Personal Tzadaka/Charity Master Thread

[Alexsei]

Dear fellow DDF'ers, the link below is to help a very close friend of mine who's two children were born with a rare genetic degenerative eye disease, I personally know these children, it is heartbreaking to see them in Shul with these huge siddurim and barely being able to see properly, any donation dedicated by the DDF community would mean  a lot to me.

https://thechesedfund.com/emfusd1/save-the-sight

If you have any further questions or if you have other ideas how we can help the children please DM me

C/P (translated)
Episode #4: Books with Large Bold Print

Part A: The Challenge with Large Print Books 
As previously mentioned, my children can only read with a CCTV digital magnifier. On Shabbos, however, they rely on large print materials. The problem is that making copies of books, Tehillim, Chumashim, or Talmud texts is neither feasible nor practical. Beyond enlarging the letters, the text also needs to be bold, and the vowels must be clearly visible. When you photocopy a siddur to make it larger, the letters might appear bigger, but the vowels remain tiny. (If you haven’t experienced this, it’s hard to understand—it took me patience and time to grasp this myself.)

Therefore, we need a special font where both the letters and the vowels are bold, ensuring distinctions between a pasach and a tzere, or a segol and a kamatz, are clear. Even a shva or chirik must be noticeable.

Thank G-d, we discovered an incredible organization called CBS Care (Computer Services for the Blind), funded through generous donations. They provide us with specially printed books in large sizes, entirely free of charge. Yes, they custom-print them to meet our needs! 

Example: A full set of Psalms in large print, spanning seven volumes. 

---

Part B: The Limitations 
Despite this, it remains extremely difficult. It’s impossible to create proper enlarged copies of massive Talmud volumes with their original page formatting while also making them readable. On Shabbos, my children can only read from the limited materials we have enlarged, like their siddur, Tehilim, or Chumash.

A few years ago, we received a full set of spiral-bound Chumashim (around 20 volumes). However, my son now complains that he can’t see the vowels or cantillation marks clearly. Over time, the size and style of the text need adjustment, and many new books must be printed to suit their needs.

For example, they need large-sized siddurim at home, in school, and in shul, so we don’t have to carry a single siddur everywhere. Whenever we go somewhere new, we must remember to take the oversized books with us.

The basic materials every Jewish child takes for granted include: 
- Siddurim (for Shacharis, Mincha, and Maariv) 
- Additional siddurim for Rosh Chodesh (Hallel, Mussaf), Shabbos, and special occasions 
- Tehilim, Zemiros for Shabbos, a bentcher, Talmud, Mishnayos, etc. 

Every week, new needs arise. For example: 
- Chanukah: Enlarged zmiros
- Purim: Enlarged Megillah text 
- Lag B’Omer: Songs like Bar Yochai in large print 
- Tisha B’Av: Enlarged Kinos 
- Yom Tov : A large-format print for each Yom Tov 
- High Holidays: Large-format Machzorim for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as Selichos. 

When something isn’t available on time from CBS Care, we must create it ourselves—typeset, proofread, print, and bind the books, all within a short timeframe.

For example, when a bar mitzvah approaches, we need to print the blessings for the aliyah and the Torah reading portion in large print. The haftorah must be printed oversized, and even a large Zemiros for the shul must be prepared.

---

Part C: Binding Challenges 
Most of these books come spiral-bound. While spiral binding is affordable and practical for DIY projects, it has significant downsides: 

1. Over time, the books fall apart and need replacing (since they can’t be bought in stores). 
2. A full set of 20 spiral-bound Chumashim and seven volumes of Tehilim doesn’t stack neatly on a shelf—they slide around and get disorganized. 
3. Finding the correct volume is frustrating as you sift through stacks of similar-looking books. 
4. It’s not dignified for a child or young adult to learn or pray with spiral-bound books when their peers use beautifully bound volumes. My son, for instance, prefers to struggle with regular Chumashim rather than use his spiral-bound set in school. 

To solve this, we decided to rebind the books using thermal binding, which makes them look more like proper books. While not as durable or beautiful as hardcover bindings, it is much stronger than spirals. We sew the pages together, then apply a thermal glue cover, creating sturdy paperback-style bindings. We even label the spine, so it’s easy to locate each book on the shelf.

We invested in a binding machine for this purpose, along with all the supplies—an additional cost of about $1,000. 

---

Looking Ahead 
We hope to eventually create a full library of large-print books for our children, with hardcover bindings for the most essential texts. We are exploring ideas to either purchase a machine for hardcover binding or find a donor to help us create these through a professional.

For now, we continue step by step, ensuring that our children have access to the texts they need, with the dignity they deserve.

[ushdadude]

This year marks my 10th time participating in the Shasathon! I have personally benefited from some of A TIME's services (AMA via via PM). I would deeply appreciate your support:
 https://shasathon.org/5785/user/scripts/modules/shas/loimed_page.cgi?order=243923

If you know of a couple who is interested in having their names be kept in mind during the siyum, please privately send their names (with their consent) to me (name Ben/bas mother's name).

[MnM1130]

If anyone can take a look. This is a new organization my friend and I started to offer a compassionate space designed to support women navigating the challenges of living alongside addiction.
Any amount helps.
Looking to spread our name so women know there is somewhere to turn and not suffer in silence.
https://causematch.com/tcz/michalb/

Also tax deductible.
Thank you for taking the time to check it out.

[simplicity]

Please help this great cause!
Thank You!
https://thechesedfund.com/kollelbeismeir/chanukah-campaign

[mevinyavin]

Family in the neighborhood who lost their house to an electrical fire (not Chanukah related) on Chanukah. Please donate if you can to help them restock clothes/food and repair their apartment. Money goes to Rabbi Berkovits's tzedakah fund (always a good place to donate  ). Tizku Lemitzvos!
https://www.matara.pro/nedarimplus/online/?S=GnUb

[Definitions2]

Not sure if this counts as an organization. If mods think it should be in a new thread dedicated to organizations  please do so.

Reposting from last year. The funds are mainly used for chavrusos, food every night, nightly raffles and likely utilities too.  The people running the place are all volunteers. Tzviki Rubinfeld runs it along with help from other people. He's an awesome guy. Down to earth and very knowledgeable.

I'm pretty sure @davidrotts63 goes there, as well as another inactive DDFer (if I'm wrong, sorry for pinging you). They can vouch for the place as well. If anyone is interested I'd say just come for one or two nights (8:30-930) and see if it's worth it to donate.

If you do decide to donate, let me know, just for my curiosity and to thank you.

https://www.rayze.it/ohrmattisyahu

I go there for nightseder practically every night.
Very interesting crowd and place. I'd say on average there are 80+ people there every night. All different stripes. Mostly chilled out younger working type of people.
There's also a guy that learns with mesivta/early bais medrash age bochurim that aren't in yeshiva.

If you want to visit it's at 953 East county line Lakewood, in the back. Extra parking at 951. See image

[Sam 77]

Although I never personally benefited from the kollel I can personally vouch for it they are really doing great things

[Chester7]

surprised there isn't any discussion here about this campaign.

Bump for their current campaign. Very curious how this would and is progressing.

[Redbull3]

I am in a whatsapp group led by a friend I trust implicitly who posts probably 1-2x a month with a specific, vetted request to raise $ for someone in need. Examples are helping families in need with a mortgage payment, appliance breaking, making a simcha, medical expenses, etc. There's always a specific target in mind and they only raise up to that point. Any amounts help and are appreciated. It's also done through a registered charity that provides tax receipts. The chat has grown to 180+ members and has done some amazing things, and I've personally found it very fulfilling as well as convenient. It's always looking for more people. If anyone is interested in joining, please dm me.

[frenchfries]

Shluchim in Pacific Palisades who lost their home and all their belongings
https://gofund.me/3195c810

Chabad of Pacific Palisades' fire relief campaign
https://Chabadpalisades.com/firerelief

[Unity]

I am posting to help Tahareinu,
Taharienu is truly an amazing Origination that is running a Campaign now.
Please show your support by giving even a few dollars!!

https://www.charityextra.com/tahareinuglobal/200356

[Unity]

I am posting to help Tahareinu,
Taharienu is truly an amazing Origination that is running a Campaign now.
Please show your support by giving even a few dollars!!

https://www.charityextra.com/tahareinuglobal/200356

[Alexsei]

What is tahreinu besides being an amazing Origination that is running a Campaign now?

[Unity]

Dear brothers,

It is difficult to describe the pain of couples waiting to bear children. It's hard to imagine the yearning, the worry, the loneliness and anguish.

Painful conversations and awkward interactions are not near as deafening as words not spoken. Of the lingering silence that follows the words ‘IY"H by you…’.

When worry turns to hope, and hope to frustration, Tahareinu steps in, offering new advice, new options and unwavering support - with staggering results!

Endorsed by Rabbanim and doctors alike, Tahareinu helps countless couples navigate their fertility issues or matters of family-purity.

Tahareinu expertly and selflessly give of themselves to support these couples in need. But who supports Tahareinu?

We do. You do.

You could be the difference between a quiet home, and a home filled with laughter, little tottling feet, Nachas, and joy.

Please join me in helping Tahareinu be able to continue helping all the couples who yearn for the answer.

The zechus of countless Yiddish generations will be yours today.

[Unity]

Tahareinu specializes in solutions for medical problems pertaining to Hilchos Tahara. Something that in the medical world there's no need for solutions.
Thats where Tahareinu steps in to innovate together with leading doctors and scientist

[Alexsei]

You have 30 seconds, give me your elevator pitch.

[whacked1]

seems like they offer support to people struggling with infertility. Per their 2022 filings seems like they need money for salary and promotion/travel. I'm sure they do fantastic things, they should probably team up with Bonei Olam as they may have a true budget surplus if the IVF "bill" gets passed by trump.

https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/464614175/738a8486aac2e52a9dc3117fff64f454

[mevinyavin]

You have 30 seconds, give me your elevator pitch.

Head of the organization's US branch is a musmach of Rav Berkovits and a personal friend, who left EY specifically to run this organization there. When I first heard about it, I was told they specialize in enabling taharas hamishpacha that allows for pregnancy (like maybe for couples with vestos that are too short). That's all I personally know (without reading their ads), but it's good enough for me. 

[zh cohen]

seems like they offer support to people struggling with infertility. Per their 2022 filings seems like they need money for salary and promotion/travel. I'm sure they do fantastic things, they should probably team up with Bonei Olam as they may have a true budget surplus if the IVF "bill" gets passed by trump.

https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/464614175/738a8486aac2e52a9dc3117fff64f454

While there is a small overlap between what they do and Bonei Olam/A Time, they are absolutely addressing an important need which is otherwise unmet.

A rov I know who answers hundreds of taharas hamishpacha questions a week, consults with them for complex medical situations.

When I first heard about it, I was told they specialize in enabling taharas hamishpacha that allows for pregnancy (like maybe for couples with vestos that are too short).

These cases go far beyond "halachic infertility" and into real igun.

[yfr bachur]

They really need to better diffirentiate what they offer, from what Bonei Olam or ATIME do.
What knowledge base do they have that the BO/AT rabbanim and experts dont? - alternatively, what do the specialise in, that for other cases you SHOULD turn to BO/AT

Agav: You need to do your own research and not just be somech on whatever the rep of whichever hotline you (or your Rav!) call tells you.
After the complicated birth of my first child, I had a very bad experience with a womens medical question that my wife asked one of these hotlines, with the rep on the hotline even after she consulted with the higher ups in the org missing important halacha advice and worse getting the medical advice totaly and completely wrong. (later on in the proccess, after we had started the mehalach but before anything irreversable was done, I consulted with Rav Dovid Morgenstern (one of the foremost medical halacha people in EY) and he was shocked and explained exactly why it was medical malpractice to do the hotline approved procedure. (Which was pashut once he explained the anatomy and the two possible procedures to me...)