Tefillin Fundraiser
Donation protected
20 min between mincha and maariv right before the end of Shavuot I was inspired by a friend of mine named Daniel. Daniel is what you would call a tinok shenishbah and the one thing that he knows is that he is a jew. Daniel went through a very hard life, in and out of seemingly impossible situations. One day, as Daniel was walking by the train station a Lubavitcher guy called him over and asked him if he is Jewish. Daniel responded that he is a jew. The man asked him if he put on Tefillin today. Daniel said that he had not put on Tefillin, barely knowing what they are. The Lubavitcher man briefly explained the concept of Tefillin to him and wrapped his arm and head right there and then. Daniel explained to me that he felt an incredible feeling when he wore the Tefillin for the first time. He felt so attached that he kept coming back for more.
Daniel, similar to many other 13-year-old boys never had the opportunity to receive his own pair of Tefillin .
That Shavuot night between Mincha and Maariv something happened to one of our community members.
As I was standing outside the shul Daniel showed up and we began discussing what we can do to assist the situation. I brought up tehilim and he stared at me with a blank face and asked me what that is. I began explaining the concept of tehilim and who wrote it and where it comes from and the power behind every word. Daniel became more and more intrigued by what I was saying. I took a chance and asked him if he puts on tefillin. He told me that he never had his own pair. So I asked him if he would wear Tefillin if I were able to get him a pair. He stared at me in shock and disbelief. He said, "there is no way I can let you do that. They are very expensive." I reassured him that the price was taken care of by orgnaizations out there that can help pay for it. Just a few weeks earlier I ran into somebody that was shipping out a pair of Tefillin at Staples. He told me that they are doing it for the hatzlacha and refuah for a sick individual. He told me to take his number down if I ever needed to contact him. That was the first thing that I did Tuesday morning, the day after Shavuot. The phone call ended in bad news. The organization had run out of fundss and they MIGHT have something for me in a couple of weeks. I discuessed this with a frined, a landscpaer, and he told me, "Why dont you stand in a shul and raise the funds yourself. I am sure you can get the money within a day or two." He then pulled out money from his pocket and said here is the first donation. Within 2 short hours and a few generous individuals we got all the funds necessary for Daniel's firstTefillin. We had to ask some people if they can reduce some of their donation that they initially offered because other people begged to donate and be a part of such a huge mitzvah. To all of you that donated, you know who you are. I would like to say tizku l'mitzvot. I dont think its my place to name you all, but I wish I can put every one of you down and glorify your good will. You put such a smile on Daniel's face (as you can see in the picture) and I am sure Hashem is smiling too. As I mentioned before, daniel inspired me to open a new door in life. I would like to raise funds to be able to purchase tefillin for those who never received their own as their bar mitzvah present. I would love to give those men a chance to witness the real beuty of tefillin. The best part of this was that we all got together in unity in minutes to gather the money to give another jew the taste of tefillin . Now, I am asking you for your help and participation in this incredible mitvah. Our goal is to reach 18 irreligious jews who have no connection to yiddiskeit and give them the key to connect to Hashem, "Ukshartam leot al yadecha v'hayu letotafot ben einecha." Let us help them and them help us, by gathering oursleves together to raise money to get these men their very own pair of tefillin. Lets make a difference!!!
Daniel, similar to many other 13-year-old boys never had the opportunity to receive his own pair of Tefillin .
That Shavuot night between Mincha and Maariv something happened to one of our community members.
As I was standing outside the shul Daniel showed up and we began discussing what we can do to assist the situation. I brought up tehilim and he stared at me with a blank face and asked me what that is. I began explaining the concept of tehilim and who wrote it and where it comes from and the power behind every word. Daniel became more and more intrigued by what I was saying. I took a chance and asked him if he puts on tefillin. He told me that he never had his own pair. So I asked him if he would wear Tefillin if I were able to get him a pair. He stared at me in shock and disbelief. He said, "there is no way I can let you do that. They are very expensive." I reassured him that the price was taken care of by orgnaizations out there that can help pay for it. Just a few weeks earlier I ran into somebody that was shipping out a pair of Tefillin at Staples. He told me that they are doing it for the hatzlacha and refuah for a sick individual. He told me to take his number down if I ever needed to contact him. That was the first thing that I did Tuesday morning, the day after Shavuot. The phone call ended in bad news. The organization had run out of fundss and they MIGHT have something for me in a couple of weeks. I discuessed this with a frined, a landscpaer, and he told me, "Why dont you stand in a shul and raise the funds yourself. I am sure you can get the money within a day or two." He then pulled out money from his pocket and said here is the first donation. Within 2 short hours and a few generous individuals we got all the funds necessary for Daniel's firstTefillin. We had to ask some people if they can reduce some of their donation that they initially offered because other people begged to donate and be a part of such a huge mitzvah. To all of you that donated, you know who you are. I would like to say tizku l'mitzvot. I dont think its my place to name you all, but I wish I can put every one of you down and glorify your good will. You put such a smile on Daniel's face (as you can see in the picture) and I am sure Hashem is smiling too. As I mentioned before, daniel inspired me to open a new door in life. I would like to raise funds to be able to purchase tefillin for those who never received their own as their bar mitzvah present. I would love to give those men a chance to witness the real beuty of tefillin. The best part of this was that we all got together in unity in minutes to gather the money to give another jew the taste of tefillin . Now, I am asking you for your help and participation in this incredible mitvah. Our goal is to reach 18 irreligious jews who have no connection to yiddiskeit and give them the key to connect to Hashem, "Ukshartam leot al yadecha v'hayu letotafot ben einecha." Let us help them and them help us, by gathering oursleves together to raise money to get these men their very own pair of tefillin. Lets make a difference!!!
Organizer
נתי בן סימון
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
