From Carmi Kobren & Abbé Levin
01/08/2016 12:49:39 PM
This story begins while I was siting in Shul during Shmeni Atzeret of this year. The congregation was getting ready to begin Yizkor. I was sitting with my parents thinking about my brother Ami. Abbé was there to say Kaddish for, among others, her brother Robert. Abbé approached me, and to my surprise asked to see if Save a Child's Heart could set up a meeting between her and Yulitha, a child the Levin family had sponsored for heart surgery in 2014 in memory of their brother Robert during Har Tzeon's yearly campaign.
Abbé explained that she would be traveling to Tanzania in January and if the family of Yulitha would be willing, she would love to meet the child that her family sponsored. "My only hope was that a young child would have a chance at a full life. It would have thrilled Robert. To actually meet Yulitha would mean so much.”
So we got to work. People at Save A Child's Heart in Israel began to try, through their contacts in Tanzania, to find the Mcunguzi family to see if they would agree to meet Abbé. Two months later Abbé received an email from Save A Child’s Heart. This is what it said:
I am glad to introduce you to Dr. Antke-Zuechner, Dr. Emmanuela and Dr. Neema – our partners in Mwanza. I have told them all about you and your trip to Tanzania, and they will be happy to assist with meeting Yulitha and her family during your visit in Mwanza. They already spoke with the family and they are ready to meet with you at Malaika Beach Hotel. Dr. Emmanuela and/or Dr. Neema would escort the family and translate.
On January 2, Abbé met Yulitha and her family. With stuffed animals and other gifts in hand, Abbé and Tom meet Yulitha her sisters, brother and parents.
You have all been so generous in helping keep my bother Ami's dream alive. Our Shul has been a major sponsor of Save A Child’s Heart and its work in mending the hearts of indigent children from around the world. I look forward to this year’s campaign as we add more children to the 33, Yulitha among them, who have been saved thanks to Har Tzeon.
Shabbat Shalom,
Carmi Kobren
Rabbi,
