Turning 45 and What to Do?

Turning 45 and What to Do?

Birthdays are strange days. While we may look the same when we look in the mirror from just the day before, the truth is we are older - and hopefully wiser – every passing day. 

On December 27^th, I will turn 45. When I was younger, 45 was old, a prequel to old age. But today 45 is still considered young. You know what they say, “45 is the new 32.”

It is amazing to think that today when one turns 45, your best years are ahead of you. More than just gratitude, this idea inspires me to dream.

In Hebrew every letter has a numerical equivalent in a system called gematria. The number 45 has the numerical value of the Hebrew word “mah” that means “what”. As I reach this chronological milestone, I wonder what can I do to help the world? 

With this in mind, I am excited to introduce “The Mah Initiative”, what we can do to make tomorrow better than today.

I have chosen to focus on Lone Soldiers in Israel. In the Israel Defense Force (IDF), a lone soldier is defined as a serviceman or woman without parents or family in Israel. There are roughly 4,000 lone soldiers in Israel, mostly from North America and Russia. I find their commitment to Israel and the Jewish people to be deeply inspiring.

When Israeli soldiers get leave every few weeks, they go home. By contrast, lone soldiers frequently have no one to go home to and, in some cases, have no home at all. I have heard heartbreaking stories from these young soldiers who sleep in city parks because they had no place to go on leave, including Shabbat.

What can we do about this?

United Synagogue’s Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center set up a program three years ago to provide meals and housing for lone soldiers who need a place to stay on weekends. The Fuchsberg Center has designated a room for lone soldiers in memory of Michael Levin z”l, a lone soldier from Philly who died in service of Israel.

It costs $10,000 a year to run this program. Our initial gift from Marc Savenor, my brother, ran out, so the time has come to raise funds for this vital cause.

It is my goals to raise $10,000 to cover next year. To this cause, Julie and I are donating $360.  Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.

I invite you to support lone soldiers through a financial gift:

·         $2000 sponsors a holiday meal for 100 soldiers at Fuchsberg

·         $360 houses four lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $180 houses two lone soldiers for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $90 houses one soldier for a weekend at Fuchsberg

·         $45 covers meals for a soldier

·         And $18 shows you care about these brave men and women who protect Israel.

Please send your gift to: United Synagogue – Lone Soldier Initiative, 820 Second Ave, 10^th Fl., New York, NY 10017, Attn: Rabbi Charlie Savenor

Your donation is not going toward bricks and mortar, rather every penny goes to room and board for these modern day heroes of Israel.

If you ever wondered what you can do to support  Israel, I invite you to participate in “The Mah Initiative”.

Thanks in Advance,

Charlie Savenor