It became clear that there was something bigger at play here

Living Higher

The Neshei of K’hal Lev Avos, a kehillah in North Woodmere, New York, has several committees — one arranges meals for new mothers, another is responsible for planning events, and yet another is charged with welcoming families who move into town, and so on.

But the shul’s “Special Circumstances Committee,” run by Mrs. Elky Rubin and Mrs. Leah Wielgus, was set up specifically to handle atypical situations that don’t fall within the purview of the other committees. As an example, someone recovering from surgery would be considered a “special circumstance” and would qualify for gracious assistance from Mrs. Rubin and Mrs. Wielgus.

Last week, Mrs. Wielgus undertook the extraordinary chesed of donating a kidney to a recipient she knew only as a Yid in need. Renewal, the organization dedicated to facilitating kidney donations in the frum community, informed her only that she was a match. In her typical refined manner, Mrs. Wielgus didn’t reveal her plans to anyone outside her immediate family.

A week before the scheduled surgery, Mrs. Wielgus decided to inform Mrs. Rubin, her co-chair on the Special Circumstances Committee, of her planned donation. She was unsure how she would feel post-surgery and thought it only appropriate to alert her partner that she might not feel well enough to attend to her chesed activities.

When Mrs. Wielgus quietly shared her plans at a shul event, Mrs. Rubin became emotional. Mrs. Wielgus expected this; her own family had a similar reaction. But then it became clear that there was something bigger at play here.

“Leah,” Mrs. Rubin confided to her friend, “the recipient is my brother!”

Happening in... Hulett, Wyoming

The Yeshiva of Minneapolis took a group of students on a three-week trip to the West Coast. One of the stops along the way was in Hulett, Wyoming (pop. 309), in the northeast corner of the state. The boys arrived at their hotel late at night, checked into their rooms, and went to sleep. They checked out the next morning when it was time to leave, thinking little of the experience.

But one maintenance supervisor won’t be forgetting that evening anytime soon. He was amazed by what he witnessed, to the point that he simply felt he couldn’t keep it to himself. He sat down and typed out the following email to the yeshivah hanhalah.

To Whom It May Concern,

I just wanted to drop a letter to commend your group of students that were traveling through Wyoming on the 3rd.

I am the maintenance supervisor at the Best Western in Hulett, WY. Late in the evening on the 3rd, your group of students arrived to check in. Even though it was late, and the fact that they had to unload and prepare their rooms, they were very polite, quiet, and considerate of the other guests.

It was very nice to have them overnight and to interact with them on a personal level. I just wanted to let someone know how they impacted us here in Hulett and we had nothing but positive feedback from other staff and guests as well.

They should be commended for their behavior, as it had a very infectious impact on all that I have talked to.

Have a blessed day,

Bryce

Generators of Light

The small hamlet of Ferndale in Sullivan County, New York, was plunged into darkness last week when a fierce storm cut off power for hundreds of families. And hundreds of campers as well.

The boys in Camp Machaneh Ephraim (a division of Camp Agudah) were in the middle of night seder when the lights went out. The kol Torah was momentarily drowned out by the hammering of torrential rains against the windows.

Head counselor Shlomo Churba headed over to the camp’s kitchen, which had its own generator, to hold an impromptu meeting on the course of action to be taken in the absence of electricity. Upon entering, he realized that the kol Torah had, in fact, not fallen silent; it had just changed location.

There sat two boys, bent over their Gemaras, exuding their own light as the storm outside continued to rage.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 974)