Brooklyn, NY – Just days after the seven Sassoon children died in the horrific fire that ravaged their home, Misaskim has launched a campaign to write a Sefer Torah, both as a comfort to the Sassoon family and as a zechus for Mrs. Gayle Sassoon and Tzipora Sassoon, who remain hospitalized with injuries sustained during the blaze.
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For Misaskim director Yanky Meyer, a man who deals with death all too often, the loss of the seven Sassoon children has been particularly difficult. Meyer noted that this is only the second time that Misaskim has undertaken the writing of a Sefer Torah.
“Klal yisroel is in pain,” Meyer told VIN News. “This is not one family. There are people walking around in a daze, from the most seasoned people in the medical examiner’s office. They have dealt with instances of five, six, seven, even ten children before, but to have seven children, all from one family, lined up one after the other, is unbearable.”
Misaskim was heavily involved in the tragedy from the earliest moments, according to Meyer.
“We got called at twenty to one on Shabbos morning,” said Meyer. “We worked with everyone, the fire marshals, the police, the family. I was in Maimonides with the children.
Unfortunately, I have been in the hospital when children have died before but this time, there was no one to be there with them. No mother. No father. It was so empty and this whole thing played out in three different hospitals.”
After leaving Maimonides, Meyer was taken by police to a Staten Island hospital where the only surviving Sasson child had been taken and was in critical condition. “Who was there with her?” recalled Meyer. “Who was going to make the decisions?”
Meyer found an uncle at the hospital, but he was on his way to Deal, New Jersey to break the devastating news to the childrens’ maternal grandparents.
Misaskim arranged for police to be waiting on the block of the grandparents’ home to intercept the daily newspaper delivery in case word of the blaze had made it into the morning edition.
“We didn’t want them to find out by reading the paper,” said Meyer. “As it was, AP news got to the house a minute before he did.”
The Sefer Torah project launched at 5 PM Tuesday afternoon with the blessings of the Sassoon family. Nine of eleven select portions, including Akeidas Yitzchak, Aseres Hadibros and Birkas Kohanim, have already been reserved.
Meyer noted that the project is not a fundraiser and estimated the cost of a Sefer Torah at between forty to forty five thousand dollars.
“If we get more money we will write two,” said Meyer. “I wouldn’t mind writing seven of them,” added Meyer.
The Sassoon Sefer Torah will be used by Misaskim, which will lend it to families that are sitting shiva.
“This Torah will be used to bring comfort to other families,” said Meyer.
Writing a Sefer Torah is definitely a very good thing to do, particularly if it will bring some closure and succour to the family.
However, perhaps a parallel drive could be initiated to make people aware that every home must have fire, smoke and heat detectors in good working order.
Likewise, the electrical heating utensils left on over shabbos should be the very best and safest possible, and should always be placed where they cannot cause surfaces and nearby walls to overheat.
I am sure, too, that competant personel could definitely improve on the designs of those electrical utensils, and incorporate safety devices, such as smoke detectors and instant cut-out fuses should anything malfunction.
Please provide details where to send checks toward the writing of the Torah,etc.
We are all broken hearted may Hashem send a refuah Shelaima to the mother
and daughter, and may He send Moshiach NOW!!!!
I’m glad that all organizations are coming up with all kinds of initiatives to help the family and the memory of the pure souls. But.
But, don’t you think you can wait till the Shiva ends or after the Shloshim or even after the mom and daughter recovery imh takes place for you to go off planning things on your own?
Did you ask the parents if they want to write a Sefer Torah or perhaps they’re not ready for that?
Take a chill and relax. Send over some cookies to the shivah house or to the hospital and maybe offer transportation to say tehilim at the hospital but stop the Shtick!!!
im going to explain why im not a fan of this very politely. not lessening the tragedy in any way, but what good does this do? clear peoples consciences? its so easy to write a sefer torah and stick it in the Aron Kodesh. conscience cleared. nobody ever wants to make a life change, DO MORE, accept a new challenge, take on a new shiur, improve oneself, etc. just throwing money at a sofer to write a new torah and lifes back to normal?? I know many wont agree with me, its extremely difficult to comprehend what i am telling you because its been the accepted practice, but this should not be the answer to EVERY tragedy that happens. its not meaningful enough in my opinion. children did not have to die for a new torah to be written, they may have died so people will change their ways even in a tiny aspect. Ask yourselves another question, what are you doing during the torah reading? do you make sure you actually give it the respect it deserves before you give money to its writing? sadly, many many yidden talk and read or even walk out during this time. (this wasnt written to rebuke misaskim in any way, just to get this out there for those interested) I really mean what I say.
Very nice …however , one does not preclude the other.Who said people are not being introspective…? Who said one is replacing the other? Speak for yourself. We are all in this together to make changes. But do you want each one of us to call you and tell you what kabala we are making so you feel good? The sefer Torah is to Honor them…and if you don’t feel like contributing…that’s your choice. Thanks
Please pray for sasson wife Gail bat Francis and tzopora have bat gail