him return to the work that so many of us have benefited from. This is a chance for us to hold him the way he has held so many of us.

So, if Benji has touched your life in any way — through his teachings, his book, his music, his presence, or simply through being who he is — please consider giving.

If you have a bit of extra maaser to give, we ask from our hearts:

Please consider giving what you can. Every small donation matters and together, we can give Benji back what he deserves and worked so hard to create.

Please, share this effort with others who know the impact Benji has had on so many lives, and who might want and be able to help.

Your contribution is more than a donation. It is a statement: that even in the face of violation, community can hold, can mend, can help someone we care about rise again.

With deep gratitude and hope,

Friends and students of Benji