Dear Member,

Beth Aaron, along with several area shuls, will be marking Shabbat Chayal on a Shabbat around the time of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut.  We are proud to inform you that, Beth Aaron has chosen Shabbat, April 21st, Parshat Tazria-Metzora as the week our shul will dedicate as Shabbat Chayal, in memory of Ilan Tokayer z”l, who proudly served in the IDF as a Chayal Boded (Lone Soldier).

Each year, we commemorate Shabbat Chayal by making a Kiddush and choosing a Tzedakah tied to the IDF to give our support.  This year, we will mark Shabbat Chayal by raising money for the Israel Defense Forces Widow and Orphan Organization (IDFWO), as well as one other worthy organization.  Eighty-five percent of the monies raised for this year’s Shabbat Chayal Kiddush will be used to support IDFWO activities. The remaining fifteen percent will be used in support of the summer youth program of Beit Yatir, our sister city.

Monies collected for IDFWO will go towards their vital programs that help widows and orphans of Israel’s fallen heroes.  IDFWO was established in 1991 as the sole charity recognized by the State of Israel to work with the now more than 8000 widows and orphans of the fallen heroes of the IDF and Israel’s Security Forces.  This organization continuously supports these widows and orphans through the grieving process by means of emotional support, financial aid, educational and social welfare programs and more.

Although it seems impossible to fill the void of a lost parent or spouse, IDFWO works tirelessly to be a helping hand of warmth and love, to provide that backbone of support that a parent or spouse would provide.  With the ever-increasing threats to the State of Israel, it has never been more crucial to act, to safeguard the women and children of Israel’s fallen heroes, as well as to arm Israel’s soldiers with the knowledge that should tragedy occur, their families will be embraced by the State of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. As part of the programming for this special Shabbos, before Mincha, Ziva Bakman-Flamhaft will speak to us about how the IDFWO helped her rebuild her life after the loss of her husband and about the important work this organization does.  

With your support, IDFWO can continue the important work that they do.  If paying by check, please mention IDF KIDDUSH in the check memo.  Sponsorship categories include CHAYAL ($18), TAT ALUF ($19-$99), ALUF ($100-$199) and RAV ALUF ($200 and above).  Sponsorships will be publicized in Kol Beth Aaron and on a poster in the lobby on Shabbat April 21st.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the Kiddush Co-Chairs,

Esther and Rinaldo Toporovsky, Nechama and Steven Pudell, Micah Kaufman, Mordechai Ungar