Seeking Segulot Fear of the pandemic and the urgent need to arouse the public to repentance has led many to discover the auspicious segulah of Sefer Devarim * A timeless segulah revealed and ingrained in the public by Chief Rabbi of Morocco Yoshiyahu Pinto shlit”a * The segulah of reading Sefer Devarim has been praised and endorsed by gedolei hador across the spectrum, and a stunning collection of blessings and explanations by Torah luminaries and Chassidic Rebbes regarding the awesome powers of this segulah were compiled into a captivating video clip * The messages of our venerable spiritual leaders regarding the ruling of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto shlit”a Kalir A special video clip created and edited by students of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto shlit”a is making waves in the Jewish world, reinfor

Every Year on ל”ג בעומר, Meron is covered with hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world who have come to daven on the Yahrzeit of the Holy ר’ שמעון בר יוחאי. All approaching the Kever have their individual troubles in mind. Everyone can recount their own miraculous tale, how businesses successfully prospered, barren women that we’re blessed with children, and single people finding a Shidduch, not forgetting stories about how people had to cancel operations due to making a complete recovery Boruch Hashem. This year, the number of people with physical access to the holy Tziyun of Reb Shimon bar Yochai in Meron is limited unfortunately to a mere few dozen.

Tonight, though the celebrations will be far from the typical crowds, an esteemed group of rabbanim and their followers will gather to pray by the final resting place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in honor of Lag Ba’Omer. It will be an exhilarating and unique experience for those who merit to attend – an exclusive prayer gathering where there is typically chaos. Though those gathering will surely be grateful to be in attendance, however, a shadow of immense grief hangs over the event: The memory of famed baal chesed and father of 11 ‘Abba of Meron’ Reb Bentzion Kuperstock a”h. Despite being a man of modest means, Reb Kuperstock famously gave from his own pocket to feed hundreds of strangers on Meron each year.

Now is a unique time in history to be a kallah. On the one hand, weddings are simpler than ever. On the other hand, people all over the world are struggling financially. Brides and grooms still need a simple dress, food for sheva brachos, basic items for their first home. Unfortunately, even these basic expenses are out of their reach. This is especially true for 18 individuals whose stories recently came to the attention of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein. These 18 young men & women have two things in common: They are getting married in the coming weeks, and they have lost a parent. True, they long for luxuries such as silverware or linens, or a pair of shoes to wear to their chuppah.

Three Israeli triplets were separated after their mother, who was suffering from cancer, died shortly after giving birth. Their grieving father was unable to take care of three newborns, logistically and financially, in addition to mourning his wife and raising his other children. The three babies were sent to live with three different families, and for some years they longed to reunite. Recently the family came back together, and the estranged siblings were delighted to be together once more. Unfortunately, however, the shadow of loss still hangs over them in the form of poverty. Their father still struggles to support them single handedly, to the extent that Rosh Yeshiva Rav Chaim Feinstein personally took their case to the offices of Rav Chaim Kanievsky to appeal on their behalf.

Dear Friend,   When we at Bonei Olam started the V’zakeini campaign, we had no idea that the coronavirus was at our doorsteps.  The first few weeks started off strong. Almost a thousand women signed up the first week, and the signups were building rapidly. Then the coronavirus hit. We didn’t know what would be and we weren’t sure what to do. Should we continue as usual? Or should we pause the campaign? But then I thought of my couples. Sitting at home–a quiet home–without the distractions of children, toddlers, school hotlines or zoom calls, and waiting. Just waiting. They already met with doctors. They already took the tests.

Rav Yaakov Kolodetsky ztz”l was a renowned talmid chacham, who learned with Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ztz”l as a chavrusa for many years, as well as being close to many of the leaders of our generation, including Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita. R’ Yaakov contracted the virus while visiting the United States, and on the last day of Pesach his health seriously deteriorated and he was hospitalized in Tel Hashomer. The name “Refael” was added along with many heartfelt prayers for his health, but unfortunately he passed away on Tuesday. He leaves behind his widow and 10 children, 3 of whom are still at home. The family is in dire need of financial support.

Reb Chanoch was enveloped in flames. He was admitted to the ICU with third-degree burns on his face, hands, feet and parts of his body. Tragically, early in the morning of Erev Shabbos Parshas Shmini, 23 Nissan 5780, Reb Chanoch returned his pure neshamah to his Maker. Reb Chanoch was truly a unique individual, a yarei Shamayim and a tremendous talmid chacham. He was very involved in klal work, though he insisted on remaining behind the scenes. Countless families were saved by his clandestine tzedakah activities. He also counselled individuals with wisdom and sensitivity, saving many a marriage. CLICK HERE TO DONATE Reb Chanoch was blessed with an incisive mind and a keen gift for writing, which he used to pen world-famous biographies of tzaddikim.

Rebbetzin Baila Porush was in the hospital yesterday fighting COVID-19, and seemed to be on her way to recovery. Her husband and 6 children were eager to have her home, and she was in relatively light condition. She was not on a respirator. Just a half an hour later, she was gone. How did this happen? It seems that some otherwise improving patients experience rapid deterioration, which blindsides doctors and leaves family members mourning in complete shock. This was the case with Rebbetzin Porush, who tragically passed away yesterday at the age of 52. The Porush family has experienced loss before: They lost a child last year. Now Rabbi Porush is COVID-positive as well, and one of their children is in the hospital fighting the virus in critical condition.

A major light from theTorah learning community went out this week, with the passing of Rosh Yeshiva Rav Chaim Aharon Turchin. Turchin lived in Bnei Brak but ran a yeshiva in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem. He was hospitalized in Ichilov hospital last week after contracting COVID-19. News of Rav Turchin’s health declining spread quickly among talmidei chachamim. Rav Chaim Kanievsky requested that the Rav receive another name, in the hopes that the name’s merits would improve his health. Unfortunately these efforts in the spiritual realm, together with the best efforts of hospital staff, were not enough to save the Rav’s life. He left behind a widow and 14 children, 5 of whom are married.