How We Started

During the COVID pandemic, the daughter of a local family became engaged. But the simcha was marred by both parents losing their jobs. We approached different businesses and individuals to help and we were able to help with expenses and set up the young couple’s new home thanks to intensive fundraising and the generosity of local individuals. The backyard wedding took place with dignity and great joy. Since then, we have received many requests for help with wedding expenses and have informally raised funds.

For most families, making even a simple wedding and setting up a Bayit Ne’eman B’Yisroel (Jewish home) in Israel is outside their financial capabilities. Adding to the normal stresses of marrying off children is the constantly rising costs of basics.

We have been fighting a war for 16 months, with many families destroyed by loss and injury. Unemployment is rising since the war began, and over 25% of religious families in Israel live below poverty level. In addition, thousands of families incur extra crippling costs associated due to severe illness and family members with special needs; marrying off their children is overwhelming and in many cases in Beit Shemesh, impossible.

In the Chabad community in Beit Shemesh, too many families aren’t able to afford the basics. Each community in every city has its own Hachnassas Kallah fund for its own members, and Beit Shemesh is no exception. However, there is a huge need in Chabad in Beit Shemesh to support our community members and help young couples afford a simple, yet respectable, and beautiful start to their new life.