An Open Letter
From Igud HaRabbanim

To the Members of the Emanuel AME Church and to the World,

As fellow Americans and as fellow citizens of the world, we share deeply in your grief and pain. We, Orthodox rabbis serving congregations and religious institutions, cry out in anguish at the murders in your church, including that of your beloved pastor, Rev. Clementa Pinckney.

We extend to you our intense, heartfelt expression of condolences and join with you, and with other people of faith, in striving to bring an end to violence and discrimination. We see before our eyes the recent outrage of Palestinian terrorists visiting murder upon rabbis and congregants in a synagogue in the holy city of Jerusalem. We will, and we must, work together to achieve peace throughout the world.

May remembering the innocent souls be a blessing.

Rabbinical Alliance of America

Brooklyn, NY

Running For Chai Lifeline

Dear Editor,

In November 2001, my wife Robin and I were told that our son Jonah, who was then eight years old, had cancer. Our son has since been cured, but Chai Lifeline stood by our side helping both Jonah and us tremendously.

This wonderful organization provided our children with “big brothers,” and a “big sister” for our daughter, brought us home-cooked meals in the hospital, and sent Jonah to Camp Simcha, in the mountains, where he always had a blast. Chai Lifeline has also provided important emotional support to the entire family, and continues to be a part of our lives. Every year the camp offers 450 kids a chance to forget about illness and just be kids again.

As the father of a child who had cancer, I can never do enough to help the organization that was by our side during the entire ordeal. Chai Lifeline addresses the full spectrum of needs, from logistical to social, recreational to psychological. Chai Lifeline reaches out not only to patients, but also to parents, siblings, classmates, school faculty, and the community as well.

Jonah is now a healthy 22-year-old, and as a means of showing my thankfulness and hakaras ha’tov, I am running the Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon on behalf of this organization and plan to raise more than $30,000 by race day. I am also running as a hakaras ha’tov for my complete recovery after being severely injured with a broken leg and needing two surgeries in 2013.

I hope you will help me reach this goal by making a generous tax-deductible donation. Your support is a critical part of this effort and I know that together we can make a difference to these children. All donations are 100% tax-deductible, and the Team Lifeline website (http://tinyurl.com/pyq2me4) makes donations quick, easy, and secure. Making a donation will only take a minute, so please donate today.

If you wish to mail your donation, please mail your checks payable to Chai Lifeline c/o Adelsberg, 309 Barr Avenue, Woodmere, NY 11598.

Thank you for supporting me, and in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment, and aftermath of serious pediatric illness.

Howard Adelsberg

 

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