(the email below has probably been seen by many of you already. it’s being pasted here for those who haven’t yet seen it and would like to know the baby’s condition, whether tehilim should be continued, and other ways to help. please continue davening for Refoel Yoel Ozer ben Chaya Malka for a refua shelaima)
10 days ago, I sent an email to family and friends of Partners in Torah about 2-year-old Yoel Feder. The response to that email – over 70 emails to date – was simply overwhelming. People from all walks of Jewish life committed not only to praying for Yoel but personally committed to a mitzvah in Yoel’s merit, as Yoel’s mom requested. Some spelled out the specific mitzvah they took on (to name a few… going to Western Wall to pray, not speaking lashon harah, giving tzedakah, studying more consistently with their Torah partner, praying on a regular basis, baking and separating). Others were less specific. One woman wrote “I did a mitzvah this evening that was very difficult for me as a merit for little Yoel”. Several people offered financial assistance, one person sponsored 10 pairs of Tefillin! Virtually everyone asked for an update on Yoel’s condition. My apologies for not responding to those requests until now. There simply wasn’t anything new, nor anything encouraging to report. Seeing him again in the hospital, hooked up to the most sophisticated life-sustaining equipment, was a painful sight, one which I was reluctant to detail.
As I was checking my emails after Shabbos this week, I noticed a message from Michelle Feder, Yoel’s mom. It was obviously the first message I opened. Attached was the most beautiful video clip I’ve ever seen in my life. It was of Yoel, partially emerging from his induced coma, trying to talk, squeezing his mother’s fingers, and wiggling his tiny little toes. Along with the video was this message from Michelle: Dr. knocked on my door in hospital and told me that Yo is saying daddy !!!!! He is moving his feet a little. This is the first day of progress we saw!!! This is all b/c of everyone’s tefillos (prayers) and tzedaka !!! Please keep davening for him. We have a long rd ahead but Avi and I are just holding his hand. He is squeezing my hand!!!
While Yoel has had ups and downs in the past couple of days, the doctors are hopeful but have stressed that he has a long road ahead of him. He has one eye open but cannot yet see. Please G-d, he will be seeing perfectly sometime soon. They took out the shunt in his brain, a truly encouraging sign, but he has multiple skull and facial fractures and will require several surgeries. The doctors are talking about 6-12 months in a special pediatric rehab hospital.
Yoel’s parents are extremely grateful to each and every one of you for your prayers, mitzvot, and good wishes. They have made two requests: that everyone keep praying and doing mitzvot, keeping in mind the name for Refoel Yoel Ozer ben Chaya Malka. They also wrote the following: “There is a tzedaka that is near and dear to our family. If anyone would like to give tzedaka for Refoel Yoel Ozer to have a full refuah (recovery), we would be soooo happy. The Special Children’s Center, 1400 Prospect St., Lakewood NJ 08701. This tzedaka helps thousands of Jewish children with severe disabilities: Please put on memo of check for refuah for Refoel Yoel Ozer. Thank you so much, everyone!!!!! We are taking it one hour at a time.” Donations can be made at http://www.thecenternj.org/donate
May I suggest that those of you studying through Partners in Torah mention Yoel’s full Hebrew name before commencing your study. May I also suggest that those who do not currently have a Torah Partner sign up today in Yoel’s merit.
All emails describing what people have done in Yoel’s merit have been forwarded, and will continue to be forwarded to his parents. They’ve expressed the following several times: “it’s keeping us going”. Please accept my apologies for being unable to respond to individual requests for updates. Rest assured that your prayers and mitzvot are still needed. As mentioned already, this is going to be a long haul. Please G-d, I’ll have extraordinary good news to share real soon.
With Purim, the holiday of hidden miracles, just around the corner, please join me in praying that the Feder family experience a complete transition from darkness to light, and from sadness to rejoicing.
Wishing you and your family a joyous Purim,
Eli Gewirtz
P.S. Many of you forwarded my original email to your own lists, generating a large number of additional requests for updates. Please be so kind as to pass this message along to your caring friends.