I am in PT school for the last 2 years with a guy named M_____. I know he lost his father but today he really opened up to me and another guy. He told me that when his father died, as a 17 year old bochur, he was in charge of the house. He said, without calling anyone, AHH sent $4k check right after his father died (w/o life insurance because he had diabetus). He was forced to work in a warehouse to keep the family afloat (asking for advances for his paycheck many times). He said one month they had about $2900 in rent and bills they owed and he had no way of paying it. He told me another $3000 check from AHH came in the mail that week and they were ok. He says how he had countless stories of not having money and then somehow, things worked out. But I was just taken aback that a good friend of mine, that is now just another regular married guy in my class, is someone that has benefited from this tzedaka. It was also amazing chizuk to hear a story of hashgacha pratis of how you sent him the check at the exact moments he needed it.

Yasher koach and may hashem give you the funds needed to continue your amazing work.

A_____ ________

Reaching Out With A Helping Hand

BY ROCHELLE MARUCH MILLER of the Five Towns Jewish Times
Since its inception, Avigdor’s Helping Hand has been picking up the pieces, rebuilding shattered lives one at a time. A chesed organization like no other, Avigdor’s Helping Hand is a disaster relief fund; its essence is to
be there immediately during those first moments, rendering succor and financial support. Through its wedding program, the organization provides much needed financial assistance to orphans who are approaching the major positive event of getting married. But all too often, what should be the most joyous time of their young lives is marred by poverty and distress. With the absence of one or both parents, this poverty is compounded. Avigdor’s Helping Hand provides funds to qualified yesomim, thereby alleviating the unfortunate anxiety that can distress their happy lives.

Avigdor’s Helping Hand is a fitting legacy to Avigdor Glaser, z’l, who was the very essence of a ben Torah. A devoted family man who touched the lives of all who knew him, Avigdor was adored by his wife, Frumi, and their three children, and beloved by his parents and siblings. Warm and compassionate, this extraordinary young man was blessed with the ability to succeed in all of his endeavors.

After studying in Merkaz HaTorah in Eretz Yisrael, he pursued his undergraduate studies at Queens College, and then went on to Fordham Law School, where he graduated at the top of his class. Brilliant,
gifted, yet unassuming and personable, Avigdor was a successful bankruptcy attorney at a prestigious downtown Manhattan firm.

Avigdor was just 30 years old when he tragically passed away on September 29, 2005, leaving a terrible void in the community. Immediately, his family and friends sought to create a charity that would memorialize Avigdor’s precious life and be a treasured legacy for this exemplary ba’al chesed. Frumi felt that the most fitting legacy to memorialize her beloved husband would be an organization that would offer comfort to grieving families during a time of chaos and intense pain. Thus Avigdor’s Helping Hand was founded.

We all know of families that have suffered the tragic loss of the wage-earning husband or wife, leaving the surviving spouse and their children bereft and in unbearable pain. These are people, just
like us, who have led normal lives until tragedy indiscriminately struck, wreaking havoc on their lives.
The effects of such a loss are devastating; children without their precious parents, wives without their beloved husbands, and husbands without their cherished wives. Their suffering is too great to bear, even before the economic impact begins to engulf them.

Even in cases where benefits, such as insurance or governmental assistance, are available, it may often take weeks or months for those benefits to be processed and made accessible to the family. Avigdor’s Helping Hand seeks to provide immediate, emergency and short term fi nancial relief to the families in our communities who have sustained the recent loss of their primary breadwinner. They are the fi rst call that a family makes when tragedy strikes, r’l—often prior to making funeral and burial arrangements. All throughout the Chassidishe and yeshivishe communities, Avigdor’s Helping Hand is recognized and endorsed by all of the Gedolim.

“Everything is done according to da’as Torah,” Eli Glaser, Avigdor’s father told the Five Towns Jewish Times. “Among the esteemed rabbanim who are our rabbinical advisors are Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, Rabbi Dovid Weinberger, Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rabbi Henach Savitsky, and Rabbi Yakov Friedman. We consult with them whenever there is any ‘sheilah.’” “We are considered to be possibly the largest hachnosas kallah organization,” Mr. Glaser explained. “We dispense large amounts of money to those in need, all throughout the United States.”

True to its mission of rebuilding the future for widows and orphans, Avigdor’s Helping Hand has, since its inception, dispensed $2.2 million to 86 families that have suffered the loss of a spouse. To date, this outstanding organization has made 350 weddings for orphans.

Each applicant is required to submit two letters with his or her application; one from their rabbi, the second from a chesed organization. With meticulous attention to every detail, the application is carefully reviewed; rabbis and other references are called.

“Every application involves a very intense due diligence process,” explains Eli. “We have established a committee to evaluate each applicant with the utmost degree of confidentiality and sensitivity. We step in immediately with a cash stipend to provide the spouse and children with fi nancial support.”

Unique in its noble mission, Avigdor’s Helping Hand serves as a beacon of hope amid a sea of despair, a veritable lifeline for families bereft of their loved ones. The money is discretionary and may be used to offset any expense, such as food, housing costs, mortgage payments, childcare, utility bills, etc. Indeed, Avigdor’s Helping Hand is a tzedakah like no other, operating with no paid staff and no overhead.

For the 25 volunteers who give selflessly of themselves, AHH is truly a labor of love. “The devotion of these young people, who are starting out in their careers, is immeasurable,” Eli tells us. “They are
doctors, lawyers, hedge fund managers, working long hours, with young families to support. Each volunteer has a unique job to perform, which is done with such dedication. They tell us how their lives have changed and of the tremendous chizuk that they are getting. Each and every one of these wonderful young people is our partner. They are the reason, b’ezras Hashem, that we are successful. Every cent of your donation goes directly to help the widows and orphans.

We have no overhead; everything is done by volunteers. We are looking for people to contact us if they know of a relative, friend, or neighbor who is in need of Avigdor’s Helping Hand. Everything
is done with the utmost discretion and the highest level of tzniyus. We are getting tremendous accolades every day. We’ve been guided by da’as Torah since the very beginning; the names of the esteemed rabbanim can be found on our website.”

You are cordially invited to enjoy an elegant evening of fi ne cuisine and relaxing music at the Sixth Annual Avigdor’s Helping Hand Gala Barbecue. Catered by the inimitable Michael Schick and featuring the Neginah Orchestra, this not-to-be-missed event will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Labor Day, Monday, September 5 at the Moradi residence, 72 Muriel Drive in Lawrence. Please join AHH in their noble
mission of rebuilding the future . . . hand in hand by showing your support on this very special evening.

“We are honored and fortunate that David and Bilhah Moradi are graciously hosting our event in their beautiful home for the fifth consecutive year.” Eli says. “They are an integral and treasured part of our Avigdor’s Helping Hand family.”

Please show your support for this exemplary organization by gracing the event with your presence. To help Avigdor’s Helping Hand in any capacity, as well as to make reservations or obtain additional information about this exceptional tzedakah, please call 718-568-9720 or visit www.avigdorshelpinghand. org.

Tizku l’mitzvos!

Unfortunately, we hear of many young people who pass away leaving their spouse and children to deal with the painful loss as well as a precarious financial situation. AHH was formed with one overall question in mind: “How can we ease the suffering of these families?”

It is with this goal that AHH has set off on a mission to provide immediate financial relief as well as non-financial support to families who have sustained the loss of their primary breadwinner. They have also embarked on a mission to make sure that young couples without parents will have a beautiful wedding day. Very often, this happiest of times can be marred by the lack of sufficient funds.

In the six year, AHH has donated over $ 2.2 Million to more than 86 families and helping 356 orphaned couples made a wedding and ZERO overhead.

All those who knew Avigdor Glaser, z”l, remember his embracing smile and caring wit, which were just a small part of the overall ben Torah that he personified. He was a devoted family man who was adored by his wife and three young children, and beloved by his parents and siblings. Blessed with the ability to excel at many endeavors, Avigdor, began to succeed in his limud haTorah during high school at the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, continued to grow at Merkaz HaTorah in Yerushalayim, and then at Ohr HaChaim in Kew Gardens Hills. Bright, yet unassuming, Avigdor was a successful bankruptcy attorney at a Manhattan law firm. This meaningful charity that carries his name, memorializes Avigdor’s valuable life.

The community joined together to support the work of AHH this Labor Day at this gala barbecue, which was be held at 72 Murial Avenue, Lawrence, L.I. The benefit will feature the Aaron Teitelbaum Symphonic Ensemble featuring the New York Virtuoso Soloists conducted by Yisroel Lamm and was be catered by Michael Schick.

Source: thefivetowns.info

Dear Mr. Glaser,

My daughter got married last night:) It was a beautiful and special simcha, as you can imagine.

I wanted to say to you and all of the volunteers , once again, a major thank you for all of your help.

Thank you:) Thank you:)

Wishing you all a K’sivah V’chasima Tovah. A year that is filled with good health, parnassah tovah, nachas from all of your loved ones and shefa brachos. May you always surround yourselves with smachos.

With much appreciation,

________ ________

Dear Mr. Glaser,

Thank you SO much! I am so grateful to you and to your organization. May HaKodesh Boruch Hu bring you, the other volunteers, donors, and families only mazal and brocha ’till 120!

Kesiva Vachasima Tova!

E____ ________

Good Morning Rabbi Eisenberger:

On behalf of my brother in law Mr. ________ and his family, and on behalf of myself and my family, we would like to thank you and AHH for the great chesed you showed this Kalleh, It will put a smile on her face when she walks down to the chupa even though her mother A”H wont be (physically) by her side.

By Helping this family you made it easier for them to enjoy the wedding to the fullest. May the almighty reward you and all the members of AHH,with brochos and yeshios that you so rightfully deserve.

Tisku Lemitzvos.

J________ ________

B”H

WOW Thank you soooo much!!!! Baruch Hashem!!!!

Such A brocha- IYH I hope to be able to help the organisation one day!

Thank you again so much!!!!

May Hashem always shower down brochos עד בלי די to you and your family.

D______

To whom this may concern,

My name is ___ ______ and I am a proud recipient of AHH’s kindness and generosity. To most people to use the word proud in the context of receiving “charity” would be an inherent contradiction. I agree with those people. What they don’t understand though is that the manner in which AHH was set up and the way they go about accomplishing their goals is the farthest thing from “charity”. If someone from your family was going through a rough patch in their lives and you offered to help them, financially or  emotionally, no one in their right mind would call that charity. The recipient of that assistance  understands that this was given out of love and comes with no conditions, expectations, or reciprocation. This is what AHH has built. AHH gives themselves over, as a family would, to people that have gone through some of the worst experiences that no one should ever have to experience. The support that AHH lends to us is done with the utmost sensitivity, compassion, empathy, and passion. And in my opinion what speaks to the integrity of AHH is the fact that you don’t see advertisements everywhere proclaiming the good work you do and that sort. You are just there to help and then walk away quietly without pomp or fanfare. That means so much to me and it is beyond comprehension.

A simple thank you for the kindness that you have shown seems inadequate but unfortunately we are bound to the simple words that we were given to express our gratitude. I remember a quick story that a doctor that I am close with once told me. He went to a conference that he was invited to for a drug that he was recently introduced to and to discuss how the medication was received by his patients. The speaker before him spoke for over two hours and completely lost the audience. The doctor told me that if he were in the audience he would probably not want to hear another speaker either so what was he supposed to  say? He got up and said the following “This medication works. Your patients won’t call you up in the middle of the night complaining. It is fantastic. Thank you for your time” and he sat down. He received a standing ovation.

Gentleman – what AHH does works. It is a fantastic organization and I appreciate everything you have done for me. Thank you.

Sincerely,

A__

To all of the amazing people who are working for Avigdor’s Helping Hand, ad meah v’esrim shanna

I wanted to say a really big thank you and a yashar koach for the major assistance that you gave me.
Three years ago, my husband passed away. It was a total shock to us. Four years before that he had a stroke but b’chasdei HaShem it did not effect his speech and he was able to walk beautifully and continue his Torah learning which he loved so very much. But one Shabbos, in the middle of June, we went to the hospital and on Wed, early in the morning he passed away. A person is never prepared to say good bye, even when a loved one is sick. And he was not. He was fine. To our complete shock, he needed to have an open heart surgery. He came out of it. We were talking and he even sat up in bed. They removed his breathing tube and mentally I was already bringing him home, trying to figure out which agency I should call to have a nurse who could come by everyday for a quick visit to monitor his recovery and take his vital signs. Well, it was not to be. We were devastated. Heart broken. The past three years have been difficult.
Three and a half months ago, my daughter became a kallah. I am sure you can imagine the simcha. I was told to contact you and right away I applied for financial assistance. Your assistance was quick to come and it was done with utmost respect and sensitivity. Thank you. Thank you. I was able to purchase the necessary items that my daughter needed with menucha. I want to say a big thank you for all that you do. For all the time and the effort and the koach that I know you put into each situation. My bracha to you is that HaShem should bless you and your families with all that is good. Health, nachas, shalom and Parnassa until 120 and may sasson v’simcha always come your way.

Mazal Tov.

D_________