Albert Husni is a simple man doing extraordinary things on behalf of the Syrian community. Each morning, rain or shine, this retired wholesaler and learned scholar can be found walking around Shaare Zion Synagogue to collect tzedakah for the people of Israel. Over the past few years he has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed the poor of Israel, Magen David Adom, and to the Kollel of his mentor, Rabbi Yaakov Attie Shalita.
As soon as his sources in Israel call or send a messenger to him about an issue, he consults with Chief Rabbi Saul Kassin and they work together to assist the person or organization in need. Albert and Chief Rabbi Kassin have paired to become a source of honest, trustworthy and confidential tzedakah.
Mr. Husni uses his wealth of experience to contact potential donors and fill them in about certain projects. His sales pitch is simple: Your generosity will not only be repaid to you many times over, but will bring health and prosperity. The trust people put in him is enormous. People will give him thousands of dollars at a time and say, Do what you want with it. They trust him and know the gravity of the work he is doing.
Along with his love for Israel, his unwavering belief in the power of doing mitzvot, specifically, tzedakah also drives him. The Torah says that tzedakah is one of the three acts that gain us forgiveness from our sins. The High Holiday liturgy repeatedly states that G-d has inscribed a judgment against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance), tefilah (prayer) and tzedakah can alleviate the decree.
Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah. The Rambam organized them into a list with the two highest levels being giving when neither party knows the other’s identity and enabling the recipient to become self-reliant each of which is being fulfilled in the method that is done by Mr. Husni.
Best of all, those who give their money to Mr. Husni can be sure it will go directly to where he promises. It is not uncommon for him to place original receipts in the glass displays for all congregants to take pride in what they have been able to accomplish. A few dollars at a time, his tax-deductible work has generated thousands of meals, countless hours of Torah study and much needed funding for the ambulance service of Israel.
May he and his entire family be given the fruits of his tireless and good-hearted labor both in this world and the world to come. Amen.
