People have given donations made to a wide range of various organizations and have taken upon themselves to undertake personal growth in her memory. I am very grateful for all of those efforts and appreciate those who have taken the time let me know what they have done or how Rachel has touched their lives.
I have chosen 3 organizations that I feel really capture Rachel's love for helping others.
Lemaan Achai -- Will be establishing the Rachel Swirsky Artistic Enrichment Program. This program will be integrated into the after school activity program (kind of like Tzaharon) for the Lemaan Achai families. They will integrate a music and art component into their program. I feel that it is a great way to capture Rachel's creativity with an organization we are proud to support.
Rachel ran their Appliance Gemach (shiuduching program) for a year. When I lost my job at iSkoot, they were there to provide financial counselling services. When we lost Gabi, they helped us get in touch with the right people to get Rachel the help she needed. There are a number of services that they have, that can help Channah and I get back onto our feet.
Donation information is on the website.
Canadian Donations:
Please make checks payable to:
Beth
Oloth
C/O Murray Shore, 31 Marwill Street
C/O Murray Shore, 31 Marwill Street
Toronto, Ontario,
M3H 3L2
Mark checks clearly
"For Lema'an Achai - Ramat Bet Shemesh"
Belev Echad -- they are currently renting office space down the street from me (on Dolev). In that space they have an Operational Library. That is where donations in Rachel's memory will be directed.
The library functions as a resource for their madrichim. to borrow to assist in running programs. Some of the expenses funds will go to cover include: books, Tzitit making kits, Loaner Teffilin, Kippot, Mezuzot, games, prizes for kids, projectors, educational videos as well as a full time secretary who will also be responsible for maintaining all of the material.
Donation information is on the website:
Canadian Donations:
They use:
"KH Meoroth", 70 Dell Pk. Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M6B 2T8
Please add a note that it is for Belev Echad Beit Shemesh, Operational Library
Shiluv -- When we lost Gabi, we turned to Shiluv for help to cope with the difficult time. Rachel would not have been able to succeed in the battle against depression, without their help. They will continue to help me, as I adjust to the change of raising wonderful little girl as a single parent and coping with the loss of the person who was my other half for more than half my life. I am leaving it to their discretion in terms of how to direct the funds. Depending on how much they raise there may be some specific projects that they direct the money to.
Donation Information is available on the website.
I believe all of these organizations capture Rachel's spirit for always wanting to help others. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
More about the Originizations:
Lemaan Achai -- Lema'an Achai's aim is to assist needy families in Ramat Beit Shemesh in breaking the cycle of poverty by providing them with the tools they need to cope with their problems. We facilitate their growth and lead them towards self-sufficiency. Founded in the year 2000, by a group of local residents, Lema'an Achai is rooted in Judaism’s communal responsibility towards charity and chesed (kindness). The Smart Chesed philosophy translates concern for our neighbors into highly successful interventions at minimum cost. Lema'an Achai assists families in need and enables them to get back on their feet, becoming financially and socially independent. Providing vital support services, through a combination of professional and volunteer services, which provide direct aid, rehabilitation and empowerment for struggling families. The volunteers include professional social workers, attorneys, mental health practitioners, nurses, certified public accountants, physicians and dentists, building tradesmen, mechanics and drivers, who represent a diverse spectrum of the Ramat Beit Shemesh community.
Belev Echad -- Belev Echad, works with many of the small villages between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and create programs for the non-religious residents who want to understand what Judaism is all about. Many Moshav residents come from traditional homes, yet they have not had the opportunity to really learn about Judaism and the basis of their traditions. Belev Echad was founded in 1996 by Rav Nosson Kohn and Rav Aaron Barron. Over the past 13 years it has grown into one of the regions key social and educational institutions, serving as a major source of spiritual encouragement and practical support. Our exciting work includes more than 400 hundred monthly evening classes for men, woman, boys and girls in 23 secular communities
Shiluv -- is an independent Jerusalem-based non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of the emotional well being of families of all social classes and denominations and the advancement of the specialization of family therapy within the professional community. At Shiluv, the family is seen as an organic unit that needs to be understood in order to treat the identified problems. Until today, Shiluv is a proponent of these principles. Our staff embodies a variety of worldviews, theories and therapeutic techniques. Their common bond, however, is a family systems therapy approach, with special attention given to the inner world of the client, his/her feelings, needs and personal history. We offer our services, in half a dozen languages, to the population of Jerusalem as well as its surrounding environs. The donations that are raised in memory of Rachel will be used at their discretion. However, should there be an overwhelming response, Shiluv would like to remodel the waiting room in Rachel’s memory. When donating, please let them know that it is in Rachels memory.
1 comment:
Kol HaKavod, Jason. Your choices truly do epitomize some of Rachel's special qualities. She was a true ayshet chayil.
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