[HANASHIR:13860] Re: Please help Save a Life

[Ethan Bueno de Mesquita <mesquita...>]

Just to add briefly to Rabbi Weilheimer's inspirational words, today in 
particular what more profound way could there be for us to take seriously the 
mitzvah matanot l'evyonim (gifts to those in need), one of the four mitzvot of 
Purim. 

Ethan
mesquita (at) post(dot)harvard(dot)edu
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: rabbi winston weilheimer 
  To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
  Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 8:35 PM
  Subject: [HANASHIR:13855] Re: Please help Save a Life


  in the spirit of giving tzedakah, and saving a life, in the hopes of making a 
difference...I posted my contribution today and challenge every member of the 
list to do what they can to join in this effort

  Rabbi Winston Weilheimer
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: JulesCFran (at) aol(dot)com 
    To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
    Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 10:43 AM
    Subject: [HANASHIR:13848] Please help Save a Life


    Whoever preserves a single life - It is as though that person had saved an 
entire world"
                                   Sanhedrin 4:5

    The life of a member of our community hangs in the balance.  We need your 
help and money today.
    We must raise at least $300,000 without delay.


    To all friends, family, current and former students of Donna Glazer, and 
our community at large:

    As many of you may know, Donna Glazer, the principal of Solomon Schechter 
Day School of Raritan Valley, and one of our community's dedicated and devoted 
teachers of Torah, is in the midst of a battle for her life. Donna is suffering 
from sclerosing cholangitis, a degenerative liver disease. Her doctors have 
advised her that without an urgent liver transplant, she will live only several 
months. She is currently at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, 
undergoing chemotherapy and radiation in preparation for transplant.

    Several  weeks ago, the Mayo Clinic confirmed that Donna is a suitable 
candidate for transplant. Regrettably, her insurance company, CIGNA Insurance, 
has denied Donna coverage for transplant and related medical expenses.  This is 
in spite of the fact that CIGNA had approved all of the pre-transplant testing 
and pre-surgical chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Donna's physicians have 
been adamant with respect to the medical urgency of the transplant; 
notwithstanding, her appeals thus far have been denied.  Legal measures have 
been instituted, however they will take time that Donna does not have.  In the 
absence of insurance coverage, the Mayo Clinic requires a deposit of $300,000  
before it will place Donna on the waiting list for a liver.

    A committee consisting of friends and family of Donna has been established 
to raise the necessary funds.  To accomplish this task we are turning to all 
friends and family, current and former students of Donna to assist in raising 
the necessary funds to provide the liver transplant which will save her life.  
We are asking you to be among those who will contribute funds and to assist in 
inviting others to contribute as well.

    How can you help?

    The Friends of Donna Glazer Organ Transplant Committee has asked Danny 
Siegel's Ziv Tzedakah Fund, Inc., to serve as the fiscal vehicle in this 
endeavor.   Ziv will collect, manage, and distribute all received funds. No 
administrative costs will be charged by Ziv, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit 
tax-exempt charitable foundation. Your contribution will be acknowledged by the 
Ziv Tzedakah Fund and tax letters issued. All funds collected will be used 
exclusively for Donna's transplant procedure and subsequent medical expenses.  

    Please send your tax deductible contributions to the Ziv Tzedakah Fund  at 
a special address. (This in order to enable Ziv to distinguish between regular 
donations and contributions earmarked especially for Donna.)  



    All checks should be sent to: 

    Ziv Tzedakah Fund - ORGAN TRANSPLANT
    P.O. Box 345
    Millburn, NJ 07041

    Online contributions can be made at: www.ziv.org.
    Please be sure to include in the appropriate sections that your donation 
should be directed to Donna Glazer's medical expenses.

    In addition, we are asking that you provide us with your e-mail address so 
that we may keep you informed of Donna's progress. 

    What should you do now?

    Because time is of the essence we are asking you to make your contribution 
now.  All contributions of any size are both generous and appreciated. However, 
due to the urgent and extraordinary nature of this situation, we hope you will 
consider exceptional contributions. (If we were to have 300 angels who provide 
$1000 each we would quickly reach our goal.)  All contributions will be 
gratefully received and all amounts will be kept confidential by Ziv.  As soon 
as we reach our goal, and the funds are submitted to Mayo Clinic, Donna will be 
able to be placed at the top of the transplant list.  

    We urge you to write your check today and send it to the above address.  We 
also ask that you invite others to join in this important life-saving Mitzvah.  
We need to reach our goal as quickly and effectively as possible. The 
transplant is the only possibility of saving Donna's life and enabling her to 
return home to her four children. In order for Donna to live, we cannot delay.


    Help us save a life:
    Send in your generous contribution today.

    Friends of Donna Glazer Organ Transplant Committee
    Rabbi Bennett Miller, Rabbi Eliot Malomet, Sheryl Olitzky, Rina Ne'eman, 
    Bob Cilman, Shoshana Glazer, Danny Siegel, Naomi Eisenberger  
    Ed Guttenplan, Jules Frankel, Skip Rodgers

    (Others wishing to join the Committee may contact any of the above.)


    Inquiries may be addressed to livertransplant (at) hebrewtrans(dot)com