Pesach will be here before we blink, and mothers across the globe are beginning to prepare. There is loads of cleaning and cooking to do, and even the most seasoned Shaatra will find it hard to complete all the work by herself. But the good news is that Mom does not need to do everything alone. Now that the kids are home for an extended Pesach break, the best way to keep them busy and get everything done in record time is by turning your family into a Pesach Prep team. That’s right – as much as possible, involve your children in the Pesach preparations in a fun and upbeat way, and your house will be ready right on time for the holiday.  

NOT A CRUMB IN SIGHT 

Before you begin Pesach cleaning, and before you involve your children, remind yourself that you are doing Pesach cleaning and not Spring cleaning. This means that you don’t need to dust the drapes (unless you think it’s possible that they house hametz), throw out old clothes, or organize the pile of papers and photographs in the office. If you have time to do all that, then great. But if not, remember that the obligation is to get rid of hametz and not clutter or dust. Get clear on what your goal is so you can have a hametz-free house without becoming unnecessarily overwhelmed. 

Once the task is clear, you can put on some music and show your children how to get involved in Pesach cleaning. With a little patience, you can teach your children to clean. If you make sure to have a positive attitude, or even get creative and turn cleaning into a game, you may be surprised to find out that the kids actually enjoy contributing to the Pesach preparations! 

Children can be trained to clean their own bedrooms and drawers. They can learn to wash their toys with soap and water and dry them. They can be taught to look for food and crumbs, and to dispose of any that they may find. True, Mom will have to supervise and look the room over for any hametz that may have been missed, but when the kids lend a hand, a lot more will get done. And to top it all off, the children will walk away with a sense of family camaraderie and purpose, knowing that they have contributed to getting the home ready for the beautiful Pesach holiday. 

KOSHER FOR PASSOVER 

Once the kitchen is koshered, you can enlist your children to help cook. Young children can follow simple cooking instructions. You can allow them to peel and clean vegetables, and once you slice them, they can put them into a pot of water, if it is not hot. Of course, older children can check rice, as well as help with preparing dishes and desserts.  

If the prospect of involving the children in the cooking process seems overwhelming, you can find other chores for them to do, such as throwing out garbage and keeping the kitchen clean as you cook. Older children can keep the younger children busy with a project or activity while you accomplish all you need to in the kitchen. 

EREV PESACH 

Come erev Pesach, the house will be clean and the food will be prepared, but the table will still need to be set and the Pesach plate filled with all of the symbolic Pesach foods. 

Children can become involved in each of these undertakings. They can help cover the table with a tablecloth, set place settings at each chair, and fold napkins. In addition, they can prepare plates with each of the Pesach foods that all those present at the seder will partake in. For instance, children can peel the hard boiled eggs and arrange them nicely on a platter, and can put spoonfuls of haroset into bowls for each guest. Children can make any other age-appropriate contributions and should be praised for their efforts.  

SEDER NIGHT 

Once you arrive at seder night, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s time to focus on the children and tell them the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim. Children of all ages should have a chance to say Mah Nishtanah, read divre Torah, and ask any pertinent questions. 

In the days leading up to the seder, give your children the chance to become active participants in the Pesach preparations. And on seder night, when we have a mitzvah to teach our children about all that happened to us as a nation, remind yourself that involving the children is what Pesach is all about!

Hashem, in His infinite wisdom sends shelichim, messengers, or angels, to guide us along our path. For Shawn Michael Yosef Balva, a native of Las Vegas sentenced to eight years in prison for armed robbery, a number of shelichim helped him along the arduous path to teshuvah. The first angel Shawn encountered was Adir, a 6’2, 40-year-old African American man named Adir (“mighty” in Hebrew). Adir was covered with tattoos, including “Adir” tattooed under his left eye.  

Shawn, then 21, met Adir in the synagogue in the Victorville Federal Correctional Institution in California in 2016. Adir was wrapped in a tallit, and his prayers, which he enunciated quietly and slowly, appeared to spring from some sacred place within.  The former gang member was serving a 56-year sentence. He had been in jail for 22 years, since he was 18, and had been a practicing Jew for the last 14 years.  

“I couldn’t believe what I saw – a person praying in jail, wearing a tallit,” the now 27-year-old Shawn recalls. He recognized that Adir  was not an ordinary criminal but was a man with a unique and transcendent spirit. 

“Through the tough guy exterior, I felt an aura of something special.  I didn’t see a criminal or an evil spirit within him.  He was not scary looking.  I saw, instead, a man in great pain but with great humility.  I saw a man who lives spiritually above and beyond the physical constraints surrounding him.” 

The Beginning of a Journey 

Adir, on his part, recognized in Shawn a wavering Jewish spirit seeking redemption.  Their relationship slowly developed and blossomed and paved the way for Shawn’s journey from spiritual darkness to his spiritual roots and Gd. 

“Adir loved me. He made sure that I had tefillin every day, that I was eating kosher.  He taught me the Alef Bet in a loving, brotherly way.  We observed Shabbat together and studied together. He was my Eliyahu HaNavi.  He inspired me in a way that no rabbi could ever have done because, at the time, only those who could break through to me were the bad people who were into their bad music.” 

For Shawn, Adir was a godsend.  He would be one of many shelichim who propelled Shawn homeward – including Rabbis Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and Mordechai Yitzchak Samet, whom he later met in the Otisville Federal Correctional Institute in Upstate New York.   Each of these guiding spirits, rabbis and formerly violent offenders alike,  shared with Shawn their wisdom, unique experiences, and profound belief in Gd and the ultimate rightness of the world, just when he needed to learn those lessons the most.  

Shawn has incorporated their lessons well.  Today, while serving the remainder of his time in a Nevada halfway house, he lives a religious life.  He works in sales, prays at Chabad three times daily, and spends Shabbat with his mother and two brothers. 

Shawn also shared his personal story of redemption with thousands of Jews through a Mishpacha Magazine article titled “The Comeback Kid” and has written a book, soon to be published by Menucha Publishers, expanding on these lessons learned. 

“While suffering in prison, I wrote down many thoughts on emunah and bitachon. I don’t want those experiences to be lost.  When you go through something so profound as I did, you can either sink back into that tumah or use that experience to help others and help shine a light through the darkness,” he says. 

A Little History – The Road Down                                                                          

From age 12, Shawn Balva was on a downward trajectory, from being a much-acclaimed football hero with dreams of playing professionally to an out-of-control gun-carrying drug addict who would do anything to satisfy his quest for instant gratification. 

Shawn’s was a twilight existence disconnected from family and self.  Neither his Sephardic Israeli father nor his Ashkenazi American mother were practicing Jews, although his father maintained a profound belief in Hashem.  His parents divorced when he was five. Five years later, his mother married a man who was psychologically abusive to his mother and the children, and would later serve time for fraud.  

But, Shawn refuses to blame his dysfunctional home situation for his own decline or disastrous life choices.  He believes that would be the easy way out and is also fundamentally not true.  Instead, he feels that taking personal responsibility is what his journey is about.  It’s also about learning to redirect inner energies away from the bad and toward the good.  

He was only five years old when he began to succumb to what he calls his dark side.  

“When my parents divorced, I became attracted to rap and hip hop music.  I probably didn’t understand what the words meant, but I was attracted to their beat and dark energy.  Even at that young age, I carried a pocketknife and bad pictures.  I wasn’t psychologically disturbed and didn’t hit anyone.  Still, I didn’t have a normal kid mentality either. I never felt free.  I felt like an old soul.” 

On the other hand, Shawn was highly protective of his mother and younger siblings, standing up for them against his abusive stepfather, a gambling addict. 

The Football Lifeline 

Football kept Shawn going.  The top players lived in the African-American ghettos, so he arranged to join their team. 

“I felt such a connection to them.  They lived in a physical ghetto where there was crime, poverty, and not enough to eat.  Similarly, I lived within a metaphorical ghetto.  My mother had married someone I didn’t want around. I was always anxious, nervous, crying out for help.” 

Had it not been for football, the now 6’ 3” Shawn would have gotten into trouble earlier.  “I loved the attention. I was a little star. [People told me] you are the man!  That blew my mind and gave me a sense of entitlement.  My entire life was football.” 

His mother loved it.  She was so proud.  She spent hours watching him play during practice.  Her dream was for him to make it professionally.  “I remember her eyes resting on me like an angel’s.  My biological father never watched me play, even though he lived in Vegas.  All I had was my mom, football, and that community of players – mainly African Americans.” 

Unfortunately, Shawn’s natural talent worked against him.  Because he was so good at the game, his teachers and coaches ignored his bad behavior and his quiet cries for help.  His rebellion and negative attitude were irrelevant.  So, what if he stole?  What mattered was delivering wins for the team. 

At 16, during his sophomore year, Shawn’s behavior got worse.  Of all his classmates, the rebellious ones attracted him the most – their music and their partying.  Once Shawn was  invited to a party and he attended, against his mother’s wishes.  It was the first time he smoked, drank, or tried drugs.  That little push was all it took for him to fly over the edge, for which he still blames himself. 

“I have an extreme, addictive personality.  I get influenced by my surroundings, the music I listen to, and the friends I associate with.  Many kids drink, smoke, and do drugs but eventually let go and return to reality.  However, I developed a thirst for instant gratification.  At first, football satisfied my inner emptiness.  Later, it was drugs and a criminal lifestyle.  I kept telling myself, “It feels so good. Why not do this all the time?”  I went to the extreme with everything.  If I fell in love with something, I went all the way.  For this reason, finding Hashem was later a blessing for me.” 

Shawn was arrested six months before his 21st birthday. 

The Spiritual Quest Begins 

Shawn’s spiritual quest had already begun six months earlier.  It was then that the good within him started sending out messages.  “If you don’t stop what you’re doing, it will only get worse,” the voice inside him said.  Still, he couldn’t get himself to stop taking drugs.  After his arrest, a veil lifted.  He viewed his fellow inmates at the Las Vegas County Jail, his first residence of incarceration, not as heroes but with disgust. 

“It’s one thing to see people doing drugs and partying while wearing nice clothes.  But here was the real thing. You end up looking like a junky and possibly dying in prison.  I had hit rock bottom and couldn’t take it anymore.  I had been lying to my mother to buy drugs, which were plentiful and expensive in jail.  I wasn’t eating.  Surely, life offered me more than this.” 

Then the messages became externalized.  One tattooed inmate assured him that he mustn’t despair and that his life would improve.  Another whispered, “Gd bless you,” as he left the prison on bail.  Shawn’s mother, forever encouraging, foresaw him living a beautiful Jewish life.  Shawn was born on March 31st.  He realized that he began to see the number 31 all over, on his watch, on the radio, and everywhere he looked. He took this as a sign to remind him of who he was and of his higher purpose.  Then, the realization hit.  “If I’m going to live a positive life, I have to do Judaism all the way.” 

His inclination to do bad slowly evolved toward a quest for spiritual redemption. 

The day before he entered Victorville Penitentiary, he stopped taking drugs.  He then met Adir, who helped to accelerate his transformation significantly.  “If not for Adir, I would not have changed all the way.” 

Otisville                        

The Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, NY, is about as safe as it gets.  Located 35 miles south of Kiryat Joel and Monsey, it is the place for Jewish white-collar offenders.  Under the chaplaincy of Chabad’s Rabbi Avraham Richter, Jews can daven with a minyan and receive all they need to live a religious life while serving their time. 

For Shawn, being transferred there was like being transported into an alternative universe.  “I could finally breathe freely.  I was no longer terrified of Victorville’s Whites, Blacks, Mexican, and Native American gangs asserting their power and influence in the most violent ways, and where I constantly feared for my life.” 

There in Otisville, about twenty religious Jews welcomed him warmly into their family.  The first weeks were exhausting. He constantly studied Hebrew and Torah, making up for lost time.  He also closely watched the behavior of those individuals whose actions would impact him most significantly. 

Two of those people were Rabbis Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and Mordechai Yitzchak Samet, each of whom encompassed qualities he had never seen before – absolute faith in Gd and His ways.  “They truly believed that Hashem wanted them there in prison to teach others Torah, and that He would open those prison doors for them when the time was right,” Shawn says. 

How could he gauge their sincerity?  “I learned a lot from playing football. You could tell from players’ eyes if they wanted to be on the field.  Some guys are halfway there. Rabbi Rubashkin was all the way in.  There was something so different about him.  He wasn’t just telling you to have faith in Hashem or that “we can go home any minute.” He constantly prayed, studied, and did mitzvot.  He was busier than the president.  I never saw him play basketball or watch TV.  For me, he was the answer.  I don’t want to do anything halfway. What I recognized in him was a true soldier for Hashem.”  

But how do you develop that kind of faith and build that kind of inner strength?  These were questions Shawn struggled with. 

Rabbi Samet would answer some of these questions for Shawn simply by being who he was.   

When Shawn entered Otisville, Rabbi Samet had served 14 years of a 27-year sentence for financial crimes, which was later reduced to nineteen years.  The Satmar Chassid left soon after Shawn arrived to fight his case in another prison, returning three years later.  So, at age 25, Shawn began studying with the renowned talmid hacham, who mentored him personally, especially about emunah.   

When Shawn shared his struggles, questions, and challenges with him, Rabbi Samet gently reminded him that they stemmed from an absence of emunah.  Shawn found these answers initially disappointing.  But Rabbi Samet, a father of ten and grandfather of many, helped Shawn to see the bigger picture. Shawn realized that his disappointment resulted from a lack of understanding and not from something lacking in the answers he received.  Shawn eventually understood that even suffering could catalyze spiritual growth if you do the inner work necessary. 

“He [Rabbi Samet] didn’t say to leave it all in Gd’s hands and lie back.  The work he was putting in affected me so profoundly.  He was accomplishing, writing two books, and studying and praying with tears flowing down his cheeks.  I stopped wanting to be other people and started wanting to be the Shawn I could become.” 

On the Right Path  

How does Shawn know he’s now on the right path? 

He doesn’t hesitate to answer.  An African American man who spent years in prison once told him that a person’s potential is estimated by how much good he can do for others.  That ability is what he saw in abundance in Rabbis Rubashkin and Samet. Shawn modestly asserts that helping others (and one way he has done that is by writing a book about his experiences to inspire others) and living a full Jewish life is what he strives for.   

Since Shawn began living a Jewish religious life, many doors filled with positive energy opened for him.  He also touched many lives through the April 2020 Mishpacha Magazine article, inspiring others to overcome challenges. 

“Before, I was hurting my mother and brothers.  Now the responses I get worldwide are so beautiful, appreciative, and encouraging.  Family, friends, and even strangers are happy with me.  That’s how I know I’m doing the right thing.” 

One of the highlights of the seder is drinking the Four Cups of wine. The Four Cups symbolize the four expressions of redemption; Ve’hotseiti, Ve’hetsalti, Ve’gaalti, and Ve’lakahti. Each one of these phrases represents a different stage of the redemption. Ve’hotseiti – and I will take them out from under the servitude of Mitsrayim, the end of the slavery. Ve’hetsalti – and I will save them so that they are no longer under Egyptian rule. Ve’gaalti – and I will redeem them, referring to the Splitting of the Sea. Ve’lakahti – I will take them as a nation through the giving of the Torah. 

Which wine should I buy? 

The wine used for the seder should preferably be red, as red wine is considered superior to white. Additionally, red wine reminds us of the Jewish blood spilled by Pharaoh, the plague of blood cast upon the Egyptians, and the blood libels that followed Jews around the world over the centuries. 

When wine is “mevushal” – cooked or heated beyond a certain temperature, it reduces the quality of the wine. It is preferable to use non-mevushal wine for the Four Cups. Once a bottle of non-mevushal wine is opened, one should ensure a non-Jew does not touch it, as it can become problematic and forbidden to derive benefit from it. Generally, Kedem narrow 750 ml. bottles (without a cork) are mevushal and their wider 1.5-liter bottles are non-mevushal.

May I drink grape juice for the Four Cups? 

Grape juice may be used by one who cannot tolerate wine. However, there are numerous wines that meet all halachic requirements and are low in alcohol such as Moscato, Kedem Concord Kal (Sweet, 3.5 percent alcohol), Matuk Kal Soft (Semi-dry, 4.5 percent alcohol), and Rashi Light Red Concord (5.5 percent alcohol). 

May I dilute the wine? 

One may dilute the wine with grape juice, as long as the mixture retains an alcohol level of 3.5 percent, as this can still be considered wine. If necessary, wine may be diluted with a small portion of water as well, as long as it does not significantly detract from the taste. Before diluting, one must ensure that the wine was not previously diluted by the producer. Wine producers may legally add water without noting this on the label, therefore one should be careful before adding water. 

How much wine must I drink? 

The cup must hold at least three ounces – a reviit. Ideally, one should drink a majority of the cup, regardless of what size the cup is, and preferably the entire cup. The minimum one must drink is a majority of a reviit. This amount should be drunk in one gulp or two quick consecutive gulps.

When is the earliest time to recite Kiddush? 

Although during the year one may recite Kiddush immediately when coming home from the synagogue, on Pesah evening, since the cup for Kiddush is one of the Four Cups, one should wait until nightfall to recite Kiddush. At that time, one should start Kiddush right away to ensure that the children are awake during the reading of the Haggadah and eating of the matsah.

How should I lean? 

 One should lean onto something like a pillow or a chair, not just hang in the air. When leaning, the entire body should be tilted at a forty-five-degree angle. It is not enough to just lean one’s neck. The leaning is done to the left side even for one who is left-handed.

What if I forgot to lean? 

One should make sure to lean when drinking all Four Cups. If one forgot to lean when drinking one of the Four Cups, he should drink it again while leaning. A new berachah rishonah is not recited when re-drinking. According to some opinions if a woman forgot to lean she does not have to drink the cup again.

Do I make a berachah aharonah of al hagefen after the last cup?

If one drank a full reviit (3 oz.) for the third or fourth cup,  a berachah aharonah is recited, provided it was drunk in either one gulp or two quick gulps. If one did not drink a full reviit, he should not make a berachah aharonah. If possible, the best thing to do in such a case would be to listen to someone else’s berachah and have in mind to fulfill your obligation.  

Stressed about planning your upcoming family vacation? Here are some essential travel tips to help make your next family vacation fun, enjoyable, and memorable. 

Call a Family Meeting 

Sit down with the kids before your vacation and let them know where you’re going and what to expect on your trip. Talk to them about what they may experience while traveling (security check-ins, long lines, delays, annoying passengers, turbulence, etc.) so they will be well prepared and not become anxious or nervous if things don’t go exactly as planned. This meeting will also offer an opportunity to talk about any restrictions  and rules you might have for your trip (such as internet access, curfews, monetary budgets, etc.).  

Get Everyone Involved 

Let every member of the family select one thing that they’d like to do on the vacation. This will allow everyone to feel more involved and will get the vacation off to a fun and exciting start. If you have a limited budget, you should explain that at the outset and set a dollar figure for how much things can cost. Let the kids do some research to find things they’d like to do, and encourage them to search for bargains and discount coupons. 

Be Organized 

Make a list of items that your family will need to bring on your trip. These include travel documents, proper ID, first aid kit, medications, and telephone numbers of your doctors and medical insurance company. Be sure to check the passport and visa requirements several months in advance.  

Prepare to Have Fun 

Travel plans are often made far in advance of the trip, but out of sight doesn’t have to mean out of mind. Pick up some travel brochures and a guidebook and share them with your kids. Look for books that are set in your vacation destination and read them together. The internet contains a variety of websites with photos of your destination and information on activities. 

Pray for the Best but Be Prepared for the Worst 

Take a few additional items in your carry-on luggage along with medications and travel documents, such as a change of clothing in case your luggage gets lost. Bring plenty of travel games, snacks, tissues, and drinks. Be prepared to toss unfinished drinks at security if you are flying. Think ahead and plan for occurrences such as flight delays or cancellations, sickness, or bad weather. It may be a good idea to purchase travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. 

Pack a Positive Attitude 

Attitude is extremely important when going on a family vacation. If unforeseen events happen, stay calm, flexible, and upbeat. Relax and go with the flow. Your children will learn important life lessons from watching how you handle these unexpected “tests.” Plus, you’ll have a much better time on your trip. 

Scheduling Is Key 

If your child has a nap schedule, take that into consideration when making your travel plans. If you’re traveling by plane, make sure to leave extra time for unexpected delays. If you’re traveling by car, travel early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid traffic congestion and let the kids nap. The trip will be so much more enjoyable for the entire family.  

Set a Comfortable Pace 

Keep in mind that each family member will have different likes and preferences. Things to keep in mind are their sleeping schedules (what time they wake up and go to sleep), eating habits, activities of interests, and energy levels. Respect your family members’ differences and be willing to bend the rules a bit if necessary. Allowing your teen to sleep for an extra hour in the morning might make all the difference in having a great time on your family vacation. 

Allow for Private Time 

Family vacations do not mean that you have to spend every single minute together. Everyone needs a little break sometimes, especially responsible teens and young adults. It may be a good idea to plan accordingly and include some “alone periods” in your trip.  

Leave the Expectations at Home 

Family vacations are one of most anticipated events of the year, but rarely does everything goes exactly as planned. There are bound to be unexpected bumps along the way.  If you follow these travel tips and have the right attitude, you and your family should have an enjoyable vacation together – with or without the bumps. If something does come up that was not part of the plan, don’t dwell on it – just go with it. Sometimes those vacations where things don’t go as planned make the best vacation memories of all.

When the doctor said, “It’s cancer,” I literally fell off the exam table.  This is not possible, I think.  This is not supposed to happen to guys like me.  I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I never did drugs in my life!  And I exercise, literally every single day. My friends laugh at me because I eat too healthy.   This is not possible.  But I look at my wife’s face and I started to believe.  And then my doctor confirms:  “This is not the kind of cancer that you can live with.  This is the type that kills you.”  Except it didn’t – RCCS took on my case. 

One Act of Hesed Snowballs 

Rofeh Cholim Cancer Services, RCCS, is the global organization that helps Jewish patients navigate the harrowing journey through cancer care with financial assistance, medical guidance, and emotional support.  The legacy of RCCS began 27 years ago when Rabbi Herschel Kohn discovered that a neighbor who was diagnosed with cancer could not afford his health insurance premium and Rabbi Kohn offered to pay it for him.  Rabbi Kohn soon learned that there were many people in the same situation and he wanted to do more.  After consulting with rabbanim, he received haskama from Rav Pam, zt”l, and Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, to form the organization now referred to as RCCS.  Rabbi Cohen, and his son Eli, continue to support the organization financially, as well as serving as president and executive vice-president of the board, respectively. 

What began as a generous act of hesed, has expanded exponentially to service the needs of the greater global Jewish community.  RCCS currently has a staff of 75, working both here and in Jerusalem.  They serve 40-50 new patients per week, worldwide, seeking guidance on how to manage and finance the patients’ cancer care.   When a client contacts RCCS, regardless of where they are in their cancer journey or what services they require, they are assigned a case manager who oversees and coordinates the services they receive.  “Our patients may come to us strictly for help with the financial aspects of their cancer care, or only for medical referrals, or to access all our services,” explains Rabbi Chaim Rapfogel, COO of RCCS. “We follow the patient’s wishes and work b’shalom with any other organizations already providing services to the client.  Our goal is to bring light into the black hole of a cancer diagnosis.”  The care manager establishes a main point of contact within the organization. He follows the details of a client’s case, and refers them to appropriate departments as necessary. The care manager assures that the patient is aware of all RCCS services available to them. This streamlines the process, during a very stressful time.   

Managing Health Insurance  

In keeping with the initial objectives of the founders, RCCS’s foremost goal is to help cancer patients and their families navigate through the perplexing puzzle that is health insurance coverage.  A cancer patient’s chances for survival and recovery are greatly reduced if he or she lacks the best insurance policy and access to the best doctors, life-saving procedures, and exorbitantly priced medications.  Rabbi Rapfogel describes how RCCS helps patients with the whole insurance piece of their cancer care.  “By assessing the patients insurance plan, we can determine if their insurance policy will allow them to access the best cancer care.  Once we have found their plan to be sufficient, we educate the patients and ensure that they are accessing and receiving everything they are entitled to.”  Recognizing the staggering cost of cancer care,  RCCS will, in many cases, pay insurance premiums on behalf of the patient, alleviating one stressor, as they did for Solomon Zarif.  “When my wife, who was pregnant, was diagnosed in 2019, we didn’t have the health insurance that would cover the treatments she needed.  When we contacted RCCS, not only did they guide us in the complex world of insurance, they paid our premiums for three years.  RCCS handled one part of the cancer war for us and their guidance was immensely helpful.”  RCCS also offers financial assistance to help defray prohibitive expenses not covered under patients’ standard insurance policies, such as deductibles and co-pays, and RCCS also covers consultations and second opinions when a specialist does not participate with the patient’s insurance policy. 

The staggering debt associated with cancer treatments can destroy a family’s finances and peace of mind. According to CNBC, a new study from academic researchers found 66.5 percent  (two thirds) of people who file for bankruptcy cite medical issues – either because of high costs of care or time out of work – as a key contributor to their financial downfall.  RCCS financial services department ensures that this statistic is not an inevitable outcome for families already fighting the excruciating battle against cancer.  Whether the primary breadwinner is the patient or becomes the caregiver to a sick spouse or child, the financial security of the family can be ruptured.  In cases where there is a loss of wages, RCCS will search for outside grants to support the family. 

Aside from paying insurance premiums, which usually average $18,000 – $24,000 per year per patient, subsidizing out of pocket costs and other costs not covered by insurance, RCCS staff members are trained to advocate for patients when insurance companies deny their claims.  One client shares :  “Our bill for the medical care our son received was $274,000.  We were ready to mortgage our home to pay the bill.  Then we contacted RCCS who assured us they would do everything they could to help us.  A few weeks later they called to say ‘your bill is $0.’”  RCCS recouped over $12 million dollars for patients last year alone.  

Guiding Patients  

RCCS knows that fighting cancer is more than just dealing with health insurance. It’s about being thrust into an overwhelming and complex medical system and being desperate for the right information – which doctor to use, what to ask and which life-saving decision to make.   There are many wonderful doctors and hospitals and a myriad of treatments.  How can a patient propelled into the obscure world of cancer find the proper course that will help to bring about their cure?  The RCCS medical services staff have that knowledge, and dedicate themselves to sensitively guide patients so that they are informed and directed to the best resources for them.   

The Medical Staff Par Excellence  

RCCS has many volunteers who play important roles in the organization. But  the RCCS medical staff are paid employees of the organization.  Staff members are trained by RCCS and undergo intensive, immersive training in specific areas of cancer, allowing them to form connections in the medical field and to have extensive knowledge of cutting-edge treatments available worldwide for that type of cancer.  Doctors will often come to the RCCS office to train staff members and answer their questions on new procedures and protocols.  Some physicians will spend after-work hours consulting with an RCCS medical staff member on particular cases. 

Unlike most employees, though, those on the RCCS medical staff are not bound by the classic 9-5 in the office schedule.  Because cancer patients do not have the luxury of time, the medical staff are on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Most doctors do not keep those hours!  So, when a nine-year-old girl living in Israel was told she must have her eye removed due to cancer of the retina, within six hours of the diagnosis, RCCS medical staff had secured an appointment with a doctor at Sloan Kettering, arranged for flights to the U.S. There the child received treatment that shrunk the tumor and saved her eye.   

Saving Lives  

Another family was told that their loved one would be permanently intubated, meaning she would never breathe on her own, or be able to speak or eat and drink normally.  At that point the family reached out to RCCS – it was erev Yom Kippur.  The doctor they contacted in Pittsburgh said, “Get the patient to me within 24 hours.”  The RCCS team worked through the night, making all the arrangements necessary to get the patient to her destination.  Baruch Hashem, after several months, she returned home breathing on her own. 

And then there is the story of the man who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer – a cancer with no cure. When the member of the RCCS medical staff looked at the radiology reports and scans in the patient’s file, the reports did not add up to that diagnosis.  Cautiously, they advised the family to look further.  After more testing and research, doctors discovered that the patient had a rare, but curable, form of lymphoma.  

The Medical Team  

Rabbi Zishe Lowy, Global Director of Medical Services, eloquently describes the RCCS medical team as “a unique group of 25 individuals, both here and in Israel, who have a strong innate curiosity and interest in understanding diseases and their treatments, an in-depth ability to understand, and a desire to live the lifestyle of 24/7 accessibility to our patients.  They literally live the cancer journey with the patient and their family.  Their involvement is much more than a desire to help people.  Ninety-nine percent of klal Yisrael want to help people.  This is a lifestyle that they embrace wholeheartedly.  

“The medical staff are the forceful advocates who diplomatically fight for the best options for the patient, while safeguarding their relationship with the medical professionals.  RCCS has cultivated a relationship of mutual respect and support with the global medical community. When doctors have difficulty coordinating financial arrangements between the hospital and the insurance company that is denying the patient’s claim, they contact RCCS to intervene.  Because of long standing relationships with all insurance companies, RCCS was able to get the insurance company to reconsider the claim and guaranteed the hospital payment if the insurance company did not reverse its decision.   Doctors will regularly refer to RCCS as ‘our colleagues.’  They see RCCS as part of the team, dedicated to curing cancer patients. 

“Our medical staff is a well set up machine that eliminates all obstacles, insurance, bureaucratic, financial, or otherwise, to get the patient the best medical care possible,” Rabbi Lowy concluded.  But it is a “machine” with a heart of gold.  Asher Antebi became familiar with RCCS when his mother-in-law, a”h, was diagnosed.  “The guidance they provided was most valuable, but the level of caring was outstanding.  They do everything with feeling, both for the patient and the family members.”   

Joey Shamie had a similar experience.  “In everything they did for me, they treated me like I was one of their own.  They opened doors for me and made connections that helped me every step of the way.  How blessed are we to have organizations like this one.” 

Funding for the Cause 

An organization that has served 4,630 patients worldwide with an annual budget of $19.5 million does not thrive without the financial help and support of the global Jewish community.  The organization holds parlor meetings and fundraising events that are successful in raising funds for the organization. But with so many worthy organizations to support and charitable dollars being limited, fundraising can be a challenge.  

Daniel Hadar, Director of Community Outreach and Development, cultivates one-on-one relationships in his efforts to find supporters of RCCS.  “Many donors will tell me, ‘I only support Torah institutions,’ and I tell them that by supporting RCCS, you are supporting Torah because we prevent rabbanim and Torah scholars from going bankrupt due to the medical costs of cancer care.  We help them to continue learning Torah.”  This philosophy encourages supporters to expand their mindset of giving.  Hadar continues, “It hurts me to hear that people are sick, and unfortunately this illness does not discriminate based on our background or heritage.  I have seen patients from every segment of the community utilize our services, and likewise, I have been gratified to receive donations from generous community members.” Rabbi David Ozeri commends the work of RCCS and says,  “I have seen the care, the concern, and the amazing efforts that RCCS puts into each case.  They are an important organization serving our community and they deserve our generous support.”   

Sharing the Responsibility 

Joey Shamie shares this heartfelt message,  “We have been blessed to be part of our illustrious community and a remarkable worldwide community. It is our responsibility to support RCCS, not just for ourselves or our loved ones, but for our neighbors, our friends, and our entire Jewish family across the world.  Everyone should be involved, as this is the legacy of Am Yisrael. It will be the most rewarding thing you do.” 

Like a homeowner’s insurance policy, we must have or the Hatzalah sticker we affix to our telephone but hope we never have to use, RCCS is the organization that we vitally need and whose services we hope we never utilize.  When the doctor says, “It’s cancer” as the title of Betty Rollin’s 1976 book suggests, First You Cry, and then you call RCCS. 

RCCS’ goal is to ensure that every single family battling cancer has the information, care, and support they need to know that they are never alone.   

To access RCCS services call: 718-722-2002.  To become a partner in funding miracles contact Daniel Hadar at 646-648-0877 or visit the website at rccscancer.org.

The busiest day of the year for Jews the world over is erev bedikat hametz, the day preceding Pesach, when the clock is ticking towards the time when all hametz must be out of the house, and preparations for the Pesach seder are coming to a crescendo. It was on this day that a frazzled woman called the Mitzvah Man Hotline.  

But she was not the typical type of caller, in need of urgent help with something beyond her means.  

“I own a children’s clothing store,” the caller began, “and I just received one hundred cartons containing 1,000 units of high-end beautiful baby clothing. The problem is that the shipment arrived late, due to a foul up on its way to another country. I don’t have use for all this clothing right now. And there are one hundred cartons sitting on my sidewalk, blocking the entrance  to my house! Might you have someone who can take it? I want to donate this entire shipment – but it has to be picked up right away!” 

This is the type of problem the Mitzvah Man office loves to solve! We began brainstorming in the Mitzvah Man office. Aha! We located the phone number for a baby gemach that had contacted us in the past. 

We called the number immediately. They couldn’t believe their ears! The gemach sent volunteers who eagerly picked up all one hundred boxes, amazed at their good fortune. The gemach had been running low on clothing, and the organizers had no idea where they could find what they needed so close to Pesach. And the woman who donated the baby clothes was grateful as well. The boxes were no longer blocking her door, and she had the merit to do a remarkable mitzvah. 

Pesach is a time we especially feel Hashem’s Hand directing us with hasgacha pratit – and this is certainly true for the Mitzvah Man organization!