"We Direct Anyone Who Asks to Give Money Earmarked for Tzedakah to Kupat Ha'ir"
"
Contributors to Kupat Ha'ir
"Will Merit A Good
and Sweet Year (from the letter penned by the Gedolei Hador)
"
כצדקה הזו
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The Beginning "We have had the merit of establishing the Kupat Ha'ir tzedakah fund to rescue thousands of suffering families in Eretz Hakodesh."
The Let As Kupat Ha'ir's tenth anniversary comes to a close, we will take a glimpse at the letter that its founders and leaders - the Gedolei Yisroel - wrote in honor of the anniversary.
The Establishment of Kupat Ha'ir "… we have had the merit of establishing the Kupat Ha'ir tzedakah fund to rescue thousands of suffering families in Eretz Hakodesh." At Kupat Ha'ir, letters from the Gedolei Hador are always received with great excitement. The actual content of the letters aside, their very existence serves as a reminder of the fact that the Gedolei Hador are in partnership with us, that they are deeply involved on a personal basis and that they want to maintain steady, regular contact. But when this letter arrived, written in honor of Kupat Ha'ir's tenth anniversary and encapsulating in a few brief sentences the Gedolei Hador's extreme fondness for Kupat Ha'ir and their utmost approval of the way it is run, excitement reached a fever pitch. There was, quite literally, not a dry eye in the office. When the Gedolei Hador express their support and trust in such unequivocal terms, every trace of tension eases up and is replaced by an incomparable sense of relief. The addition of personal notes of appreciation and fondness brings tears to the
מ י מ ו ת מ ש ה ר ב י נ ו ל א קם כצד
etter of the Decade eyes of everyone involved. Only those who invest exhaustive efforts to run the show can truly appreciate the figurative strong handshake from the Gedolei Hador as expressed in a letter.
A. The Beginning
"It is now ten years since we have had the merit of establishing the Kupat Ha'ir tzedakah fund to rescue thousands of suffering families in Eretz Hakodesh." This is the secret of Kupat Ha'ir's success: the fact that it was established by the Gedolei Hador, shlit"a. The founding of Kupat Ha'ir was not a personal or local initiative that received the endorsement of the Gedolei Hador. The Gedolei Hador themselves were the initiators. It was they who decided something had to be done to alleviate the situation and it was they who established Kupat Ha'ir to that end. And that is the power that has driven Kupat Ha'ir since its inception to this very day. A few years after Kupat Ha'ir's establishment, the Gedolei Hador officially joined as board members of Kupat Ha'ir, making Kupat Ha'ir the only tzedakah fund in the world in which the Gedolei Hador, shlit"a, are active members of the management who are legally responsible for the appropriation of funds. Kupat Ha'ir is not merely "under their leadership". It truly belongs
רבינו לא קם כצדקה הזו Th
th Anniversary 0 1 s ' 'ir a H t Kupa f the Gedolei Hado h Fund o r e
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The Figure "Having distributed more than five hundred million shekels to thousands upon thousands of families"
to them. Throughout the entire ten-year period of Kupat Ha'ir's existence, the Gedolei Hador, shlit"a, have been involved in thousands of decisions large and small. Nothing – nothing whatsoever - is done without their approval. They pray for Kupat Ha'ir's success and rejoice in its expansion and development. They are grateful for its ability to rescue thousands of suffering families in Eretz Hakodesh. That is what stands behind the words "we have had the merit of establishing the Kupat Ha'ir tzedakah fund."
B. The Figure
"Baruch Hashem, the tzedakah fund has grown over the years and become the tzedakah center of Eretz Hakodesh, having distributed more than five hundred million shekels to thousands upon thousands of families in order to help them in their distress." The Gedolei Hador did not sign their names to this figure without first carefully checking its veracity. Maran Hagaon Harav Aharon Leib Steinman, shlit"a, sat with Rav Yaakov Wirzhivinski, shlit"a, Kupat Ha'ir's chief bookkeeper, reviewing each line of Kupat Ha'ir's annual balance sheets. He checked and double-checked, compared figures, tracked the way the money was distributed - and only then signed his name. Maran Hagaon Harav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, shlit"a, personally reviewed all Kupat Ha'ir's annual balance sheets, did the math and expressed his amazement at both the large figure and the marvelous organization and meticulous documentation of every single cent. Kupat Ha'ir has distributed more than half a billion shekels. The figure boggles the mind. The Gedolei Hador are aware of how difficult it is to raise money nowadays and they appreciate this figure tremendously. How many families this money spared from the degradation of abject poverty! Half a billion shekels! And that huge sum was handled at all times with absolute integrity and in strict accordance with da'as
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Torah by people who worked hard, in holiness and purity, on a strictly volunteer basis. Not a hint of gezel touched this half a billion. And that is why the Gedolei Hador are so proud of this astronomical sum.
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C. Testimony
"And everything is run in accordance with da'as Torah and marvelous integrity, and everyone involved is trustworthy and works on a volunteer basis, to the point where [it can be said that] not since the times of Moshe Rabbeinu has there been a tzedakah fund similar to this one in scope, in integrity and in loyalty." At Kupat Ha'ir, everyone knows-the Gedolei Hador included - everything is run with incredible integrity. "Every organization," Hagaon Harav Menachem Mendel Shafran, shlit"a, once said, "starts off with good intentions. You want only to help and you want everything to be aboveboard. The problem is that after two or three years, something goes awry. It isn't always possible to run matters exactly as you would like. Kupat Ha'ir is the only place I know of that has retained the idealism and purity of its first month throughout the ten years of its existence." Maran Hagaon Harav Wosner, shlit"a, put it this way, "Here at Kupat Ha'ir, I can say in good faith that even after the passage of years, everything is carried out with utmost integrity." And the reason for this, the Gedolei Hador go on to say, is that at Kupat Ha'ir everyone works on a volunteer basis. All the gabba'im and managers work leshem Shamayim. There is no personal gain for anyone. That is the explanation behind Kupat Ha'ir's ability to remain pure and unblemished even after ten years.
D. The Ruling
"And therefore we direct all those who ask us to give money earmarked for tzedakah and ma'aser to Kupat Ha'ir, and to sign a standing order to serve as a reliable base from which to support the families, because there we know for certain that
Testimony "And everything is run in accordance with da'as Torah and marvelous integrity, and everyone involved is trustworthy and works on a volunteer basis"
רבינו לא קם כצדקה הזו Th
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The Ruling "And therefore we direct all those who ask us to give money earmarked for tzedakah and ma'aser to Kupat Ha'ir"
everything will be distributed to the poor in the most upright manner." It doesn't matter where you live. It makes no difference who your relatives are or what you do for a living. If you ask the Gedolei Hador, they will tell you to give money earmarked for tzedakah and ma'aser to Kupat Ha'ir, because they can be sure that everything there is run with integrity. And that, after all, is the single most important criterion in hilchos tzedakah. A number of years ago, when a prominent Jew from abroad sent a question to a number of Gedolei Hador, shlit"a, they all gave him the same answer: The tzedakah organization that we trust and recommend is Kupat Ha'ir, and that is where you should give your tzedakah money." Those instructions were to a single individual; now the Gedolim have issued that same advice to the public. If you have a tzarah; if something is causing you distress; if you would like a yeshuah and you ask the Gedolei Hador for advice, they will tell you very clearly what to do: give your ma'aser and tzedakah money to Kupat Ha'ir. Consider the tremendous import of these instructions. Can there be any greater expression of trust than to announce to the public that everything, everything, at Kupat Ha'ir is run according to da'as Torah? These instructions were not flippantly issued. The Gedolei Hador are renowned for their far-reaching gaze; they don't make a pronouncement like this just like that.
"And all who cont Ha'ir will merit a g year without
מ י מ ו ת מ ש ה רבי E. The Blessing "And all who contribute to Kupat Ha'ir will merit a
good and sweet year without ailments, and in the merit of this tzedakah may they be inscribed and stamped for a good life and peace in the Book of Tzaddikim Gemurim during the upcoming Days of Judgment." And from there, the letter moves on to its fifth and most moving section: the blessing of the Gedolei Hador. The Gedolei Hador, shlit"a, wielding their inconceivably great power as the leaders of Torah Jewry in Eretz Yisroel and worldwide, declare that contributors to Kupat Ha'ir will merit a good year without any ailments. Who can remain unfazed in the face of such a blessing? A good year without any ailments. How many serious problems have we struggled with this past year? A good year without pain, tragedy, aggravation… who can forgo a blessing like that? Hashem loves us dearly. He's providing us with an escape hatch from din. He's giving us the means to rescue ourselves and our loved ones from midas hadin. It's up to us to grab the opportunity.
ontribute to Kupat a good and sweet out ailments"
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This is a call to each and every Jewish household. It's a piece of advice for anyone who truly strives to fulfill pure da'as Torah.
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The Blessing "And all who contribute to Kupat Ha'ir will merit a good and sweet year without ailments"
av r a H n o a g a H n Mara y, k s v e i n a K m i a Ch Shlit״a Will daven for Kupat o t s r o t u b i r t n co tzon a R i h e Y e h t n i Ha׳ir es upon t i c e r e h r e y a r p fer e s e h t g n i t e l p com single y r e v e m i l l i h e T es day of the aser , yemei teshuvah including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,
y e h t t a h T merit a good and sweet year
I spoke with my father and teacher, Hag aon Maran Harav Chaim, shlit"a, and he said the followin g: I can't promise, but bli neder, on ever y day of the upc oming aseres yemei teshuvah, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when I complete Tehillim as is my custom, (bli neder) I will daven for the names of contributors submitted to me by Kupat Ha'ir in the Yehi Ratzon recited upon completion of sefer Tehillim that they merit a good and swe et year!
A letter from Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Shaul Kanievsky, son of Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit״a
s r o t u b i r t n o C r o f y l e v i s u l c Ex r 'i a H t a p u K to
e h t n i d e d u l c n I e B
n o z t a R i h Ye ‌ a " t i l h S , of Maran
Leil Rosh Hashanah One of the most uplifting scenes in the world takes place at 23 Rashbam Street in Bnei Brak on leil Rosh Hashanah. The street teems with tens of thousands of people dressed in their holiday finery, all eager to make their way into the old, nondescript building. There's no room to move. It's unbearably hot. Still, no one dreams of going home to begin the yomtov seudah yet. People stand there for hours on end, trying in vain to protect their hat or shtreimel as the crowd surges forward. What is it that tens of thousands of people are willing to spend hours under such uncomfortable conditions to get? It's very simple. What these people want is the briefest-of-brief audience with the Gadol Hador,
Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit"a. They want to receive his personal blessing for a good, blessed year. It's leil Rosh Hashanah, after all, and their lives are on the line. "Tzaddik gozer v'Hakadosh Baruch Hu mekayem" (Hashem fulfills the decree of a righteous person); when a tzaddik blesses a person with a good year, the Heavenly Court listens. If a tzaddik of the stature of Rav Chaim, shlit"a, who devotes his entire life to Hashem Yisbarach, makes a request, Hashem agrees to do his will. Rav Chaim, for his part, is eager to help as many Yidden as possible. For hours on end, he receives an endless stream of people, nodding and wishing each and every one of them a good, blessed year, delaying his own seudah until very late at night..
Go to the Front of the Line Imagine you are there, amidst the crowd, when suddenly we call you aside and whisper, "Come quickly! There's a side entrance to Rav Chaim's house where you can get in without waiting in line! And whoever gets inside through that door receives a lot more than just a two-word blessing for a good year… a lot more." You follow in disbelief as we lead you to the side door, where you see the following sign: I spoke with my father and teacher, Hagaon Maran Harav Chaim, shlit"a, and he said the following: I can't promise, but bli neder, on every day of the upcoming aseres yemei teshuvah, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when I complete Tehillim as is my custom, (bli neder) I will daven for the names of contributors submitted to me by Kupat Ha'ir in the Yehi Ratzon recited upon completion of sefer Tehillim that they merit a good and sweet year! You blink hard and read the note again. Is it really possible? You were willing to spend hours on end in the most uncomfortable conditions in order to merit a two-second blessing, while here you have the opportunity to have Rav Chaim recite the entire Tehillim on your behalf – not just once but ten times during the Yemei Hadin!
Look Before You Leap An ingrained sense of caution warns you to look before you leap. More often than not, something that sounds too good to be true is just that… not one hundred percent
true. This is your life at stake here; you can't take any chances. Maybe this is just a promotional gimmick dreamed up by Kupat Ha'ir. Maybe there's just a germ of truth here and Kupat Ha'ir is blowing the whole thing out of proportion in order to get people to contribute and sign up. But the note is there, black on white, and it's signed not by a gabbai or an attendant but by Rav Chaim's son, Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Shaul, shlit"a, who quotes his father's exact words as heard by him firsthand. There can be no doubt about it: this is the genuine article.
The Gadol Hador's Only Child Well, if Rav Chaim's two-word blessing is worth so much, his recitation of the entire Tehillim on your behalf is absolutely priceless. Instead of a twosecond blessing, you can have the Gadol Hador pray and plead upon your behalf – not just once but ten times throughout the Yemei Hadin, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur! It's utterly astounding. It's like being the Gadol Hador's only child! Which ordinary Jew ever dreamed of having a Gadol Hador revered by Yidden the world over pray on his behalf for the success of the chinuch of his children, for an abundant livelihood, for family harmony, for health and nachas, for peace and serenity, for everything a Yid needs in life? Your entire future hangs in the balance. Your fate for the coming year is about to be sealed. You have the opportunity to have Rav Chaim recite Tehillim on your behalf every day until that fateful day. Can you afford to turn down such an opportunity?
The Power of a Tzaddik's Prayer If Maran, shlit"a, promised to pray that contributors to Kupat Ha'ir merit a good year, rest assured that he won't "make do" with a briefly murmured, half-baked tefillah. On the contrary, it will be a prayer uttered with a pure and saintly heart by a tzaddik who dedicates his entire life to the service of Hashem. After all, Rav Chaim gives hours of his time for Hashem's precious children every single day! Am Yisrael's pain is his own; he takes tremendous responsibility on his shoulders by issuing rulings on matters that affect generations to come. And when a person like him, so beloved in Shamayim, pleads with his Father in Heaven: Teiere Tatte, please, have mercy and grant them a good year," Hashem listens and agrees and changes verdicts because retzon yerayav ya'aseh, Hashem does the will of those who truly fear Him. When you stand in shul on Yom Kippur, shouting "Vachasom lechaim tovim‌" you'll fairly quiver with emotion. You'll beg and plead; there's nothing you want more. Having Rav Chaim's tefillah complement your own is the smartest thing you can do. There can be no comparison between one who pleads for his own welfare during the aseres yemei teshuvah and one who has the Gadol Hador complete Tehillim on his behalf ten times. Your verdict is ready to be signed. Suddenly, psalms of Tehillim slice through the heavens and soar directly to the Kisei Hakavod. Tehillim recited by the Gadol Hador! Can there be any doubt that Tehillim recited by Rav Chaim Kanievsly, shlit"a, makes a tremendous impression in Shamayim? Everyone falls silent to hear what it is the Gadol Hador is requesting of the Ribono shel Olam. And then – he prays for you. In the merit of this very unique prayer, a number of tzaros and aggravations are erased from your verdict for the coming year. Tears, fears and worries are replaced by joy, nachas and all manners of good things.
The Yehi Ratzon This is a lot more than a general blessing for a good year. Maran, shlit"a, will recite the Yehi Ratzon customarily recited upon the completion of sefer Tehillim. Let's take a look at the treasure house of bakashos included in this prayer. Shetechaper lanu al kol chatoseinu: Maran, shlit"a, will pray that Hashem forgive your sins. He'll help you plead with Hashem for that. Are you sure you can do without his help? Vesadricheinu la'avodasecha, vesiftach libeinu betalmud Torasecha: Who among us doesn't want to serve Hashem with sincerity? We all want our children's hearts to be open and receptive to Torah study and avodas Hashem. When Maran, shlit"a, makes this request of Hashem during the aseres yemei teshuvah, you will see the results of his prayer in your children during the course of the following year. Vesishlach refuah l'chloei amecha: How much pain is contained in these words! We all know young, fit, perfectly healthy people who suddenly discovered they were harboring a dreaded disease. We need Rav Chaim to pray for our health. Ulekol holchei drachim, tatzilem mikol nezek: We are all "wayfarers." Tragically, we all know stories of people who set out on rides and never reached their destination. We travel to work, to kollel, to weddings. We go on vacations or visit our children. Our children ride busses and cross roads. Maran will daven that Hashem protect us from all harm during 5772. Vesifkod lechol chasuchei habanim vehame'ubaros: How much heavenly mercy one needs
to merit the gift of cradling a healthy newborn baby! How much tension and heart palpitations one endures until that stage is reached! We know nothing is self-understood; nothing can be taken for granted. Maran, shlit"a, will be praying for us. Ve'al yimshol‌ pega'im ra'im bechol yaldei amcha Yisrael: We send our children down the block to cheder, or to the grocery. Do we know what might happen along the way? What if they dart into the road to avoid a dog? What if they meet an unsavory character? What if they pick up a deadly germ? We can't keep our children in a bubble, but we do want them to remain safe and happy and G-d fearing. Maran's tefillah can help us with that. Usegadlem leTorasecha: We want our children to wake up on time in the morning and learn with enthusiasm and energy. We want them to love learning, to feel it infuses them with life. The world is such a dangerous, tempting place. How can we prevent them from checking what else is out there; how can we ensure that they find Torah sweeter than anything else? Throughout the critical aseres yemei teshuvah period, Maran will plead with Hashem to protect us from ayin hara and nullify difficult decrees. No funerals, no tragedies, no tumors, no accidents, no missiles, no breakdowns‌usevatel me'aleinu gezeiros kashos. Vehachen parnassaseinu miyadcha harechavah: No taking out loans during 5772. No thinking twice before buying something in the grocery. No more feeling choked. And the list goes on.
Act Now! In another month, your verdict will be stamped and the heavenly angels will rush to fulfill whatever has
been decreed for you. In another month, your fate will be in the hands of the malachim. Right now, your fate is still in your own hands! You have one month's time to do something about it. Don't hesitate; act now so that you won't end up crying later. You don't want to find yourself in shul, fervently reciting the words "‌utzedakah ma'avirin es roa hagezeirah" and suddenly recalling this brochure, which you decided to ignore. You don't want to suddenly recall the ten sifrei Tehillim that Maran was prepared to recite on your behalf – and your decision to forgo the favor. If you love your children, if you care about your family's welfare - give them Rav Chaim's tefillah. True, you're not wealthy. True, you've already given lots of tzedakah and you can't be expected to give to every single fundraiser. True, you've contributed to Kupat Ha'ir in the past. But the bottom line is that we are coming close to the most critical ten-day period of the year, and a contribution now can change pain into joy, aggravation into delight, sickness into health, despair into relief. Even a happy year can always be happier. Nachas from your children, success at work, family harmony, good health‌ there's always room for improvement. There are no limitations on what I spoke with my father and teacher, Ha gaon Maran Harav the Ribono shel Olam can do; He Chaim, shlit"a, and he said the follow ing : I can't promise, can always shower you with more bu t bli ne de r, on every day of the upcoming aseres yem and more blessing. Just allow Rav ei tes hu vah, including Rosh Hashana Chaim to daven for you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by contributing to this fundraiser. Grant yourself this gift in honor of the new year.
h and Yom Kippur, when I complete Tehillim as is my custom, (b li neder) I will daven for the names of contributors submitted to me by Kupat Ha'ir in the Yehi Ratzon recited upon complet ion of sefer Tehillim that they merit a good and sweet year!
e h t n i d e d u l Be Inc
n o z t a Yehi R ‌ a " t i l h S , n a r of Ma
Dear Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit"a I hereby submit my contribution to Kupat Ha'ir As pidyon nefesh for me and all those listed below. I request that Maran, shlit"a, daven for me among the contributors to Kupat Ha'ir in the Yehi Ratzon that Maran recites every day of the aseres yemei teshuvah upon completing sefer Tehillim: Name:_____________________________ Request: __________________________ Name:_____________________________ Request: __________________________ With a contribution of $120 per family
To the Gedolei and Tzaddikei Hador Shlit"a Please pray on my behalf that I be inscribed and signed for a good and sweet year Name: ______________________________ Request:_____________________________
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Days of Prayer p u t e L s ’ t n e m o Without A M rs at behalf of contributo on ay pr l il w ir a' H at Rosh Messengers of Kup lelighting time on nd ca om fr ng ti ar st i ayer the Kosel Hama'arav me of the Ne'ilah pr ti e th h ug ro th ay ew Hashanah eve all th tup. hout a moment's le it w r, pu ip K m Yo on the Ten Days of of t en om m le Every sing ed for at the Kosel ay pr be l il w u yo e, Repentanc Hama'aravi.
Names may be submitted until midnight on Tuesday, 28 Elul-September 7. Minimum contribution of $150
להכתב לחיים טובים
Be included in the Yehi Ratzon of Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, Shlit״a upon completing the sefer Tehillim
every day of the aseres yemei teshuvah, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,
How do I donate to Kupat Hair? 1
By contributing to rabbanim accepting contributions on our behalf: Rabbi Malkiel Kotler Shlit״a
Rabbi Aron Schechter Shlit״a
Rabbi Moshe Wolfson Shlit״a
Rabbi Chaim Leib Epstein Shlit״a
521 5th Street Lakewood, New Jersey 08701
1248 East 12th Street Brooklyn, New York 11230
1574 43rd Street Brooklyn, New York 11219
1608 46th Street Brooklyn, New York 11204
Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser Shlit״a
Rabbi Don Blumberg Shlit״a
Rabbi Chaim Schabes Shlit״a
Rabbi Ephraim E. Shapiro Shlit״a
Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Shlit״a
1336 East 21st Street Brooklyn, New York York 11210
4 Yale Drive Monsey, NewYork 10952
7 Barrie Drive Spring Valley NY 10977
971 NE 172nd Street North Miami Beach FL. 33162
568 Kensington Place Cedarhurst, N.Y. 11516
Shmuel Berenbaum Ztl 1795 East 7th Street Brooklyn, New York 11223
Home of Rabbi
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By mail: Kupat Hair 4415 14th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219 Via Email: Send your credit card or bank info to: info@kupat.org Online at: www.kupat.org
New! Donate and submit names at our Donation Center 4714 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Via credit card or check by phone 24 hours a day at:
1-888-KUPATHAIR 5
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For all information or to receive a pushka call 1-800-233-2188 Our office number in Israel: 3-671-6994 Please make checks payable to: American Friends of Kupat Ha׳ir
In Canada: Send your donation to:
Montreal: Rabbi Y. C. Wenger Shlita, 2227 Goyer Avenue, Montreal Quebec H3S 1H1 Toronto: Rabbi M. M. Lowy Shlita, 240 Carmichael, Toronto Ontario M5M 2x4 Please make checks payable to: Canadian Friends of Kupat Ha׳ir