Yad leTinok
STORIES

Dear Readers

The stories presented before you are written to demonstrate the real life problems faced by many Jewish families today. For this reason the names of the heroes of each story are fictional except for Mrs. Yocheved Blanck, founder of the Yad Letinok organization of Jerusalem, Mrs. Helen Porat, head of Northern Branch, and Mrs. Rachel Yosian, one of the main heads of volunteer work. The purpose of these stories is to sharpen and enlarge the awareness of the value of life. All of these stories are based on true events which have occurred during the work of the organization to help pregnant women in distress.
Please enjoy them.

Bracha Chatavi
The Author 



 
Table of Contents:

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A Turn for the Better
       The Tuvim Family live in a very tiny apartment, only 30 square meters, somewhere in northern Israel. The father, Yaakov, is unemployed and the mother Esti is not in very good health. This places them in a pretty difficult condition, but they are the kind of people who make the most of life and don’t cry on anyone’s shoulders. 
       However, Esti suddenly discovered that a new life was forming inside of her and a new child would be coming into the world. She had two children already, Dorit and Shmulik, so she dashed off straight into the arms of Miriam, the social worker. 
       "Miriam," Esti cried, "I can't go on like this. I’m pregnant, you understand! Dorit, my daughter, is already staying by my Aunt Chana in order to ease our economic situation and who knows what the future will be! I feel so helpless!" 
       "No problem, no problem. I’ll arrange an abortion for you straight away." 
       Esti lowered her eyes and in a sad voice she said, "An abortion, that’s your opinion?" 
       "I am positive, Esti sweetheart," answered Miriam and continued asking in shock. "What other option do you have? Another baby will only complicate matters more," answered Miriam. 
       "OK, I’ll come back later. Miriam, you are very nice, but I want to think things over. I’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible," mumbled Esti as she went out the door. 

       A few weeks went by and Esti was in a dilemma. Something not clear cried out deep in her heart. Esti, don’t do an abortion. Don’t listen to bad advice. Difficulties come and go. The pregnancy will pass and with it the difficulties. Have a bit of courage. Go and tell Miriam the truth - that pregnancy is not the problem, the economic situation and the small apartment. . . perhaps it can be improved. 

       Esti went again to the social worker’s office, and Miriam asked her if she had decided or was still debating the situation. "Look, Miriam, I have pondered the issue a lot and I have realized that I was mistaken. I want this pregnancy and birth - perhaps... perhaps .. .?" 
       Esti burst out in tears and could hardly stop crying. The social worker felt for her and answered questioningly, "What can I do for you?" 
       "It’s the poverty, the worry. We live in such a small apartment. My husband doesn’t have a job and my poor health makes it hard for me to manage on my own. If somebody would help us economically, just a little bit, I would be so thankful." 
       "I understand," said Miriam, "I’ll call up Helen. She’s a lady with a good soul and she will only be too happy to help you out. 
       "Helen? I would be so relieved if she would help!"· 

       The telephone rang in Helen’s house. "Hello, Helen," said Miriam, the social worker. I decided to call up and ask for your assistance for a needy family, Yaakov and Esti, a young couple with two children. Esti is now pregnant and wants to keep her pregnancy but she needs financial help. They urgently need a bigger apartment. That requires a large amount of money. Do you think you could manage to help with 
the rent . . .?" 
       "Of course, if I have to take from my own private funds, I’ll do it happily in order to assist them." 
       "Oh, thank you so much, Helen." 

       This couple had a baby girl named Shani. Another child was added to their family. They now live in a larger apartment in the north. Their situation has greatly improved and Helen is thoroughly happy for them.

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I Just Can’t Believe It!
       Helen lives in northern Israel and it didn’t take long before she conquered the whole area. Helen still and will always try her best to help needy people. Many times she is forced to use her own private money to help others. She always works happily in order to help people. Many big organizations approach her for help, including the welfare offices. 

       It was a very hot summer day and Helen was hurrying home. She stopped to check her mailbox. Finding a letter, she read it breathlessly. 

To the Yad Letinok Organization: 

Subject: Mrs. Chana Biton.

       I would be most thankful if you can help Mrs. Chana Biton. Chana is about 30 years old. She is married with three small children. Two months ago she gave birth prematurely and the little baby is still in the incubator with breathing problems. During the first year of her life, she will continue to have trouble breathing, and even after the release from the hospital she will need extra special care and treatment. 
       Chana has financial problems. Her husband does not give her financial support and she looks after her children on an 800 shekel monthly budget. During her pregnancy she thought about doing an abortion but after having received advice, she decided that it was not the solution. 
       Now her situation is very difficult. Can you please help her? 
       I gave her your telephone number so she can contact you. 

Many thanks, 
Ziona Oded, Social Worker
       Chana Biton received financial help in order to buy food and equipment for her sweet baby, Shuli. Here is an excerpt from the letter that Chana wrote to Helen. 

       " I want to give you my thanks. You have healed my aching heart and changed it to a loving heart! I just can’t believe it! That in our country exists an organization with such love for fellow Jews. . ." 

       Helen smiled. Yes, there exists many such organizations, some secretly, some publicly. Sometimes they are just not able to help. It is clear that the Jewish nation is known for its charity from generation to generation.

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The Middle Ages
       "I can tell you, Ziva, I am 56 years of age and if I would be pregnant now I wouldn’t go to do all those tests. I would do the usual tests to check up on health as in the "middle ages," as when I was young. You should know, Ziva, every woman who asks me your question, I answer in the same way. 
       "But Helen," answered Ziva in a shaky voice full of emotion. You must understand. I do want this pregnancy. Tamar, my daughter, who is four years old, can hardly wait for a new arrival in the house. Listen, I took a test in the 15th week of pregnancy and all was well; but in the 17th week the white blood count was up and now in the 22nd week it is worse. The doctors indicate that I should stop the pregnancy." she said with tears streaming down her face. 
       Helen pondered Ziva’s look with warmth and love and felt that she just couldn’t give her a lecture. She felt her situation deeply. 
       "Listen, Ziva, in the meantime go home. I will take responsibility for your pregnancy, so don’t take another step until I am in touch with you!" 
 

       A day later, Ziva and Helen met. "It is wonderful, Ziva. One of the volunteers in our organization consulted with the known Rabbi and he said that you do not need to take more tests. We usually consult in these cases as we are not able to take full responsibility on our shoulders. 
       "Are you serious?" asked Ziva very excitedly. "It is hard for me to believe." Ziva was so surprised. "Helen, are you sure? Did you hear him correctly? I don’t need to abort?" 
       "Yes, Ziva, you do not need to have an abortion," answered Helen. "I am serious because I am so happy for you! 
       " Now I want to tell you a nice story. After I got married myself, I had a similar case to yours. The doctor told me that my pregnancy was no good. I was in a very big panic at the time, but I decided not to despair. I went to an expert in ultrasound. It cost me 800 shekels at the time, but the results were good and the doctor said my pregnancy was all right. 
       Here, I am giving you 400 shekels for you to also have your pregnancy checked with an ultrasound." 
       Ziva answered quietly, "If it weren’t for your help, who knows what would have happened?" 
       "It’s bad enough that it happened to me twice; I don’t want others to make the same mistake!!" With that, the two of them finished their talk and went home. 
       Ziva went to be tested by an ultrasound expert. She was under great tension waiting for the results of her test. Worries filled her heart with anxiety. On the other hand, deep prayers gave her hope that there would be a good outcome. 
       After a short time, came the answer for which she had prayed. A beautiful and healthy baby boy was born. 
       Lemor had a new brother called Zion. 

       Not a long time had passed and a letter arrived at Helen’s mailbox, Rechov Cabirim, Haifa. On the back of the envelope were written the names Ziva and Moti Shemtov. "Very interesting." Helen guessed that it was a thank you letter. 

Dear Helen Porat, 

       Please accept this small contribution which is not large enough to express our deep gratitude that you saved the life of our son Zion. May G-d repay you for it.

from the Shemtov Family

       Helen felt so good from it and continues her work lovingly, to advise women not to do abortions and to help those who are in difficult circumstances. 

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There Is Hope
       Did you ever try to enter the lion’s mouth? Of course not! It is certain that you would be swallowed up in a minute. Rachel did. She tried to go into the lion’s mouth of the Gordon family. It happens that a person’s behavior can be worse than that of a lion. That is how Mr. Reuven Gordon behaved. Could Rachel get out of his hands safely? · 

       A new day has arrived. The early hours of a spring morning. The sun shines, the birds are singing beautiful songs, the gardens are full of radiant flowers, and all the children are in the schools and kindergartens. People are hurrying to work or to learn. It is a happy vision. 
       Only in the Gordon family’s house the winter is continuing with its coldness, because in that house there came a big revelation to Reuven. He discovered that his wife was pregnant. If as usual he tended to be angry and to beat his wife, now he found a better reason for doing so. 
       The cries of his wife Tikvah could be heard in all of Dushinsky Street, and that morning a group of women gathered by the door to listen shockingly. 
       "Enough, Reuven. I don’t have strength to suffer the blows! Have pity on me, my dear husband," cried Tikvah to her husband. 
       "Why should I have pity? Lowly one like yourself. Three children aren’t enough for you?! Three troubles you brought into this world, and it seems that you want a fourth one? No, no, I will see to it that another trouble will not come! He continued to beat her. Tikvah yelled a few more times and fell to the floor. 
       Reuven got frightened and stopped beating her. He turned red as a beet and shook violently. He ran to the living room and sat down fearing the future events. He thought to himself that he shouldn’t have hit her so hard. This time perhaps he overdid it, he thought. He went to the kitchen and took some water for his wife Tikvah. However, there was no evidence that he had changed his mind about her pregnancy, even though he had to revive his wife to consciousness. 
       "The quiet is the worst. It frightens me much more." The neighbor Shoshana said to the other neighbors. "Who knows? Perhaps something terrible happened. How scary is her husband! Sometimes he behaves normally and other times worse than an animal." 
       "Poor thing. How much she suffers! Do you think her pregnancy will survive such a beating?" asked Ruth angrily. 
       "We must not descend to being talebearers. If it came out that we’ve heard what is happening, then we need to try and help Tikvah," said Yocheved. "We can approach Mr. Aharon. He is a good Jew, well respected, with a warm heart. I’m sure he will react to Tikvah’s story." Everyone agreed that Yocheved was right, and without hesitation went to the home of Aharon Flam. 
       Aharon listened attentively to their story. "Don’t worry. The solution is on the way. Go back to your homes, dear women, and with G-d’s help it will straighten out." 
       "Thank you, Mr. Aharon," answered Shoshana in everyone’s behalf and they returned home relieved to some extent. 
       Aharon did not hesitate. He knew it was a problem only for Rachel. Only she could help Tikvah bring another child into the world. He phoned her. "Shalom, Rachel. The problem is serious: mother of three children, frequently beaten and cursed by her husband. She is pregnant, and the husband doesn’t want another child. Try and soften his position. The family is called Gordon, Tikvah and Reuven, tel.576949, Dushinsky Street no.10, Haifa. I expect it will be a tough job, but I am not worried . . ." 
       "OK," answered Rachel in a low voice. "I will try." 
       The telephone rang in the Gordon household and Tikvah had woken up from her fainting spell. "Hello," answered Tikvah in a weak voice. 
       "Hello, Tikvah, my name is Rachel and I am on the way to your house. Keep hold of yourself and everything will be fine, with G-d’s help." 
       "Oh, thank you," sighed Tikvah. 
       Rachel’s heart beat rapidly. She was scared, but with G-d’s help she would take a strong stand against this cowardly husband. She thought to herself that she will hold up her end of the fight! 
       Each time, Rachel rallies personal courage when it comes to helping a pregnant woman in distress. It didn’t take long before Rachel stood opposite the door like a soldier prepared for battle. She knocked softly on the door. "Shalom," said Tikvah, "Come in." 
       Rachel went into the dining room and sat down on the sofa. Tikvah went to the kitchen and returned with two cups of tea and a few slices of homemade cake. She placed it on the table and sat down next to Rachel. 
       "My husband went out for an hour. I hope that he won’t get angry when he returns and finds you here. You must be a social worker who has come to try and solve my problem. Don’t worry, Rachel, even if my husband continues beating me, I am not going to do an abortion. True, it is hard for me in the house and outside as well. My three children need a happy mother, and instead they see a mother who is beaten and disgraced. Outside, my luck has not improved. I work hard to earn a living. But thank G-d, it should not be worse than it is now." 
       "I am proud of you, and I can see that together we will work to soften your husband’s heart. He will reconcile himself to your pregnancy," answered Rachel in a tone of hope. 
       Knocks on the door interrupted the conversation. Tikvah answered the door and Reuven came in. Instead of saying hello, he started to scream. "What have you done today? Did you work? You were busy with washing? You cleaned the floor?. . . You did absolutely nothing! Probably you went to some disgraceful woman to keep yourself clean and beautiful. I didn’t think properly before I got married . . . Nu, give me a cup of tea." 
       She right away went to the kitchen because she had to serve Reuven immediately. Reuven went to the dining room and was startled at seeing a strange lady sitting on the sofa. 
       "Shalom," he said disconcertingly. "Who are you? Are you a social worker? My wife already cried to you? Listen lady, this pregnancy she can take to her mother. In this house there is no spoiling. Cleaning and order come first. Doesn’t interest me, all the words. Is it hard for me, or not?" said Reuven forcefully. 
       "Not one tear," replied Rachel in a loud voice. "Next, I am not a social worker. I am a close friend of Tikvah and I came to visit her," continued Rachel in a lower tone. 
       Reuven was surprised. That’s how a woman speaks to me, he thought to himself. He was so used to his wife’s begging and pleading voice and here is this brazen woman! Suddenly, his mind moved on to Tikvah and he yelled, "Where is the cup of tea?! This is not a waiting room." 
       "You are right, Mr. Reuven. This is not a waiting room, nor a pharmacy, and certainly not a museum. Here is a house with a beautiful flower which has planted three more beautiful buds, Arele, Yossele, and Dorit, with great devotion. Look how clean and tidy your house is! You don’t need more than that. I do not hear any words of gratitude to such a precious wife," Rachel stated in an angry and authoritative voice. 
       "If you have come to give me a lecture, Mrs. Rachel, you can go out the same door you came in a minute ago," answered Reuven. He got up angrily and went into the kitchen. However, he froze at the sight before him. Tikvah was lying on the floor and the kettle with boiling water had fallen beside her. Her feet and hands were covered with burns. "Tikvah!" he yelled and quickly called an ambulance. Within minutes the ambulance arrived at 10 Dushinsky Street. Heads were seen from the windows of all the neighbors, curious to see what had happened. Reuven and Rachel accompanied her to the hospital. 
       As the ambulance was rushing her to the hospital, Shoshana and Hadassah came out of their homes. "Did you see?" said Shoshana sadly. "Who knows what Reuven did to her now? I had a feeling that even Mr. Aharon was unable to help with this Reuven’s heart of stone." Hadassah just shook her head in inevitable agreement. "If I were in her place, I would have run away from home." 
       "You find quick solutions to problems, Shoshana. It is not easy to raise three children and one day to pick up and destroy everything. Do not worry. Tikvah has great mental reserve and will survive," she answered in a sure voice. They parted with hope in their hearts that Tikvah would be all right. 

       In the hospital Tikvah was attached to a monitor and received an infusion as well as first-aid treatment. Within a few hours she awoke from her deep faint and found Reuven looking at her with pity. He asked quietly, "How do you feel?" 
       "Thank G-d," answered Tikvah. 
       "I am so happy and relieved to see you alive and well. The burns that you received were minor, thank G-d. I am also happy that you have a good friend, a very special woman. There is no doubt that her words have influenced me. I think that her connection with you will help all of us." 
       "Beautiful, wonderful," answered Tikvah. "How are the children?" 
       "They are perfectly all right and are asking about you." 
       "And what . . . what did the doctor say about the baby?" she stuttered. 
       "The baby is all right and was saved by a miracle. Rest, my dear wife. I’ll return for the next visiting hours. Don’t worry, I am already looking after the work in the house." Tikvah couldn’t believe her ears. 

       There remained only two months until Tikvah was due to give birth. Reuven had completely changed and so did the whole family situation. Tikvah smiled more often and functioned happily in spite of her heavy workload. The children were thrilled and excited about the arrival of a new baby. Everyday when Dorit came home from school, instead of saying hello, she would ask her mother if she had given birth yet. "I hope it will be a girl." 
       "Patience, my sweet Dorit, in a little while we will be bringing home a new live ‘doll,’ G-d willing," Tikvah answered laughingly. 
       Soon enough, the special hour of birth arrived and to the Gordon family was added a beautiful baby girl named Galit! Reuven and the children all waited in line to see the baby through the glass window in the hospital. 
       "Gordon family please," announced the nurse and placed Galit close to the window so the family could see. Reuven picked up little Yossi and everyone saw Galit clearly. They all smiled and laughed, and Galit responded by making a little fist and blinking her tiny eyelids. 
       "Daddy, does she look like me?" asked Dorit. 
       "Certainly," answered Daddy. 
       "It’s not true! She is just like me," cried Yossi angrily. 
       "Yes, certainly," answered Daddy, "she looks like you and like Avi and Mommy and Daddy too! Now let’s go and see Mommy as she misses you very much. Reuven took his children by the hand and they all proceeded to his wife’s room. When he entered, he found Rachel, as she was notified of the good news by Mr. Aharon Flam. 
       "Hello!" exclaimed Rachel happily to Reuven and patted the children’s faces. "How is the beautiful one?" 
       "Wonderful," they answered in unison.
       Afterwards, she whispered to Reuven so the children wouldn’t hear, "It looks like all that suffering was worthwhile in the end. It created more beauty and light in Galit’s face.        "I agree," answered Tikvah. 
       "Yes," confirmed Reuven, with a strong, assured voice and then laughed out loud. 
       "Yes," answered the children who did not understand, but everyone was overwhelmed with happiness. 

       Time passed and Mr. Aharon did not forget Rachel. He sent her a warm and grateful thank you note. Rachel read the letter with short breath and smiled to herself. She was feeling the true happiness that comes with helping others in a thoroughly devoted manner. Her face was beaming from the inner satisfaction that she felt. 
 
Rachel holding baby. Rachel holding Galit.

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Will There Be a Wedding?
       "Father, your blessings have been fulfilled!" exclaimed Gila happily. 
       "What blessing?" asked the elderly man, surprised but with a smile on his bearded face. "Daniel our neighbor, the boy I so want to marry, promised me that shortly we will get married!" answered Gila. 
       "Yes, my beloved daughter. I love you and I like Daniel very much. The main thing is that you should be successful and there should be harmony between you." 
       "Father, are you sad?" asked Gila in a soft voice. "Our dear mother has passed away and I promise to help you even after I get married, don’t worry." 
       There were knocks on the door that interrupted the conversation between Gila and her father. Gila went to open the door and there stood Daniel smilingly. Also Gila was happy to see her fiancee. She decided that now was the time to reveal her secret that she had kept for nearly two months. 
       Daniel said shalom to her father and walked into the dining room. "Aba, rest a while and Daniel and I will talk in the other room. A little bit afterwards, we will return for a cup of tea together." 
       Daniel sat down on the couch, taking a bit of the nuts and other sweets placed for him on the table. "How are you, dear Gila?" he asked. 
       "Boruch Hashem," answered Gila, her cheeks turned slightly red and she smiled. Gila lowered her head. Her heart beat rapidly as she took the courage to ask, "When should we make the wedding date?" 
       "Soon, but I’m not in a hurry." Then he started to stammer. "The reality of my situation . . .I . . .I. . ." He hardly managed to finish the sentence when tears started flowing down Gila’s face. She lowered her head again and waited for a proper answer from Daniel. 
       Daniel was confused. He was a clever boy and understood the pain. He lowered his eyes from the table to the floor and then to the ceiling. It was hard for him to look Gila in the face. Suddenly, he said in a loud voice, "I am sorry Gila. I don’t intend to be in such a rush. It’s true that you have a problem, but in this modern age there are other solutions. Tomorrow, I will contact a doctor and we will see how to deal with the situation." Daniel got up and said good-bye to Gila as he left the house. 
       It was to Gila’s tremendous advantage that she was a girl with deep faith in G-d. She felt strongly the reality of the Creator of the world and that in difficult times it is forbidden to despair. She would cry out to G-d and He would turn Daniel’s heart. She ran to her room, placed her head under the pillow and cried, profusely, with bursts of silent tears and then loud sobbing. This is not the same Daniel that I know and love, she said to herself and continued to cry until she fell asleep. 
       Gila’s father awakened from her crying. That’s not an ordinary crying, he thought in his heart. He got up with difficulty from his bed and walked towards Gila’s room. He was shocked at the sight of Gila lying by herself on the bed, her hair drenched with tears, the pillow soaked as well. "Gila," he cried, but she did not answer; she had fallen asleep. 
       Yaakov, who was not a young man, did not break. He was a Jew with faith and much experience in life. His youth had long departed but he understood that these were not easy times. It was possible to fall into the trap of one’s desires. 
       He decided to speak to the neighborhood Rabbi, in order to get advice about Daniel and Gila. "Shalom, dear Rabbi, I am requesting you to help my only daughter. Someone needs to persuade Daniel, her boyfriend, to marry her, do you understand?" said Yaakov. "Daniel is a nice boy. I am not angry with him. The boys nowadays don’t want to carry on their backs the yoke of family life and responsibility. 
       "Yes," answered Rabbi Shmuel. "Don’t worry, Yaakov, everything will straighten itself out even by tomorrow, G-d willing. 
       "Thank you," answered the elderly man with a sigh of gratitude. 

       Rabbi Shmuel phoned up Rachel. He didn’t worry about the late hour as he know that for these problems, she was available 24 hours a day. 
       "Hello, Mrs. Rachel. I am phoning in connection to Gila and Daniel. They need to get married and the boy is trying to duck out. I will see to it that we bring the boy to Gila’s house with gentle persuasion by 10:00 A.M. The address is Arlozorov Street, number 27, Tel-Aviv. The Peleg family," said Rabbi Shmuel in one long breath. 
       "See you tomorrow," answered Rachel. 

       The time was 5:00 A.M. The entire universe was at rest; only Rachel awakened early. In her notebook was written the address that she must reach. She was already on the way to Gila’s house. When she finally reached her destination, she was greeted at the door by Rabbi Shmuel. She smiled but looked tired from the trip. 
       "Shalom, Mrs. Rachel," he said loudly and added in a whisper, "This is not a simple matter. The boy is dodging the issue and does not want to marry Gila. 
       Rachel entered the living room. Gila was sitting on the sofa, her eyes staring at the floor. Daniel sat on the other sofa looking very nervous. Yaakov was also present. 
       "Hello, everyone," she said loudly as she sat down on the chair. She took out her notebook and pen. Then she turned to Daniel and said seriously, "In my notebook I have a few numbers of lawyers. Your details are well known, so it is a shame that you do not own up to your responsibility for Gila." 
       Rachel sat quietly for a few minutes and then she added in a soft voice, "On your face, Daniel, it shows that you are a good person. Gila is also a very nice girl. Therefore, it is an opportunity to be grasped. Please, listen to my advice that you should marry Gila. I promise you that you will not lose out from it. You will be marrying a very precious girl. Rabbi Shmuel will perform a modest wedding by the Rabbinate and I’m sure that you will be happy. 
       Daniel was indeed a gentleman. He did not answer Rachel, but tears began to pour out of his eyes. Everyone could feel that he was controlling himself from crying out loud. After a few minutes and in a quiet voice, he said, "I agree to marry Gila." 
       "Beautiful! Wonderful!" all answered at once. The happiness that pervaded the room was evident. 
       Gila ran to Rachel, hugged her emotionally and cried in joy, "Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Rachel. You are like a guardian angel. You have saved three people. Thank you!" 

       The voice of joy and happiness was heard on the 29th of Sivan, the wedding day of Gila and Daniel. Another happy household was formed. Rachel, to her sorrow, wasn’t able to participate in the wedding, but what was certain was the feeling of true happiness. She requested Rabbi Shmuel to give them a warm congratulations from her. 

       The years have passed and Rachel receives regards from the couple via Rabbi Shmuel. Daniel and Gila have already six children and they are very happy and successful. One clear day Grandpa Yaakov saw Rachel on the street. He hurried his footsteps with difficulty and cried out to her. She turned around to see who was calling her name and suddenly found herself facing Yaakov. She hid her excitement and greeted him with, "Shalom, how are you? How are the children?" 
       He answered, "I bless you that you should succeed in whatever you do!" 
       "Thank you, Grandpa Yaakov, and may you have much joy from the family. Please send to the Koren family my warmest regards. 
       Rachel turned to continue on her way; many tasks lay before her. The time is short and there is much to be done. 

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The Miracle of Chanuka
       Thursday evenings are always busy, but some Thursday evenings are busier than others. And the Thursday evening that Yocheved’s husband told her that Rabbi Joseph had called was one of those busy evenings.  Rabbi Joseph had asked Yocheved to call Shaul. Although Shaul’s the line was constantly busy, Yocheved finally managed to get a hold of him.
       “Oh,” said Shaul, after Yocheved introduced myself. “You are Yocheved, the person that Rabbi Joseph had told me to call.”
       “Yes,” answered Yocheved, before getting straight to the point. “What’s going on?”
       “I work in a factory with a lot of other people,” said Shaul, “and one of them, Suzy, will be getting married in the spring. She just found out, however, that she is pregnant.”
       Yocheved paused for a moment. It was only November, and the wedding was scheduled to take place in the spring, in another five months. Although Yocheved knew that there would be a problem, she had trust that with His help they would succeed.
       “She confided in me,” continued Shaul, “ that her boy friend would not consider changing the date of the wedding. They have already made an appointment with the hospital abortion committee.
        “What can I do?” asked Shaul. “If she discovers that I am interfering in her personal affairs, her boy friend might kill me. 
       “I recently attended a lecture by Rabbi Joseph. He said that abortion is the same as murder. How can I let somebody commit murder without trying to stop him? Can you do something?”

Yocheved asked Shaul to give her the boyfriend’s telephone number. “I’ll get one of our volunteers to speak to him,” she said. “ Suzy will never know how we got the information. We are very discreet in these matters.”

Yaffa, one of the volunteers for Yad Letinok, called up to Suzy’s boy friend. “Yoni,” she told him, “what have you got to lose? You can either make the fancy wedding a few months earlier, or buy a larger wedding gown. It’s really not a big deal.

“A life is at stake,” continued Yaffa, “the life of your own son or daughter! Just think about it!”  At this point, Yaffa began to plead with Suzy’s boyfriend, Yoni. “You know that Suzy wants this child. The child belongs to both of you. Do you want to ruin your marriage right from the start? How cruel can you be?”  But nothing seemed to help; no matter how hard Yaffa tried, she was not able to convince Yoni to change his mind.

Yaffa was desperate. She called Shaul and asked him to find out when Suzy and Yoni had scheduled the abortion. “Get hold of the doctor,” she said, “and try to delay the abortion at all costs.”  Shaul agreed. He was willing to do whatever was necessary to save a Jewish life.

Early Sunday morning, when Shaul pulled his car into the hospital parking lot, he immediately noticed that something unusual was going on. The patients were being turned away from the hospital. It only took a few minutes for Shaul to discover that there was a doctor’s strike and all non-emergency procedures were postponed. 
       “Sorry,” the receptionist told him, “but today you are out of luck.”
       “Out of luck?” yelled Shaul. “This is the greatest luck that I could possibly have.”
Shaul immediately called Yaffa with the good news. “Now we’ve got another week to get everything arranged,” said Shaul.  Yaffa was sure that with G-d’s help everything would work out. 

***

The following week was Chanuka. As Yaffa watched her husband kindle the menora, she thought of the great heroism of the Jewish woman. In the merit of Yehudit, who had risked her life to save the Jewish people, Yaffa prayed that another miracle would take place - a miracle that would save this woman and her baby to-be. Yaffa was overwhelmed by tears as she poured her heart out to her Creator.
       Yocheved also gazed intensely at the Chanuka lights. “G-d in heaven,” she began to pray, “You have performed so many miracles for our people. Please give as one more.”  With those words, Yocheved fervently began reciting Psalms, begging G-d to prevent Yoni from murdering his unborn child.

The following day, Suzy was scheduled to enter the hospital. Yaffa and Yocheved anxiously waited to hear what had actually happened.  They were surprised when Shaul called. “A miracle, a miracle!” he yelled. “The ultrasound showed that she is carrying twins. Yoni broke down and said, ‘I can’t destroy two babies.’”
       “What a miracle, a true Chanuka miracle,” cried Yaffa, as tears poured down her face. “I knew that G-d would help.”

***

The following summer, Suzy gave birth to twin girls. Shaul and Yaffa were invited to a beautiful party celebrating the babies’ births.  Of course they gave the young couple a beautiful present - and this was one baby present that Shaul and Yaffa were thrilled to give.

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The Power Of Persuasion
       “Oh! Oh!” Ephraim cried, “My back hurts. Shula, please bring me another pill!” Shula obediently went to the medicine chest and brought her husband a painkiller and a cup of water.
       “Shula, Shula,” cried Ephraim in desperation, “my back hurts so much. How long can I continue suffering? My patience is wearing thin!” 
Ephraim looked at Shula, expecting some response.
       
       “Ephraim,” said Shula, “I understand that you are suffering, but you really have no other choice but to accept it and recuperate, with G-d`s help.”
Ephraim had recently injured his spinal cord from an accident and was finding it difficult to cope with his physical limitations. But he was always pleased to listen to his wife’s words of encouragement.
       “Understand, my dear,” continued Shula, “ that it is better to accept our lot in life, and be happy and laugh , even if we have pain and suffering. Let us not allow our troubles bring us down! With patience, all will turn out for the good.”
       “Go and make lunch,” said Ephraim. “I don’t want to keep you any longer.”
Shula obediently returned to the kitchen and continued with her cooking. 
       “Shula! Shula!” she whispered to herself. “How much longer will you continue to suffer like this?  You are 43 years of age; your son Dani is now 20 years old, Elisheva is l8 and Dosi is 11 years old and you love them because they are your children. My husband suffers, he is unemployed, depressed. We can hardly make ends meet financially and on top of it all, I am now pregnant.  How will we manage?
       “I must quickly go before the abortion committee,” she said to herself. “There is no doubt that they will give me permission to abort my baby. Then I will be able to find a proper job and support my family.
       “In any case,” she continued,  “Neither Ephraim nor my children are happy that I am pregnant. I will terminate it, and then it will be forgotten, like a bad dream.”

Helen and Rebetzin Hadassa were on their way to visit Shula Prachim`s house. Helen was carrying a pre-roasted chicken, ready to be eaten, and Rebbetzin Hadassa had brought along a bag of chips to accompany the chicken. They were hoping that they would succeed in encouraging Shula to continue her pregnancy.

Almost as soon as Helen and Rebbetzin Hadassa entered Shula’s home, they began to discuss the situation with her. “Listen, dear Shula,” said Helen. “Don’t worry about your economic situation. Rebbetzin Hadassa will make arrangements for you to receive a monthly stipend.
       “There is no reason on earth that could possibly justify terminating the life of  a Jewish  child,” continued Rebbetzin Hadassa. “I am certain that the same G-d who helped you raise Dani, Elisheva and Dosi will help you raise this next one.”
        “You are 100% correct,” chimed in Helen. “Look at your beautiful children. They belong to you and they love you.”
       “Perhaps you should speak to my husband,” replied Shula with great difficulty. “It is not just dependent on my opinion.” 

Although Dani and Elisheva were in another room, they were paying close attention to their mother’s conversation.
       “Why are they butting in to our mother’s private life?” Dani asked his sister angrily.
       “Those two women could not possibly understand our mother’s situation,” replied Elisheva. “They think they can solve our family’s problems. We will explain to them just how difficult things really are.”
       “We will go and yell at them,” continued Dani. “Let’s tell them to leave us alone and stop intervening in our problems.”

Their younger sister, Dosi, suddenly interrupted the conversation.  “But why do you say that we have a problem?” she asked. When she saw the stunned look on her brother and sister’s faces, she continued emphatically. “Yes! I want a baby, a baby girl. I will call her Liraz and she will look just like me. I’ll brag about her to my friends in school and I’ll by her nice pins. I will even take her for a walk in the carriage every afternoon so that Mom will be able to rest.”

While Dosi was speaking, Dani’s face became serious. He affectionately patted his younger sister and looked at her beautiful eyes. Although no one spoke, Dani and Elisheva exchanged glances expressing their deep despair. 

At that moment Helen and Rebbetzin Hadassa entered the room. “You are right,” said Helen, clapping her hands. “It is possible that the present situation is not good for another baby. But what will happen in a few years time?”
       “Yes,” continued Rebbetzin Hadassa. “In another few years you will have regrets. How will you feel when people will say that it was you who persuaded your mother to kill your future brother or sister?”
       “Try to understand what it means to bring a new baby into your family,” continued Helen softly. “ A new baby is a precious a gift.”

Dani and Elisheva lowered their heads in shame.
       “Now let us discuss this with Ephraim,” said Helen to Rebbetzin Hadassa. “I am beginning to have hope.”
       “But my husband will not be willing to meet you,” interrupted Shula, who had just walked into the room. “I don’t see any hope.”
       “Listen,” said Rebbetzin Hadassa, “Ephraim is sitting in the living room. It will not hurt if we try to discuss this with him.”
       “Ephraim,” began Helen with a bright smile, “you have raised three flowers (Prachim is translated as flowers in English), and now there will be a fourth one.  How happy we are for you.”
        “What flowers are you talking about?” asked Ephraim. “I am not so clever and do not to understand hints.” Ephraim suddenly stopped and began to hold his back in agony. “Oih! Oih! My back,” he yelled. “Shula, please bring me another pill.”
       “The flowers I mentioned are your children,” Helen calmly replied. “We have already spoken with your wife and children, and explained everything to them. We have also promised to give your family financial support.”
       “ And I can promise you that G-d will help,” continued Rebbetzin Hadassa. “It is a shame to worry so much.”
        “I still do not understand what you are talking about,” muttered Ephraim, but by the tone of his voice, you could see that his heart was beginning to soften from the ladies’ warm words.
       “We will carry out a vote, to see who wants this baby,” continued Ephraim. When he saw that everyone in the family wanted the child, he began to laugh. 
       “Good, good,” he chuckled. “If everyone wants this baby, then so do I.”
        “Father, why are you laughing?” asked Dosi, who was laughing as well.
       “My father can laugh if he wants,” giggled Elisheva. Those words broke the ice, and everyone began laughing hysterically.
       “What is happening here?” asked Shula as she walked into the living room. Within a few moments she, too, had joined in the merriment. She laughed so hard that the cup of water began to spill and she quickly placed it on the table next to her husband’s pills. 
       “Now I understand,” said Shula, while her eyes shined with joy. “The flower will remain.”

 Shula knew that the child would be named Liraz, just as Dosi had said.

The Prachim family – Ephraim, Shula, Dani, Elisheva and Dosi – are all crazy about their little sister, Liraz. (Raz means secret in English.)

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