Founder of 'The Jewish Heart': 'After His Brother Was Killed in Front of His Eyes, the Young Man Was Just Waiting to Hear Us'

When Rabbi Menachem Yisrael, along with his friend, visited a mourning tent one day, about 100 people - family members and comforters - were present. There was a tense silence in the air as pain and helplessness were palpable. The need for strength and encouragement was evident, and it was clear they wanted to connect to some Jewish symbol related to the days of mourning. However, no one knew exactly how to do so. Therefore, as soon as they saw the rabbi and his friend, several attendees approached them. 'They asked for a strengthening talk, also in memory of the deceased. The family was happy to learn they could rely on us for basic mourning laws,' recalled the rabbi. 'Mainly, I felt their thirst for some connection to something higher. After the talk, a large part of the audience approached to thank us for the words we shared or to seek advice.'

The rabbi returned home satisfied that he helped the mourners in their difficult time but felt a greater need required attention. A few days later, he approached his friend, and together they formed a response to this void. Thus, the organization 'The Jewish Heart' was established four years ago, led by Rabbi Moshe Ben Loulou. The organization supports the deceased's family members - from the technical aspect to the emotional and spiritual levels.

The Angels of 'The Jewish Heart'

'About 40,000 families in Israel face the death of a family member each year,' starts the rabbi. 'In those moments, everyone goes through a complex situation of pain, confusion, and difficulty, along with the need to organize technically for the burial and days of mourning. Sometimes it's hard to even manage the smallest details, like a mourning notice and suitable equipment for the mourners, and sometimes the challenge intensifies when additional challenges arise between family members, like one sibling wanting everyone to sit Shiva in one place while another prefers a different location. From this, we understood the need for a warm, loving, and embracing support system to assist at those moments is great, and we decided to establish an organization that would support the various aspects surrounding bereavement, fully voluntarily.'

Technically, the organization serves as an accessible and quick address through which all necessary equipment can be obtained. 'We design mourning notices for people and connect them to the nearest free-loan society, through which they can obtain chairs, tents, prayer books, and more,' says the rabbi. But that's just the beginning of the story.

'During the establishment of 'The Jewish Heart,' we visited yeshivas and kollel studies across the country every evening, talked about the initiative, and gradually formed a group of about 200 rabbis ready to come and talk with the mourners and mainly be there for them with all their hearts. The rabbis are spread all over the country, and each one of them receives guidance from us, including a book with prepared lessons for strengthening, which he can say at the mourning houses. When a family requests, a rabbi suiting their character arrives to accompany them emotionally and spiritually. He brings Torah words and strength according to the proper dosage for those sitting there, directs the mourners to activities for the elevation of the soul, and mainly stands by them with a wide heart, to assist with any need that arises. Some families desire continued accompaniment throughout the year of mourning, with weekly lessons, and the dedicated rabbis gladly take on the task.'

The emotional outcomes of the endeavor are soon felt. 'We receive stories about families where tension arose between siblings and how the rabbi spoke with them and reconciled their differences till the early hours of the morning. There was a rabbi who came to an event we organized, accompanied by a yeshiva student. It turns out that this particular boy witnessed his brother being killed before his eyes, and this tragic incident shook him greatly. When he heard the rabbi's lesson during the Shiva, it touched him so deeply that he began a process of return and became a full-time yeshiva student.'

Are there people who oppose the presence of rabbis?

'Initially, rabbis only arrive at places they have been requested to come. But I remember a story about a family in Ramat HaSharon that was very distant from the world of Torah. Their in-law asked for a rabbi to come and speak, and when he stood at the entrance of the house, one of the brothers confronted him and declared that in this house, no religious person's foot would step. 'There will be no religious coercion here,' that person continued, firmly set in his opinion. However, the rabbi, with his warm heart, managed to talk to him and soften him a bit. Thus, he entered and began to speak to everyone. During the lesson, the rabbi, to his surprise, noticed the same individual standing in the kitchen, eavesdropping. As the conversation continued, he became more attentive, drawing his chair closer to the rabbi each time. By the end of that hour, after sitting as close as possible, that man got up, approached the rabbi, hugged him, and asked for forgiveness. He then took the rabbi to a room where his elderly mother lay, and said: 'This man delivered a lesson here in memory of dad, and now, because of him, I will also start attending lessons.' The whole reality there turned 180 degrees.'

How can you explain such a reality, where hearts open to people so easily?

'Even in that mourning home where I was years ago, I understood that around the death of a family member, people are very open to listening. In their daily lives, they are usually overwhelmed with information and distractions consuming their attention, but during that week, there's a pause, and sometimes even a willingness to undergo some internal process. Additionally, the absence of the deceased brings a desire to touch eternity, to connect to a soul that is no longer here, and the bereaved family members are just seeking the way.'

When the Heart is Open

In the places where the rabbis arrive, sometimes people know nothing. 'There was, for example, one rabbi whose hostess asked him what to bring to the lesson, and he replied to have some 'ground' and some 'tree' for the blessings. The rabbi meant foods on which they could recite blessings for the elevation of the soul, but when he arrived, he found a big pot on the table and more dishes with soil next to it. There are quite a few such families, who out of innocence do not know how to conduct themselves. So we are there to provide answers at every level and for any type of need for those seeking knowledge, strength, and acceptance. They seek to connect with their Jewish identity and want to find a way to stay linked to the deceased through actions done for the elevation of their soul. Connecting with a soul already in the higher world can only occur spiritually, and cannot exist without it. Therefore, once we teach family members that they can receive some small acceptance or learn for the soul's elevation, they are very happy to hear about it and feel encouraged by the fact that they can act for their family member. This, in addition to the fact they bring comfort to the deceased themselves.'

Another area the founders of 'The Jewish Heart' worked on is creating a short study booklet suitable for Shiva days. 'We printed 60,000 colorful and invested booklets containing short daily study for the elevation of the soul, as well as uplifting stories on various subjects, which help mourners deal with the absence in a healthy and correct way,' explains Rabbi Yisrael. 'We distribute the booklets to those interested for free, and the cover can have the deceased's name written on it, so the study would be for their elevation. The reactions are amazing - people take these booklets with them everywhere and feel connected through them to the missing person. The study involves just 2 minutes, making it light and convenient for learners'.

Study booklets for mourners

Not long ago, the organization also released 'Soul Departure Order', distributed in hospitals, allowing a person and their family to recite it moments before death. 'This provides immense spiritual benefit for the deceased, who gets to leave the world after confession, and great benefit also to the family, who manage to stick to the spiritual place during this great time'.

What about complex death cases, how do you handle them?

'Unfortunately, we encounter such cases, mostly numerous suicides. Precisely there, the thirst is much greater, and there is a heightened need for more listening, acceptance, and guidance. Usually, in such situations, a deeper connection is formed with the rabbi. We are blessed that the rabbis with us are outstanding individuals, with high sensitivity to others' needs, and although they do not serve in a therapeutic capacity, they are there for the family members as much as possible.'

Personally, establishing such an organization requires a lot of investment, where do the strengths come from?

'We live in a world where there are two ways to view it. One can see it as a goal, or one can see it as a means of fulfilling a mission. When you understand there is a mission here, then the perspective is different, and once Hashem led us to see the great need, we decided to pursue it with all our might. It wasn't easy in the beginning, the first two years of turning the idea into practice were unbearably difficult. There were many trials, errors, and challenges. But what continued to give me and my colleagues the strength to proceed was the knowledge that at that time, thirsting hearts were open for a true spiritual answer. Thus, over time, a partnership developed among many volunteers - one helped with the booklets, the other assisted in establishing a website, the devoted rabbis give of themselves wholeheartedly, and other volunteers spread informative materials in hospitals and cemeteries. So it is true that there is a big sacrifice here, but only in this way can you reach high places, after all - the exciting responses we receive are worth everything.'

One of the numerous responses reached Rabbi Yisrael during a wedding he attended. 'I saw there a guy I knew from childhood, and I know his life path wasn't easy. He was drawn after not-so-good friends, and at some point, he even went to prison. That guy approached me at the wedding, dressed in a *tzitzit* and kippah, and I saw he was in the process of drawing closer to the Torah path. 'Thank you for the rabbi you sent me,' he said, and I asked him to explain what he meant.'

At this point, the guy began to describe the sequence of events. 'He told me he rented an apartment with a partner, and his partner's mother, who used to visit them occasionally and bring them food, passed away. The friend sat Shiva in his apartment, and someone from there called 'The Jewish Heart' and invited a rabbi to come and speak. The rabbi who arrived understood that the guys in this apartment needed a 'slight shake' because of the low places they had reached. He talked to them directly and openly and somewhat set them in place. The lesson served as a turning point for that guy, and that's where the change began. On regular days, the matters might have passed by him, but at that time, when he was shaken by the knowledge that a woman he had seen only two weeks ago was now underground, his heart opened. After that talk, he took hold of himself and changed entirely.'

In conclusion, the rabbi says: 'Such is the power of the words of Torah when they touch open hearts. That's why it is so important for us to reach every home in need of this spiritual connection. A significant part of the credit belongs to the caring individuals, among whom is a mourning family, and they made the small effort to inform them about it. This reinforcement brings not only an elevation to the deceased's soul but also people's connection to their soul.'

Rabbi Zamir Cohen - Compelling Proof for Resurrection:

To contact 'The Jewish Heart' - 02-9919797