Update on Hymie, Itzi and Jolene

As most of you know, we’ve now raised over 30,000 Rand — around $3,000–$3,100 Australian Dollars — to help this homeless family.

I can honestly say I’m incredibly proud of the people who have reached out and contributed. Glenn, Tracy Trudeau, Gar Miller, Martin Simon, Glenn Haifer, David Becker, Suzanne Hay from Canada, Eric Meyers, Gary Meyers (yes, that’s me!), Jonathan Richmond from the US — and so many others.

You guys absolutely rock.

What this shows me is empathy. It shows humanity. It shows that there are still people who see someone struggling and say, “What can I do to help?”

And here’s some really good news: Hymie is doing extremely well.

The family now has short-term accommodation until the middle of December, which means they are finally out of the car for the first time in a long time.

And Hymie, who is 11 years old, is now actively pursuing his Bar Mitzvah.

For those who said, “Oh, he hasn’t had a Bar Mitzvah…” — well, he’s going to have one!

We’re going to try to help make it happen and help fund his Bar Mitzvah as well.

I know this page is becoming a bit of everything — helping Hymie, helping the homeless, raising money, telling their story — and yes, it’s probably all over the place.

But I’m getting there. I’m focusing.

One word that really resonated with me through all of this is Chabad.

I’m not a religious Jew, but I’m an Orthodox Jew, and I’m certainly not a self-hating Jew. I simply don’t like people who abuse or mistreat other people.

Full stop.

So thank you to everyone who has helped, donated, shared, encouraged or simply cared.

Lots of love,

Gary Meyers

Walk the talk with me.

I leave no one behind.

Cheers,

Gary