Letter To The Editor About Kulanu Students - Jewish Star

Dear That’s Life,

My name is Ruti Amir and I am the
owner of a makolet and catering company
in Cedarhurst. For many years I’ve worked
with the Irgun ‘Oseh Chayim,’ whose purpose
or goal is, essentially, to make
dreams come true for terminally ill children.
Sometimes we bring a group of about
18 children or so, along with a team of
nurses and doctors, from Israel to America.
We greet them with a lot of warmth
and love at the airport. From there starts
their journey/trip/tour that takes about
two weeks. Essentially we sponsor their
trip from private donations from generous
individuals from Long Island, particularly
from the Five Towns. We organize a party
for everyone, including those of us who
work for the organization - most of whom
are volunteers.
Unfortunately, we did not raise
enough money for the next trip so I’m not
sure we are going to be able to do it but
we are all doing our best to try and make
it happen because the children look forward
to it so much. Maybe someone
found that out, which is why the following
story - so moving and so touching -
happened in the first place.
One day a large group of children
with disabilities along with their teachers
and supervisors came to my store. Each
child, so special in their own way, was a
student of Kulanu, and they had brought
something with them. It was a big box
decorated with pictures they had made
themselves. In this box were coins they
had collected themselves, some from their
own pockets. The pictures were hand
drawn and one of them said the word
“tzedakah,” and this new tzedakah box
was to be used to raise money for my
organization.
These beautiful children with their
warm and gracious hearts had made this
tzedakah box for other children that also
do not have it easy. All of us with our own
busy lives should stop a moment and
think about these wonderful children,
with their own limitations, who were able
to think beyond their own needs and consider
the limitations of others.
What wonderful lessons we can learn
from all of our children.

RUTI AMIR
Cedarhurst, NY