Fran PictureBy Fran Laufer, founding president

For over 49 years, the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim has successfully fulfilled the mitzvah of bikur cholim and giving support to the less fortunate.

This year, because of the war and the somber mood that is enveloping our people in America and in Israel, it was decided once again to cut expenses by not having a formal luncheon. We are, therefore, appealing to our supporters directly. It is only through the concern and generosity of our good friends that our organization can maintain the important work that reaches so many. The sick and needy from near and far are depending upon us for help in their time of need. This year is especially critical due to the emergency situation in Israel. We made an executive decision to donate a large portion of our funds to help our brothers in Israel who were directly impacted by the difficult situation in Israel this summer. Therefore, we are asking you, our dear friends and fellow Jews, to respond with an open hand and full heart. I hope that you will respond generously to our annual campaign and become part of our worldwide network of benefactors and show compassion to those who seek our help.

Please allow me to share a heartwarming story with you. It is inspirational and true!

One of the great benefits of volunteering with Bikur Cholim is the amazing people that you meet. While you might think that it is the volunteer who provides chizuk and support to the patients, more often it is the patient who inspires the volunteer.

Twenty years ago, during my bikurcholim visits at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital, I walked into the room of a beautiful young lady. It is even more heartbreaking when you enter the room of a young girl who is challenged by a life-threatening illness. I immediately related to this girl and my heart reached out to her. In the ensuing months, I often found myself at her bedside schmoozing with her, trying to lighten her mood. One day I came into her room and found her very sad and despondent. I wanted to distract her from her sadness and said “Faigie, you must get better because you will be our next honoree at our Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim luncheon!” And she was!

You might think the story ends there, but it doesn’t!

Baruch Hashem, Faigie recovered and married a wonderful man, Mendel, also a cancer survivor, and Hashem blessed them with three beautiful children. We stayed in close touch and I shared in the nachas of the milestones of their life together.

Recently, I reached out to Faigie and she would like to co-author this article with me:

This story began two decades ago. But it goes on. Three months ago, my husband Mendel received a double lung transplant. Once again, our lives were turned upside down. Many people offered many things, however it was Lauren Zuckerman, co-founder of The Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim-The Next Generation, who stepped up to assist continuously. From hospital drives, Tehillim groups, organizing meals, and simply a shoulder to cry on, Lauren, together with the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim has once again helped us get to through such a difficult time. We are forever grateful for their endless chesed.

Faigie Warshawsky

All of us at The Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim pray for refuahsheleimah, refuashanefesh, and refuashaguf for Chaim Mendel Meir Sasson ben Sara and all of the cholim in KlalYisrael.

Please join me in acknowledging our organization and in particular the achievements of two very committed women, Beverly Flaum and Lorraine Newman. In addition, we take this opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of our National President Miriam Lubling, a’h, an outstanding and world-renowned woman who gave so much of herself to help those in need.

We continue to pray to Hashem to hear our prayers for peace and prosperity throughout the world. May special blessings come your way and bring you and your family good health, nachas, and happiness. I look forward to sharing the mitzvah of bikurcholim with you for many more years to come.

Please participate in this most important mitzvah.

Checks are payable to the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim, Mrs. Pearl Pinter, 1406 57th Street Brooklyn, New York 11219. Your generous donation is 100% tax-deductible, no goods or services were rendered.

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