C/P (translated)I want to open up a bit more and share glimpses of what life is like with children who are unable to see.
For most, this might seem unnecessary, but unfortunately, there are people who remain blind—not in vision, but in their hearts—to such struggles. Worse, they often discourage others from helping families like ours.
For example, someone once argued with me, saying, "Why campaign for something like this? If you can’t completely cure them, what’s the point? Will you launch another campaign in a few years?" They claimed I wouldn’t have answers, and when you take money from people, you must provide thorough justifications.
Helping Families Like OursBut here’s the truth—when it comes to children with a life-impacting illness that causes a disability like blindness, everyone understands that the odds of a full cure are slim. Yet, people still respond with kindness and warmth. Why? Because they have human feelings. They understand the immense emotional burden on the children and their families.
The simple answer is: when we talk about children with life-altering illnesses that bring disabilities—like blindness—everyone knows the chances of a complete cure are small. So why do people respond warmly to campaigns like this? Because they feel deeply. They understand that such situations bring significant emotional distress, not just to the children but also to their parents and family. These are extraordinary challenges, and people with compassion realize how important it is to help families like ours stand on their feet, brighten their children's lives, and support everyone around them.
And yes, when the heart is at ease, there’s more mental strength and energy to focus on real solutions—actually helping them get healthier. For this condition, even just preventing further deterioration is a massive accomplishment (since, unfortunately, it worsens year by year). And certainly, if there’s even a small improvement to be achieved, it’s like the saying: "A little light dispels much darkness." You can’t imagine what it means for a blind child to go from seeing nothing to perceiving shadows, from shadows to colors, or even the blurry outline of a face. Even small changes can turn worlds around.
Small changes make big differences. Studies on certain treatments are built entirely on these kinds of improvements. With small advancements, lives are transformed.
The Talmud relates that Rav Yosef, though blind, would eat a herb called "Orot" because it helped his vision. Today, we know that "Orot" (arugula) contains Vitamin A, which is essential for vision. Studies show that high doses of this vitamin can improve eyesight in many blindness-related conditions. (The doctor prescribed such vitamins for my children, costing an additional $400 monthly.)
The Financial BurdenOver the years, I’ve accumulated debts amounting to roughly $250,000. I have a job, and my wife runs a babysitting business. For a family with children, married children, and grandchildren who regularly visit us, our income barely covers daily expenses. But when you factor in interest payments on private loans, credit cards, and repayments to
Gemach funds—on top of regular expenses and the costs of marrying off three children—our income is no longer enough to cover our monthly obligations.
And that’s aside from the latest joyful event in the family, which currently demands a minimum of $60,000. These financial realities weigh heavily on us as we try to give our children the best opportunities while managing our daily lives.
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What Does a Shabbos Afternoon Look Like in Our Home?In every Jewish home, Shabbos brings fresh reading material—whether it's *Balaychtungen*, *Maalos*, *Family First*, novels, or other inspiring Jewish content. My children, like all children their age, are curious and eager to read. But they can’t.
During the week, they use their machine to read, but on Shabbos, how can they? My children also want to enjoy the new *Family First* or other interesting Shabbos material, but they’re left with nothing. Week after week, they sit idle. And we all know, idle time for children can lead to frustration.
Yes, you guessed it—
the Jewish mother steps in.While most mothers take a well-deserved rest after the Shabbos meal, in our home, there’s no such break. Instead, the mother sits with the children and reads to them. Week after week, she reads aloud the latest interesting articles, stories, or serials from the Shabbos books. Whether it’s *Vayis’halaych* by Margolies, *I Will Rescue You*, *I Will Remember You*, or *A Story for Every Story,* she reads chapter after chapter until her exhausted eyes close and she falls asleep on the couch.
These children devour every word, begging for “just one more chapter.” For them, this is their only entertainment, as they cannot enjoy other activities like most kids their age.
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A Mother’s Effort to Keep Them EntertainedMy children cannot run outside or play with other children. They can’t use the toys most kids their age enjoy. So, we make sure they have their own adapted toys and activities. This is our top priority.
For example, my son loves building with small LEGO pieces. He feels and examines each piece by touch and uses his machine to help him construct entire buildings. We regularly buy new sets—they’re not cheap—and spend hours helping him sort and find the pieces. It’s a full-time activity.
He also has a strong musical talent (it runs in the family). We bought him a modest Casio keyboard, and he plays beautifully. Now, he’s trying his hand at the violin.
Another favorite pastime is building 3D puzzles. Again, we don’t hold back and frequently buy new ones for him to explore.
With a bit more financial support, we could offer them so much more. There are many opportunities for enriching outdoor entertainment and visits to places they dream about. But right now, we simply don’t have the resources or mental space to provide these extras.
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These are the realities we live with daily. Every small improvement in their lives is a significant blessing, and with your help, we can do even more.
Thank you for opening your heart and being part of their journey.
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