Famed mechanech and legendary Baal Chesed Rabbi Yaakov Bender Shlita has never shied away from doing something new or different – so long as it it’s the right thing to do, it’s fair game. Now, Rabbi Bender is doing something new again: urging Darchei Torah’s parent body to help the school’s security guard, a famed man in his own right.
Everett Fortune, Darchei’s chief of security, has safeguarded the yeshiva’s boys for more than three decades, and has won over the trust of the students, parents, and teachers alike. In 2020, Rabbi Bender surprised Mr. Fortune at the yeshiva’s annual dinner, giving him an award for his devotion to the yeshiva and its students.
Now, Rabbi Bender is imploring parents to assist Everett.
“Everett Fortune has been an integral fixture in our yeshiva for so many years. We all count on him and—with Siyata diShmaya—the security here, which is under his guidance. We are very grateful to him,” Rabbi Bender wrote in an email to Darchei’s parent body
“I am sure you are aware that Everett has been dealing with a serious illness for many years. He has been under the care of a great doctor, a former talmid of mine, for the past eight years. Although things are pretty stable, the doctor feels that he would like to try a new treatment. This would mean that Everett would have to be at the hospital for a number of days for many hours. It can be a debilitating treatment, and it will cause him to miss a few days, besides his weekly treatment.
“I am asking our parent body to volunteer to drive him to and from Manhattan on a weekly basis. The likely days will be Mondays and, occasionally, Tuesdays. It may mean spending quite a few hours in the hospital with him. We would appreciate it if those who can help would email me.
“Everett says he is still alive for one reason: because the boys have been davening for him. Let’s all keep on praying for him, so we have him around for many happy and healthy years to come.”
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7 Responses
Once again, R’ Bender shows us all what hakaras hatov is! It’s no surprise anymore when things like this occur.
Everett is a true mentsch. The love and dedication he has for all the boys of the yeshiva is incredible. Even now, years after I left Darchei, he recognizes me, remembers my name, and always wants to know how I’m doing, see pictures of my kids, etc.
I remember when I was in yeshiva, how Everett used to be involved in things other than just security. For a while he was the vekker in the dorm – he said it was a privilege to wake us up to daven, that now he had a share in it. Someone once told him that my birthday was the next day. The next morning, when he woke me up, it was with a cake, fresh from one of the local bakeries, with a birthday card!
You can see some of the videos that have been posted in the past. On Everett’s birthday, the hanhala made a small party for him. They asked him if he wanted to say a few words, and he started singing “Thank You Hashem!” He’s said many times that the only reason he’s still alive is because the bachurim daven for him.
Truly a special person! May he have a refuah sheleimah bekarov!
I remember how Everett would always have a positive word for any boy and give out Honey Buns. Everyone loved him and he really loved the students. He should have a Refush Shelaima bkarov!
I second DaMoshe’s comments and I got the email too and I wish I was able to help
Everett is a real mensch
He should have a refuah sheleimah bkarov
A קידוש השם is always beautiful to witness.
Me tzadikei umois haoilam
The Rambam says that חסודי אומות העולם יש להם חלק לעולם הבא
My kids were sitting there on Shabbos and both stayed the same line
“ Everett would take a bullet for anyone in yeshiva “. He deserves this recognition.