Help for Single Mom with Disability

Dear Readers,

Many of you know me from Crown Heights and from the UK, and although I try to help people as much as I can, I think this is the first time I have publicly endorsed a campaign like this.

Since leaving Crown Heights for Israel just over 3 years ago, my husband and I have met some really wonderful people. I want to introduce you to Channah Feiga Lefkowitz. Some of you will remember her and her family, as they lived in Crown Heights.

Channah Feiga is an incredibly accomplished, talented woman. She raised her 15 year old son Yudi alone, and he is a wonderful, caring young man. But he is now in a position that no boy of his age should be in. He is becoming his mother’s caregiver, something that is very difficult for both of them. And clearly, there are some tasks he is not able to do.

Last night, I drove Channah Feiga to a hearing from Bituach Leumi, the National Insurance office, to see if after months of advocacy and pressure, she will at long last get the government help she needs. Channah Feiga shared with me some personal things which I would never divulge, but to put it in a nutshell….. she has had a very difficult life. And it is only getting worse.

Before you read her story in her own words, let me just say this. She was not successful with Bituach Leumi. As I waited for her to come out of the appointment, I saw others coming out from theirs; every one in tears, even the men. BL is known for its cruel, demeaning interviews and far more applicants are rejected than helped. As you read her appeal, remember that this is a woman who has always worked and supported herself and Yudi, despite her disability.

The situation is now so bad that she relies entirely on community support. There are many people suffering and we can’t help everyone, but if you can donate even a portion of your maser money, matonas levyonim, and maos chitim, you can literally save Channah Feiga from total destitution.

Mrs. Hindy Lewis

Click here to help now!

——————————————-

By Channah Feiga

Many of my friends and neighbors know my situation, but for all of you that don’t know me here goes.

I am a single mom with a teenage son. I live in Israel on my own and I have raised him on my own from day one. I have always somehow worked and made sure to take care of us on my own. In the past couple of years things started getting hard, but thanks to the help and kindness of many very generous people together with my income we somehow made it work.

I was born with a birth defect on my left hand called amniotic band which left me without a hand. Around 3 months ago I started experiencing severe shoulder pain in my arm that I have been using all my life making it very hard to do my job, but I kept on going because I had no other option, but to push through.

Just to clarify, I work a job that requires me basically to type for 9 hours a day and I run a catering business on the side, and I am the only cook.

In any case 3 months ago the pain was so severe that I had to stop working completely. I could no longer cook, clean, do laundry, drive, go grocery shopping, shower on my own, dress myself, and take care of my basic personal daily needs. My teenage son has taken on most of those responsibilities. I was put on super hard core pain medicine which makes me very sick, and causes me to sleep pretty much round the clock when I am not vomiting.

My diagnosis was a torn rotator cuff, an additional torn tendon in my shoulder, a torn tendon in my elbow, and some nerve damage in my spine. All needs to be treated by complete bed rest and 0 use of my arm. So for 2 months I have been in bed.

I have filed for disability, but in Israel that can take months to be approved. Families in my community have really stepped up to send over dinner every day and help raise money, but it is just not enough now.

I was in serious debt before this happened, but always paid the rent. Now I cannot even do that.

I am putting aside my dignity and pride and I am literally begging you all to open your hearts and reach into the depths of your kindness to help us. I am going to be out of work for at least another few months, even if my employers agree to take me back, and we are not going to make it.

Every single penny helps!!

I would like to thank every single one of you in advance and I wish you all unconditional, and unlimited health, wealth and happiness.

Click here to help now!