“Trauma” comes in many forms. For some, it is a small moment which sticks with us. For others, it is years in a dysfunctional household which sends a ripple effect through our lives and our childrens’ lives, for what can feel like forever. When Chedva Vishinsky got married 8 years ago, she was like any bride: Excited and hopeful for the future. Unfortunately, however, unforeseen circumstances sent her and her children into chaos. She now lives alone with her two kids, Ayala (8) and Yosef Shalom (7). She supports and raises them alone.  The hours Chedva can work are limited, as she is the only parent available to watch them. She has no family in the country. Her children require intensive therapy, but such luxuries are not a possibility.

Some say that one of the most painful parts of a loved one battling cancer is the suspense. “How long will the treatments take? Will they be effective? Will the person I love be here with me in a year? A month? A week?” For the Kahana family of Bnei Brak, however, there was no suspense. Though their mother Rivka fought cancer for 4 long years, she did not tell any of them she was sick. They knew her only as ‘weak.’ In what seems impossibly heroic, Rivka continued to raise her 12 children without any mention of her own cancer or pain for four years. She worked as a teacher in a high school for girls, and she even went in to work on the day she died. Though she spared her children the pain of knowing her diagnosis, her passing was a monumental shock.

Devastating photos emerged this week, as the Stern children said goodbye to their mother, Mrs. Yehudis Stern. Yehudis was a beloved teacher, and a mother of 15.  Her battle with cancer was excruciatingly slow. In her final days, Yehudis was bedridden and her family devoted their time to tending to her needs.  Last week, against all odds, Mrs. Stern was brought to her son’s chuppah. She was unable to stand, but was determined to attend the ceremony. Her family says that she had one dying wish: That her household and children should be taken care of. Yehudis’s widower Rabbi Stern is now struggling to fulfill her final wishes, as he is now solely responsible for the financial and emotional welfare of a large family, while processing immense grief himself.

We are pained to announce the passing of Mrs. Ayala Gutman, mother of 5. Readers around the world followed Gutman family’s story earlier this year, when they rallied together to make a wedding despite Ayala’s illness. Mrs. Gutman fought cancer for over ten years, and was confined to a wheelchair. Recently she began to lose her memories as well, and her condition was diagnosed as terminal. The family was able to happily marry off one son in recent months, a simcha which will no doubt be remembered as their final reunion & celebration before their mother’s untimely passing. Mrs. Gutman passed away last week, leaving behind a devastated widower & 5 children.

In the center of the world sits one city, the foundation of the earth. In the center of that city sits one institution, developing, educating, training, and BUILDING LEADERS WHO CARE. Eighteen years ago, the Rosh HaKollel, Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovitz שליט”אrecognized that the Yeshiva world is an army filled with talent. His vision was clear. Tap into this potential, provide real bnei Torah with the tools to become leaders, and you can change the world. The Jerusalem Kollel was born. To this day, The Jerusalem Kollel has been building leaders of the highest caliber, dedicated to leading, teaching and strengthening Klal Yisrael. The Kollel offers its talmidim an intensive three-year s’micha program, with relevant training in many years of communal leadership.

This Monday will be the yahrzeit of beloved Gadol & Torah giant, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l.  Shockwaves were sent through the global Jewish community when Rav Elyashiv passed away 8 years ago. To this day, many flock to his gravesite to pay their respects.  Rav Elyashiv’s son in law, the current Gadol HaDor Rav Chaim Kanievsky, is no exception. Rav Kanievsky will continue his yearly tradition of visiting Rav Elyashiv’s grave on the day of his yahrzeit. As usual, the Rav will be followed by a group of spectators, there to guard his safety as well as those who are simply curious to get a glimpse. Rav Kanievsky being seen outdoors is a rarity, especially during the pandemic.

The Breslev community lost a tremendous light last week, with the passing of prominent Rav and father of 10 children Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Karmel. Karmel collapsed in his home while battling COVID, and Hatzolah were unable to resuscitate him. The rabbi gave a remarkable 18 shiurei Torah each week to his beloved talmidim, and authored seforim as well. He was also well known for having the honor of leading prayers in Uman on Rosh Hashana, as the baal tefilah on the Yom HaDin for chassidim from all over the world.

Heartbreaking images surfaced this week of the levaya of Rabbi Moshe Friedman, a 36-year-old father of 3. Friedman passed away recently after an arduous battle with cancer, which spread from his lungs to other organs. His wife Chava was by his side during his suffering, while also raising 3 children, two of whom are suffering from epilepsy.  After two years of tremendous suffering, Rabbi Friedman wasted away to the point that he was barely recognizable. Once a young, smiling man with a bushy brown beard, recent images show a pale, thin man in a wheelchair. In stark contrast to this image, his sons, with tears streaming down their rosy cheeks and flowing blond peyos, stammered through kaddish at his funeral procession.

. “Recently came a day I feared would never come,” begins the emotional letter penned to the public. “The day I became a chassan.” Yitzchok Rotman’s disbelief at his engagement, however, was not due to the struggles with dating which are so prevalent in today’s world — He was surprised because he didn’t expect to be alive at all.  Two years ago, Yitzchok was in a hospital bed fighting brain cancer. Shortly before, his older brother had died from the same disease. The Rotman family were still freshly processing the loss of one son when another was diagnosed. It was a chaotic time, which they feel tremendously blessed to have left – Mostly. Though the disease has passed, the Rotman are left dealing with its after-effects on a daily basis.

The ‘second wave’ has officially arrived in Israel as numbers of coronavirus cases continue to rise worldwide. Most are back to work and there is a sense of fragile normalcy in the air. The Vizhnitz Rebbe, Rav Ezrachi, Rav Feinstein, Rav Biderman, and Rav Finkel gathered in Bnei Brak recently to discuss the current state of the world, as well as to form a Beis Din on behalf of a group of impoverished orphans. The orphans in question are struggling to make their own weddings without their parents.