The Rachmastrivka Rebbe is the latest of the gedolim to add his name to the monthly Kupat Ha’Ir orphan campaigns. This month’s campaign page includes a stirring letter which, while brief, speaks volumes:

“Hi, I’m Tehila.* This time last year, it seemed like everything was going right. I was engaged to be married, and I was so excited to be a kallah and to start a home & family. However everything changed when my parents both tragically passed away not long after my engagement. I got a call from my chassan.

“I can’t marry you. I can’t marry a girl who doesn’t have any parents to help support us. This is too much for me. I’m sorry. Goodbye.”

That night was Lag BaOmer and I went out to see the bonfires. I looked into the flames as my world burned down. And I cried.

Unfortunately it’s the case for many people who lose their parents. In the year that followed, nobody wanted to marry me. I was too poor. I have worked hard at my job since then and get by on very little.

A month ago, I finally became engaged to a boy who wants to marry me for who I am, and not just how much money I have. He also doesn’t have parents. I am so overjoyed to have my chance to start again. We are signed up to Kupat Ha’Ir’s orphan wedding program, together with 21 other orphans who will be getting married before Shavuos. If the campaign is successful, we will be able to get enough to help us to cover the basics … Things like food for the wedding, furniture for our house…

I know that we and the other orphans are praying that this campaign will do well. That’s why I wanted to share my story. Please help if you can. Thank you. Tehila.”

This is just one story, but each of the 22 orphans being married off before Shavuos has their own unique journey of loss, grief, and struggle. That is why the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, and in previous months such gedolim as Rav Gershon Edelstein and Rav Chaim Kanievsky, has taken personal responsibility for the campaign.

Those who donate will receive the Rebbe’s bracha for shefa, bracha, hatzlocha, and nachas from their children. The Rebbe will also be praying personally for a limited group of donors. It is a particularly powerful bracha to receive nachas from your children for this act of generosity, as the children involved in the campaign are counting on donors to do what their loving parents would have done if they were still in this world.

Donations are being accepted for a limited time.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL CAMPAIGN

*Details have been changed to preserve the orphans’ privacy.