On a recent whirlwind tour to the United States, wrapping up the weeks of Shovavim, Rav Yitzchak Melber, founding director of Toras HaMishpacha, was fuelled by a holy mission. A marathon of ten independent conferences drew crowds of over four hundred Rabbonim and Poskim from the breadth of the United States. Five events were arranged in Lakewood alone, while others were held elsewhere.

Rav Peretz Steinberg, shlita, the Mara D’Asra of Queens orchestrated a seminar in his very own Beis Medrash, for the benefit of local Rabbonim, while Rav Eitan Feiner, Shlita, the Rav of the White Shul Beis Medrash ran a few consecutive events in the Five Towns.

One major Lakewood event took place in the Kol Aryeh hall, hosted by the Mara D’Asra, Rav Moshe Peretz Schwartz, Shlita, and under the auspices of Rav Avraham Schpitzer, Dayan of Skver. In another heartwarming meeting with Rav Malkiel Kotler, Shlita, the Rosh yeshiva thanked Rav Melber for bringing these lectures to the community.  Meanwhile, tens of dayanim dealing with hilchos Even HaEzer attended a shiur by Rav Melber at the behest of Rav David Grossman, Shlita, of the Beis Va’ad Beis Din and Rav Chanoch Zaltz, Shlita, head of the Beis Din.

Yet another conference was organized by Yad Rachel, a Lakewood association that provides support to women with perinatal mood disorders. Here, too, Rabbi Melber delivered a comprehensive talk on the ramifications of these particular issues pertaining to women’s emotional health and Halacha.

In BMG, Lakewood, two major chaburas on hilchos Tahara were each attended by close to one hundred avreichim. Questions were raised on the spot, and local residents approached Rav Melber following each lecture, relieved to know that here, finally, was someone who understood their difficulties — someone with answers at hand. Information is the name of the game. Lacking relevant knowledge in such a sensitive area can have far reaching – even devastating – effects. One yungerman approached the Rav as he left the hall. “If only we had known of you a year ago… my wife and I struggled with one seemingly small problem for an entire year. We suffered from it terribly until we found a solution. If we had spoken to you, you could have sorted us out with one brief piece of advice”.

Issues of women’s health that hinder taharas hamishpacha are frequently neglected by secular medical professionals. Not understanding their significance, they simply do not assign them much importance. Ever since establishing his pioneering organization together with his wife, Rav Melber (originally from Monsey, NY), has made it his business to liaise with medical experts diplomatically and assertively, seeking solutions to a wide spectrum of medical-halachic problems. He brings his knowledge, in the process, to the forefront of the frum community’s awareness throughout the world.

The importance of having someone who understands the medical jargon when discussing these issues with doctors is frequently underestimated. One community Rav with whom Rav Melber met in private, expressed concern about a method he had been recommending to his constituents. “I am confused” he said. “I was convinced by a prominent doctor that this is the best device out there — and now I read in your leaflet that you strongly discourage its use!” Rav Melber offered to call the doctor on the Rav’s behalf, and a brief conversation quickly clarified that a misunderstanding had occurred following the physician’s original explanation. The Rav had been dispensing this mistaken advice for quite some time.

Toras HaMishpacha provides Rabbis, doctors, Kallah teachers and other professionals with a surefire address for cutting edge information and advice. Since these service providers are well positioned to disseminate this knowledge where it is most needed, frequent conferences give them tools to prevent months, even years, of needless suffering from couples undergoing domestic distress

A woman prevented from achieving optimal health is frequently under unbearable strain, and may find it difficult to fulfill her pivotal role as mainstay of the Jewish home.  While the entire raison d’etre of Toras HaMishpacha is to find solutions to almost any such scenario, one project stands out in its groundbreaking provision of immediate relief in time of need.  The Tahareinu hotline operates trained personnel (men or women) who are used to fielding questions regarding Taharas Hamishpacha with both sensitivity and discretion. Endorsed by leading Rabbonim in every community, the hotline staff takes calls from around the world, twenty four hours a day, six days a week.

To contact the toll free Tahareinu confidential hotline, call:

Israel – 1-599-599-180

USA & Canada – 1-855-482-4272

UK – +44-203-150-1536

Or visit the website at:

www.torashamishpacha.com