Rivka* was married to an Arab man for many years and suffered terrible abuse but saw no way out for herself and her three children.
One day, when she was expecting her fourth child, Rivka was notified that her husband had been killed in a work accident. She ran away with her children and burst into the Yad L’Achim office near Haifa, desperate for help. Yad L’Achim brought them to Williamsburg, where Rivka gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Unfortunately, she was incapable of continuing to raise her children.
Upon the guidance of Rav Shach that the children ideally be placed in Satmar institutions, local families were sought who could fulfill the great mitzvah of taking in these children as their own.
A Yad L’Achim staffer in the US sought the blessing of the Satmar Rebbe, the Beirach Moshe, zt”l. The Rebbe immediately took money out of his pocket to personally contribute toward the children’s needs. When he was told that only his brachah was requested, the Rebbe replied, “How can you deny me the zechus (merit) of helping Yad L’Achim and these children?” He then gave his enthusiastic brachah for success while welcoming the children.
Amazingly, three families, including two from Williamsburg, each readily offered to adopt one of the children. These children who grew up in an Arab village were now learning alef-beis and growing up in loving Jewish homes.
Only Sara was left. And then a couple from Flatbush reached out, begging to adopt her. They had been married for over 15 years without being blessed with a child. When they approached the Ribnitzer Rebbe, zt”l, for a brachah, the blessing he gave them was unique: he told them that if they would adopt a Jewish child in need and raise that child as their own, they would merit a biological child as well. It seemed to come full circle, as the Ribnitzer Rebbe was a staunch supporter of Yad L’Achim. The Rebbe attended Yad L’Achim events, contributed from his own money, and gave his heartfelt brachah to all supporters of Yad L’Achim’s pidyon shvuyim work.
This childless couple was a perfect fit for Sara. They welcomed her into their family, and 11 months later, the Ribnitzer Rebbe’s brachah was fulfilled with the birth of a baby girl. Sara now had a sister to grow up with.
Today, all four rescued children are married and raising frum families of their own. These two boys who grew up in an Arab village now wear shtreimels on Shabbos, and these two girls raised on Arab prayers now usher in Shabbos each week with bright candles and whispered tefillos.
