There are hundreds of needy widows, orphans and families living throughout Israel. One organization that is there to help is Ezri, endorsed by Rabbi Ovadyah Yosef, Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu, the Mekubal Rabbi Yakov Adess, Rabbi Yakov Shapira and other leading rabbis in our community. Ezri has been helping Israelis in need for a long time, working one-on-one to provide the greatest assistance possible.
Ezri has also received the blessing of Rabbi David Abuhasera from Naharia and the “milkman” Rabbi Chaim Cohen.
We asked Rabbi Ronnie Kassin, Chairman of Ezri, to describe what makes his organization so special.
He explained that every family who turns to the organization receives personal and warm attention, beyond the donation itself. Each case is examined to determine the person’s true needs. First, various alternative methods of help are examined; Rabbi Kassin and other volunteers try to pay debts in installments, and give support to the person in need until he gets back on his feet.
Recently, Michael Cayre, son of Mr. Joe Cayre of Brooklyn, visited all the needy families. Rabbi Kassin, who is also functioning as the head of the Dayanut Kollel Mikdash Shaul in Jerusalem, accompanied Mr. Cayre during his visit.
The marathon tour started on Sunday around noon and went on for three days, during which time the Ezri crew slept for only a few hours. Michael Cayre wanted to see, in person, exactly what Ezri was doing to help their clients.
Mr. Cayre had heard through friends about the Ezri organization and about those leading it: Rabbi Ronnie Kassin, chairman, and Mr. Ariel, manager. He appreciated that Ezri assists hundreds of families with dignity, and is not satisfied with simply giving a donation.
In the past, Michael Cayre’s family has supported many Torah institutions in Israel, and he wanted to help needy families and social welfare cases in need of a push, to get out of the poverty cycle.
From the moment he landed until the moment the airplane took off, Mr. Cayre met with families. During each meeting, he assessed the situation of the person or the family he encountered, and whenever financial assistance was necessary, he helped out with the sum needed.
During the three days he met with the families, he got to know them each very well. He saw whom he was donating to and why. Rabbi Kassin doesn’t ask for donations to the organization itself; rather, he asks for direct help for the families and cases that Ezri is taking care of.
Rabbi Kassin said, “After these three days, I just fell off my feet. We met with people even at one o’clock in the morning. We went into their homes and heard their stories. Mr. Cayre didn’t show off with his money, but it was important for him to check each case individually. It was important for him to make sure that his support met the person’s needs and could get that person out of the cycle he was in.”
“During his stay, he financed four weddings for couples with few financial possibilities, paying directly to the halls’ owners. He visited an army station and helped out a soldier with financial difficulties, and helped with dozens of other cases.”
During his visit, Michael Cayre and Rabbi Kassin visited many rabbis, such as Rabbi David Abuhasera, who personally knows Rabbi Kassin very well. He spoke warmly about the activities of Ezri, particularly the devotion and special care of Rabbi Kassin. He told Mr. Cayre how Rabbi Kassin succeeds in reaching families and places that no one else has managed to reach until now.
www.ez-ri.com or mail: Ezri, PO Box 16216 Jerusalem
or Ezri in the USA:
American Friends of Mikdash Shaul, 34 West 33rd Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001.