Why we opened this campaign
In the city of Karmiel, there once lived an ordinary family named Usetsky: mother Esther, father Yaakov, their two lovely daughters Rosa and Anna, and a cat. They lived as many recent immigrants do—modestly and simply, but supporting themselves with what they had.
Yaakov worked as a shochet’s assistant—an honorable but not very well-paid profession—and studied in a kollel. Esther worked as a caregiver (metapelet) and ran craft workshops for children and adults. With the proceeds from selling all their property back in their home country, they managed to purchase a modest apartment here. Yes, it came with debts, just three tiny rooms, on the top floor of a 1968 building—but at least it was theirs!
Perhaps this Israeli story would have had a simple and happy ending if not for one insidious virus that became our new global reality in 2020.
One April morning, Esther woke up feeling unwell. She went to the family doctor, who mistakenly prescribed an antibiotic incompatible with the diabetes medication she took regularly. The result was devastating: a clinical coma, two days on a ventilator, ten days in intensive care, a grueling rehabilitation, and a 45% disability rating.
Formally, according to Bituach Leumi, she is still considered part of the “working group.” But in reality, Esther can barely walk long distances, her fine motor skills are impaired, she suffers from weakness, breathing difficulties, and many other challenges. The best-case scenario: another year of treatment to even hope for improvement.
Before her illness, Esther’s income significantly supported the family. Now, she effectively cannot work. The entire family lives (and continues paying off their apartment debts!) on Yaakov’s modest salary and small earnings from their sixteen-year-old daughter, Rosa. They’ve accumulated unpaid bills for arnona (property tax) and electricity.
They might have managed to get by, if not for a second blow: in mid-autumn, the roof began leaking, and streams of rainwater literally poured into the apartment. The dampness is now extremely dangerous for Esther’s health. Urgent repairs are needed before the heavy rains start—but they have no funds for this. More debts would be unbearable, and the banks won’t provide loans.
Let’s help this family escape their financial crisis and protect Esther’s health! Every shekel truly matters.
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