THE L'MAAN B'NOS YISRAEL INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
TO AID AGUNOT AND THEIR CHILDREN By: Marilyn Mattie Klein, M.A., M.S.W.
L'maan B'nos Yisrael International is dedicated to coordinating individuals and existing
organizations to help agunot and their children. It was founded on Tisha B'Av 1998
to raise the consciousness of the Jewish community and inspire Jews worldwide to join efforts
in eradicating the terrible agunah crisis that is wreaking havoc on our Jewish homes and will
affect the future of our people for generations to come.
L'maan B'nos Yisrael International, in a gesture of obj ,cvt, offers the following
programs as free sources to agunot and their families in hopes of extinguishing the obj ,tba,
the fire of hatred that has caused the churban that exists in so many of our Jewish homes today.
Authored by Rabbi Mordechai Tendler.
Rabbinically supported, the Tefilah L'agunah is being said voluntarily by kalot under
the chupah, women after they light Shabbat and Yom Tov candles, prior to reciting Tehilim
and in Shuls all over the world
Organizers of Agunah Get Days.
Internationally acclaimed project. Specific days are
designated as Agunah Get Days. Jews all over the world are challenged to encourage recalcitrant
husbands to give their agunah wives a get.
Batei Din are ready and prepared in locations worldwide to facilitate the get process.
L'maan B'nos Yisrael International covers the cost of the Sofer in an attempt to participate
in this great mitzvah.
L'maan B'nos Yisrael International thanks the following organizations for supporting our
efforts in this projects: Amit, Beth Din of America, Beth Din of Elizabeth, N.J., Congregation
Machzike Hadas Rabbinical Ottawa, Emunah of America, The Jewish Press, Just One Life, Kayama,
Midtown Board of Kashrus, National Council of Young Israel, Operation Refuah, Orthodox Caucus,
Orthodox Union, Poale Agudas, Rabbinical Alliance of America, Rabbinical Council of America,
Rabbinical Council of California, Rabbinical Court of the State of Israel, Sephardic Rabbinical
Council of America, Vaad Harabonim of Bergen County, Vaad Hair Beth Din of Montreal, and Vaad
Harabonim of Greater Monsey.
REAH Program.
Sadly, many agunot feel isolated and alone and need a friend who cares
about them. Taking Rabbi Akiva's words, vru,c kusd kkf vzw lunf lgrk ,cvtuw to a practical
level, the Reah Program encourages individuals to befriend an agunah. Volunteers are introduced
to an agunah in need of emotional support, befriend her and her children and act as an advocate
for her as much as possible.
Support Group for Agunot
Led by Marilyn Mattie Klein, M.A., M.S.W. Regular meetings are
held for agunot to show support for agunot during their trying time and to share information to
help one another. Tehilim and the Tefilah L'agunah are recited at the beginning of the meetings.
v"c many meetings have concluded with a l'chaim for a member or members who have received their
get.
Support Group for Former Agunot
Led by Marilyn Mattie Klein, M.A., M.S.W. As a result
of the positive results of Agunah Get Day and community response to help agunot, may women have
recently received their get. A support group for former agunot was formed to deal with the
problems and issues unique to these women.
Information and Refuah Service.
Linkage to existing organizations worldwide who have
offered to join the effort to help agunot.
Agunah Help Centers.
Shuls sensitive to the agunah problem sign up to offer help to
agunot in their neighborhoods. Agunot in need of assistance are sent to these agunah-friendly
Shuls
Volunteer Tutoring Program.
Many children of agunot suffer terrible emotional and
financial strain. As a result, their school work suffers. Their agunah mothers find it
difficult to make ends meet and often do not have the time or energy to help their children
with their school work. Volunteers under the supervision of a Board of Education reading
pecialist, tutor the children of agunot in their homes. Mothers must be present during the
tutoring sessions
Hachnosos Orchim.
Many agunot and their children find Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim a
particularly lonely and unhappy time away from a Shabbos and Yom Tov family atmosphere.
Volunteers offer to invite agunot and their children for a Shabbos and Yom Tov meal or for
a Yom Tov stay. This program is particularly important for the Succos and Pesach holidays.
Special Yom Tov Programs.
Each holiday has its own special needs of agunot:
for example, Erev Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, many agunot do not have money to buy seats
for davening and are forced to stand during the entire davening. We therefore try to arrange
for shuls to donate seats for agunot. Succos - Lulavim and esrogim have a special meaning for
Succos but are cost-prohibitive for many agunot who would like their children to have the
opportunity to make a brocha on a lulav and esrog. We attempt to arrange for agunot in need
of lulavim and esrogim to receive them.
Chanukah. Agunot often cannot afford the extras that we so often take for granted to make
Chanukah a special time for children. At L'maan B'nos Yisrael International we make every
effort to see to it that agunot have something to give their children to make it a Happy
Chanukah for all.
Pesach. Agunot and their children are placed to join volunteers for the Seder, and linkage
to organizations help with providing the necessities for Yom Tov.
Shoes, School and Shul Program.
August is a very difficult time for agunot.
Many women worry about the money they will need to get their children ready for school.
Often, schools refuse to take their children as their fathers have not paid the children's
tuition. Mothers often cry that their children's "feet cannot be squeezed into their old shoes
any more." The Shoes, School and Shul Program deals with these issues by attempting to advocate
for these children to remain in school and provide shoes for children in need.
An introduction to an agunah-friendly Shul is attempted to make the agunah and her children
feel wanted in the neighborhood.
Worldwide Tefilah and Tehilim Day for Agunot.
Erev Rosh Hashana, Jews all over the
world were urged to join in beseeching Hashem for mercy for agunot, their children and the
neshomot who are prevented from being born as a direct result of the tragic agunah crisis.
This day was organized with the strong support of respected Rabbis in Israel, England, Canada
and the United States and major rabbinic and synagogue organizations.
Worldwide Mother and Daughter Tefilah and Tehilim Day
Takes place on the yahrzeit of
Rachel Imeinu. Tefilah L'agunah, written by Rabbi Mordechai Tendler, and recitation of Tehilim
was held at Kever Rachel. Over 125 names of agunot and former agunot were read at the Kever
in hopes that in the z'chus of Rachel Imenu, the tears and prayers of agunot and their children
would be answered.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan Agunah Tehilim and Tefilah Gathering
On behalf of agunot and their
children. Tehilim was led by agunot and former agunot.
Sensitivity Training and Lectures
Given by Marilyn Mattie Klein, M.A., M.S.W., to
raise consciousness of the community and to enlist more individuals to help eradicate the
agunah problem.
Tehilim for Agunot Partners Program.
Agunah women have given us their Hebrew names,
requesting that individuals daven for them. Anyone interested in taking a Hebrew name of
an agunah for this purpose will give great chizuk to these women.
For further information for those in need of L'maan B'nos Yisrael International services
and for those who wish to volunteer to keep those services ongoing, please call L'maan B'nos
Yisrael International at (718) 338-0833.
