1,400 Mitzvahs for Jewish Teen in ICU

A text message sent shockwaves through the community: “Pray for Jonathan. The situation does not look good.” These words, received by Rabbi Mendel Rapoport, a CTeen Shliach in Northridge, California, prompted an immediate response.

Jonathan, elected as CTeen President and a favorite amongst his peers, had been gradually embracing his Yiddishkeit alongside his family. Now, his life hung in the balance. A motorcycle ride ended in a devastating accident, leaving Jonathan’s loved ones in shock. After being airlifted to the hospital, doctors delivered a grim prognosis.

Upon receiving the message, Rabbi Rapoport sprang into action. “Everyone was urging each other to daven and do mitzvos in Jonathan’s merit,” he says. “I recalled the OneMitzvah platform, where anyone can create a personalized campaign to start a chain reaction of goodness. I knew it would be the perfect way to channel our collective energy.”

Eli Newman of OneMitzvah responded to Rapoport’s call. “The campaign was live within minutes, and the mitzvos poured in,” Newman says. “Its tagline read, ‘Your Mitzvah brings hope and healing, no Ph.D. required!’”

As his condition worsened, he was transferred to the ICU, and the name Chaim was added. “We found strength in our unity, and the number of mitzvos continued to rise,” Rapoport says. “Each person knew that they were contributing to Jonathan’s healing, even if they were not physically at his bedside.”

One hundred fifty-one individuals collectively pledged 1,409 mitzvos in the merit of Jonathan’s recovery.

Miraculously, Jonathan defied medical expectations and was released from the ICU walking with crutches. Today, he’s back at CTeen, more involved than ever.

“Jonathan’s resilience and the devotion of the CTeen Northridge community are true illustrations of what it means to be Jewish,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International and Vice Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, “the power of Torah and Mitzvos to bring healing and unity is something that the world truly needs to see right now, and CTeen Northridge has set an example for all to see.”

For more information on how you can launch a Mitzvah Campaign for your community, visit OneMitzvah.org or email support@onemitzvah.org