Maron Sar Hatorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky never leaves his home. However, twice a year, on Chol Hamoed Succos and Pesach, he makes a special trip from his home in Bnei Brak to the Kosel Hamaaravi. This year on his trip to Yerushalayim, R’ Chaim altered his route and paid an unprecedented visit to the Tov V’Chesed headquarters, the empire of kindness founded by Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha.

This Pesach marks the fourteenth year since Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha established Tov V’Chesed. Founded with a promise to put an end to the suffering of Israel’s children and some  boxes of food, the organization blossomed to help 37,000 children yearly. This record-breaking visit by today’s Gadol Hador, was an acknowledgement of the tremendous impact Tov V’Chesed has on the lives of thousands!

First, R’ Chaim visited the offices and was shocked at the amount of applications Tov V’Chesed receives on a daily basis. He perused the files and expressed his amazement at how much chesed is produced from within these sheer walls. R’ Chaim was then taken to the massive food warehouses that are now empty after 995,538 pounds of Pesach basics, matzah and chicken have been distributed across the country last week.

While all were inspired, 250 orphans walked through the door to celebrate a siyum on Seder Moed that they’ve learned l’ilui nishmas their parents. The learning program is arranged by Tov V’Chesed’s Project Boneinu, a division that offers mentorship and support for boys. The orphans excitedly greeted and sang for Harav Kanievsky and R’ Meir Aker, menahel of Project Boneinu, made the brachah, “Shechalak M’Chachmaso L’Reyav”. The orphans felt honored and special that the Maron Sar Hatorah went out of his way for them. A young orphan, who’s bar mitzvah is today, made the siyum as tears formed in R’ Chaim’s eyes. If that wasn’t inspiring enough, all 250 orphans stood up and recited kaddish together! The innocent voices mixed and melded to fill the entire room with choked emotion!

Finally, Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha took the podium and thanked the Sar Hatorah for coming. He requested a brachah from R’ Chaim that there should be an end to all the suffering, that all these orphans should be reunited with their parents, that no child should suffer from hunger.

R’ Chaim answered “Amen,” and blessed all the orphans that they should receive everything they ever wish for. The orphans sang and danced and escorted R’ Chaim as he made his way to the Kosel to daven for them.


R’ Chaim amazed at the amount of requests for assistance

 

 

 

 

 

 

250 orphans recite kaddish at once!

 

Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha requesting a bracha on behalf of the orphans

 

 

 

 

 

An inspiring mamed in the Tov V’Chesed warehouse