Klal Yisrael is lucky to have you girls in our generation
Enter 2025.
I have four children, baruch Hashem. My second child has severe special needs. She’s five years old, legally blind, and cannot walk, talk, or stand on her own. As many of the wonderful programs only accept children who are “high-functioning,” my daughter is left out and severely limited.
She goes to an incredible school, and we’re so blessed to have them and their staff. I’m in awe of her teachers’ constant efforts and patience. But it’s the chesed girls who reach out — outside of paid hours or school time — that bring me to tears.
You girls are in high school or post-high school, and you certainly have more exciting places to be on a Shabbos afternoon than hanging out alone with my nonverbal daughter. We live in a community without an eiruv, so you can’t even take her outside. Yet you come, Shabbos after Shabbos, just to play with her, sing to her, and bring joy to my family. You love her like she is your own. You make yourself available on the hardest days of the year — Tishah B’Av, Erev Pesach — because you know that we have no one else. You are our lifeline.
Every time I try to thank you, you shrug it off as though it isn’t a big deal. But even just an hour of playing with her or taking her out is such a load off my shoulders. For fear of embarrassing you, I won’t list you by name, but please: Know what a special place you hold in our hearts.
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