Dear Jerry,
So sorry to have not gotten back to you sooner. There aren't enough hours in any given day. Here is the latest on the shoe store account:
1. I sent a family named the Cs who have 4 children under the age of 8. N and AC are a 30 year old couple, parents of 4 children. They live in Jerusalem. N was injured in 1985 when he was 9 years old and stepped on a land mine. His leg was amputated and the other leg was left with some disability as well. (86% permanent disability). The govt of Israel considers him a terror victim. Their oldest child who is 8 suffers from severe progressive glaucoma. He has already had several operations on his eyes to improve his sight The son's most recent surgery was successful, but he has to constantly be on medication for his eye problems and is frequently taken for follow up medical evaluations. N, the father has been increasingly depressed over the years and his son's visual problems have added to his stress. He rarely goes out of his home. Both he and his wife don't work. He can't find the emotional or physical energy to get up in the morning and go to work on a regular basis and she takes care of their 4 small children and of her husband. They are very sweet, quiet, plain, simple unassuming people who usually don't ask for anything. They spent 700 NIS for shoes for the children and the wife and ordered a special shoe for the husband's disabled leg that will cost 200 NIS when it comes in. So we have to keep on hold 200 NIS for that order which should be arriving in the store shortly.
2. SG is a young woman in her late 20s who has 4 children under age 7. Her husband (soon to be ex-husband) was a a magavnik who very bravely jumped on a terrorist at a bombing in French Hill in Jerus in June, 2002 thereby saving many lives by bearing the impact of the bomb with his body. He was seriously injured primarily in his legs though miraculously was not killed although the terrorist and several other people standing right near by were killed. He was in the hospital for a long time and even when he was discharged, he was constantly going back to the hospital for ongoing treatments. He ultimately needed to have both legs amputated. While he was going through all of the above, their 10 month old daughter H came down with a mysterious virus and went into a coma. Thank God after a week or so she came out of it but the virus attacked her muscles and she needed one year of physiotherapy every day at Alyn thereafter. I visited this sweet baby and her parents in the ICU several times and will never forget how this beautiful tiny baby looked all hooked up to so many tubes and monitors and totally not responding to her parents' talking to her and telling her they love her. Thank God today at age 4 she is truly fine but she and her family went through major hell between the father being in bad shape and the baby as well. Not long thereafter they had a baby boy who is now two years old. Unfortunately, the tension of all of the above proved to be too much and SG and her husband are now getting divorced. The mother S is totally overwhelmed with life. She works full time to support her children and she is exhausted all the time from being a single parent to 4 young ones. R the husband is the terror victim and now that they are getting divorced she is no longer entitled to any benefits. He does not pay the court allotted child support payments and often doesn't show up at the allotted visitation times thus disappointing his children repeatedly. SG is a hero herself and appreciates whatever help we can give her. She bought shoes for her 4 children including sport shoes for the 3 older ones and sandals for the 2 younger ones. She spent 547 NIS and has 153 left that she would like to use for a pair of shoes for herself. When she went with the children it was too hectic and she was unable to pick for herself but hopes to go back herself and quietly choose something for herself with the remaining money.
3. MZ is a a single parent in her early 40s who has 3 children. The oldest, the 17 year old girl named L was injured in a bus attack in Feb 2004 on her way to high school. She was in 11th grade then and now just graduated from high school with highest honors. Despite her injuries and her extreme trauma, this incredibly determined young woman managed to get back to school and to get 100s on almost all of her tests. She had a school transport that took her to school every morning arranged for and paid for by the school but she finished school later in the day than most students as she was taking extra courses to complete materials she missed and to complete the highest level of matriculation tests as is possible (what's called 5 units of many subjects which is a major challenge) and so she had no way of getting home by transport. She refused to get on another bus and so she walked home from school for one hour every day from Rehavia to Talpiot because the family doesn't have a car and couldn't afford taxis. Her mother works as a caretaker of the elderly and also volunteers for A. several hours per week taking care of an elderly frail.Righteous Gentile. MZ bought shoes for her three children and for herself for 670 NIS.
4. The S family who is that bus driver who was spouting blood from his neck that you thought Rabbi Solomon may have saved, spent 1000 NIS for shoes for their 6 children and for the father for their son's bar mitzvah. We started this round off with 57 NIS. You added 3200 NIS. If we subtract the above amounts including the allotted but not yet spent money (200 NIS that the C family ordered special shoes with and the 153 NIS that SG would like to go back and buy shoes for herself) we are at -13 NIS.
You asked if we need more funding. The answer is yes if you are willing to continue this project. The people that you have helped are so very grateful to you and they are all very pleased with the kindness that the store's staff shows them and with the selection and prices in the store.
All have been told your stipulation about continuing the chain of chesed. If you are willing to send more money, the phone number at the Shoe Store again is ***-*****. To remind you the father is Shmuel and the son is Yossi.
Many, many thanks for facilitating this helpful project. You are great!!! All the best,
Dvorah