OPERATION REFUAH NEWSLETTER  

Volume 2, Issue 1  

This newsletter is dedicated to a refuah shelaima for Menachem Mendel ben Batsheva Rochel and to all those in need of a complete and speedy recovery.  

I would like to welcome all the new subscribers to our email newsletter and at the same time thank the many kind individuals who have already participated in Operation Refuah in numerous ways.

As you are aware, Operation Refuah's goal is to promote Ahavat Yisrael (Love for one's fellow Jew) through hands on projects that promote the mitzvah of V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha (Love your neighbor as yourself). We know that this mitzvah is considered to be the very foundation of our Torah and thus has tremendous potential to bring good things to our world.

"Rx FOR THE SOUL"  

Hot off the press is our latest poster entitled "Rx for the Soul" - V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha.· We all know how important it is to take good care of our physical body, but we must not neglect our essence - our soul. The mitzvah of V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha will not only keep our souls in "tip top" shape but will also benefit others around us.  

Operation Refuah is also distributing a complimentary "Klal Yisrael Prescription Memo Pad." This unique pad reminds you to make "V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha" a part of your day and is great for jotting down mitzvahs (good deeds) you hope to fulfill each day!  (Ed. Note: At this time, the pads are "out of stock.")  

WORLDWIDE SCROLL  

Our Chaverim Kol Yisrael scroll continues to circulate and grow worldwide. This unique scroll states that we are indeed One People with One Heart and One Soul. All who sign on agree to focus on the mitzvah of V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha in their daily interactions in an attempt to bring bountiful blessings to Klal Yisrael, including refuah (recovery) to all who are ill. Please check the Operation Refuah website for full details on how to add your name and have it read at the Kotel.  

GIVE TZEDAKA FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVED ONE  

Our brochure contains a ten-point suggestion card on ways to fulfill the mitzvah of "V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha" daily. The brochure also offers the opportunity to participate in our "cholim name exchange project" whereby tzedaka is given in the merit of a refuah shelaima (complete and speedy recovery) for someone else's loved one - a true fulfillment of  Ahavat Yisrael.    

BRING A SMILE TO A FELLOW JEW J   

Join the Operation Refuah campaign by mailing us a get well or friendly greeting card that we will distribute to hospital patients, nursing home residents, and the homebound. Knowing that someone else cares can really brighten up someone else's day.  

HELP LIGHT UP THE WORLD!  

Join with fellow Jews the world over by lighting Shabbat candles this Friday (check candlelighting time in your area) and praying for blessings for Klal Yisrael and refuah for all who are in need of recovery. May the light of these candles spark peace and harmony around the globe.    

SHARE YOUR SPECIAL MOMENT  

We invite you to share your "V'Ahavta L'Reyacha Kamocha Special Moment" with us. Write us about an incident where someone did this mitzvah for you and made a difference in your life (or day!). With your permission, we will print some of the anecdotes we receive on our website as well as in Operation Refuah newspaper articles. You may remain anonymous if you wish.    

Here are a few special moments that will hopefully inspire you to create some of your own:    

When my daughter was nine months old, I sprained my ankle so badly that I couldn't put much weight on it.  Although I was able to take care of her, there was a period when I couldn't put her into or lift her out of the crib.  Friends organized themselves to come before and after her naps and lift her for me.  These were clearly busy people who came just to lift her for me. As a mother, I'd like to believe that my daughter was so cute that they came just for the privilege of holding her, but I know they were motivated more by a desire to help me than by the opportunity to hold my baby.  Their acts of kindness made a trying time more manageable.    

One day in school I noticed my friend walking around with a lot of hats, in and out of boxes. It seemed that it was "hat day" that day and all the children were supposed to come to school wearing a hat. I asked my friend what she was doing with so many hats. And this angel replied, "I am going around the classrooms to see if any children forgot their hats at home. If so, I am happy to loan them one of these hats for the day!"                                              

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Sometimes helping someone can be difficult....but keep in mind this thought of Rabbi Z.  Pliskin:  

"When you are trying to do good deeds and difficulties arise, realize that the difficulties actually serve to increase the merit of your good deeds."                                                 

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THROUGH AHAVAT YISRAEL WE HAVE THE POWER TO TURN THINGS AROUND - TO CHANGE SORROW INTO JOY AND DARKNESS INTO LIGHT!      

Sheila Nashofer, Editor
Operation Refuah Newsletter
info@operationrefuah.org
www.operationrefuah.org