On August 12, 1964, a healthy baby boy was born, bringing joy to his parents. That joy was tempered some 3 months later when the baby fell from his carriage, down several steps. The baby, Mordechai Heifetz, was left permanently disabled. With continuing effort and perseverance, traits that marked his whole life, Mordechai grew to walk with an exaggerated limp; his right side remained withered and largely useless. He was crippled, learning disabled and suffered from epilepsy.

Yet, despite this extreme disability, Mordechai was never hampered. Mordechai always went to shul with his tefillin, went to shiurim, and learned with chavrusas – all done with a smile! For the last fifteen years, Mordechai lived in a group home in Brooklyn. No matter how cold or icy, windy or rainy, one could always see Mordechai in the early morning hours or late at night, going to shul. He held a cleaning job in a pizza store and spent his extra time learning Torah.

On Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Sh’lach, when walking down the stairs from Shul on Friday night, Mordechai fell head first down the last several steps. Hatzalah came immediately, and did all they could, as have the intrepid Doctors and professionals who kept him on life support. But the gezeira was sealed.

Mordechai loved Eretz Yisroel. He had said that the happiest time of his life was when he lived there with his parents. If Mordechai could verbalize his wishes, it is certain that he would say that he wanted to be buried there where his parents are buried. There was no kever available in the chelka in which they are buried – but the goal to was to get him to a kvuras Eretz Yisroel.

The story was posted on The Chesed Fund, in hopes that some money could be raised toward the cause. What happened next was beyond what anyone could have imagined.

The campaign reached and then exceeded its goal in only 6 hours. Thanks to the 273 people who took part in this mitzva of chesed shel emes, Mordechai will have the burial he deserves.

This is one of many success stories associated with The Chesed Fund, who has revolutionized the crowdfunding world by offering a completely free platform for those in need to raise money.