This is an annual event, but it is exciting, inspiring, and strengthening every year.
They took the stage one after the other, to receive a certificate of appreciation for their excellence in the last school year of 2013 - and were praised by the speakers. If this sounds to you like the beginning of another report about a graduation party somewhere in Israel, you were not wrong, except that this time it was an unusual occasion. A powerful and moving occasion in which every event was accompanied by great joy.
In Jerusalem, scholarships were awarded to over a hundred orphans, male and female students studying in educational institutions throughout the country, who excelled in the 2013 academic year, with the assistance of the Meromim Foundation and the 14th HaZaka Foundation in honor of Rabbi Yisrael Dov ben Rabbi Yehuda Zvi, z"l. The entire event was dedicated to the gynecologist Mrs. Hanna Leah Sarah bat Fisha Gitel Shtlita.
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The event was organized by the 'Chesed Menachem Mendel' Foundation, the educational division of 'Kollel Chabad'. This event is part of an in-depth activity that is conducted throughout the year with orphans, as well as widows and widowers. The activity includes investing huge sums in educational activities, scholarships and individual assistance for orphaned students throughout the year.
The festive occasion capped a fruitful and successful school year, with the top students reaching the finish line with particularly high grades in the various subjects they studied at their educational institutions.
Among the outstanding students are orphans from all ethnicities and backgrounds, including victims of terrorism - high school students who excelled during the past school year, accumulating points and achieving noteworthy achievements, overcoming difficult challenges.
The exciting stories
Behind each and every one of the standouts is a moving human story.
This is the story of Y., who experienced the loss of his father as a child, who died of a serious illness. After his brother married, Y. was left alone and coping became much more difficult. With the help of the Kollel Foundation, Y. flourished and became one of the most outstanding students at his school. It was a long, arduous journey that ended with Y.'s tremendous achievement.
Another story is that of M., who witnessed the tragic death of his father up close. The huge emotional wound in his heart bled for years and had difficulty healing. This was reflected in repeated difficulties in his studies, until the Kollel Foundation came into the picture and since then everything has changed. M. became an outstanding student and became a symbol of effort and diligence that yields fruit and fruit.
The person who continued to manage the scholarship project and hosted the event was Rachel Merton, the wife of the unforgettable man of kindness, one of the pillars of the great activity with the orphans, Rabbi Yitzhak Merton, z"l.
""Two years ago we lost Rabbi Amram Blau - he was the most precious person to me and my brother," said one of the boys. "We knew that no one could truly take his place. He simply came and put me in a place where I could smile at others.".
""Rabbi Amram Blau gave every child a warm hug. Everyone who was at the Hanukkah holiday in general knows this. I feel his presence in my circle of life. He would strengthen me and my brother, and his absence is the most painful thing in the world. On the other hand, I am very happy that all his activities continue, his spirit flourishes and everything he established. I want to thank everyone.".
The boy said with great emotion that "Rabbi Itzik Marton filled the void to the best of his ability" - and spoke about the double loss with great emotion.
Rabbi of Jerusalem and Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Amar, honored the occasion with his participation and delivered a strengthening and uplifting speech. Rabbi Amar regularly accompanies events for orphans and widows and each time moves and strengthens the participants with his flame-striking words.
In his fascinating speech, Rabbi Amar spoke about the uniqueness of the holiday of Sukkot. "There are three stages in the Jewish holidays - Pesach, which is our time of freedom, Shavuot, which is our time of Torah, and Sukkot, which is our time of joy. Why is Sukkot called our time of joy? Isn't it on this holiday that we all leave the house, from our permanent home, to a temporary home, from the ordinary - to something temporary. Why is this stage called our time of joy?
""But the whole idea of Sukkot comes to teach us that this world is a corridor to the living room, to the world to come," the Chief Justice replied.
The rabbi spiced up his words with a special story about the Chofetz Chaim, who was a wealthy Jew who came to him from abroad and was surprised to see his host's apartment so shabby. The Chofetz Chaim asked him: Where is all your furniture, and he replied that he only came with a suitcase and everything is in his house abroad. 'So we too are here, in this world, in transitory times,' the Chofetz Chaim replied.
And with these words, Rabbi Amar composed the message to the orphans, telling them that the more they understand that our entire existence here in this world is toward the real thing, the world to come, the less their pain over loss will be.
The orphans, who came with their parents and other family members, received a certificate of appreciation and a prestigious scholarship reflecting the points they had accumulated throughout the year. After the scholarships were distributed, everyone gathered around tables set for a sumptuous festive meal.
The Menachem Mendel Foundation notes with satisfaction the activities of the volunteers behind the scenes. "To see students who have gone through a difficult journey, achieve such achievements, it is indescribable," says Rabbi Shalom Duchman, director of the Chabad Kolel, whose two sons came especially from the US to participate in the event.
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