Adapted from: Living Emunah on Yamim Noraim by Rabbi Rabbi David Ashear
As we take steps to improve ourselves during the glorious month of Elul, we must remind ourselves of the value of every single improvement we make, no matter how small it may seem. Whatever we do is very precious to Hashem and will benefit us at some point in the future.
Rabbi Silver’s* daughter Esther was diagnosed in 2019 with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a life-threatening condition which, until then, had no known cure. The doctor told the young rabbi that the FDA had just approved a new prescription gene therapy called Zolgensma, but the cost for a one-time infusion was a staggering $2.2 million. Furthermore, it was only approved for children under the age of two, and Esther was just a month shy of her second birthday.
The Silvers immediately tried to get the medication through their insurance plan, but it was denied. They hired a lawyer to fight the insurance company on their behalf but lost the case. With just a week remaining before her second birthday, little Esther’s life was on the line. Rabbi Silver had to come up with a plan — fast.
“Can we pay for the medication out of pocket?” he asked the doctor.
“Of course — but how would you get the money to do that?”
“I have a very rich Father,” Rabbi Silver replied. “Hashem is my Father, and He can do anything.”
Many family members took upon themselves life-changing kabbalos, and the next day, they launched a chesed campaign online. Amazingly, in just five days, they collected the full $2.2 million. Ashreichem Yisrael! However, the actual cash would not be available for at least another few days, and they didn’t have time to wait.
A certain wealthy gentleman heard about the urgent situation and offered to lay out the $2.2 million from his own pocket. The Silvers took the money and managed to get the medication and have it administered in the hospital the same day — July 19, 2019 — the day before Esther’s birthday.
Baruch Hashem, today Esther is doing well.
When the Silvers went to repay the kind benefactor who laid out the money, he refused to take it. “It was my zechus to give it,” he insisted, overwhelming them with his generosity.
The next task was to inform the more than 20,000 donors on the chesed page that the family no longer needed their money. Most of the people said they still wanted their donations to be used for charitable purposes. Rabbi Silver used the $2 million to start a new fund to provide for children with special medical needs.
Our people are amazing! Their desire to help others knows no bounds.
From the time Esther was diagnosed until she actually got the medication was an emotional roller coaster for the family. They have so much hakaras hatov to Hashem for bringing about their salvation. When the young rabbi had a chance to reflect on and contemplate all the events that had taken place, he had a striking revelation. Eight years previously, when he was not yet religious, he was faced with a very big test. His friends were going out to party on the night of Tishah B’Av and were urging him to come along. Deep down, he knew how wrong that was. He managed to fight the peer pressure and stayed home.
“That night was the turning point in my life,” he later said. Overcoming the challenge gave him the strength to grow in religious observance — and eventually become a rabbi.
The night of Tishah B’Av when he passed his test was July 19, the exact same date on which, several years later, he was able to almost miraculously get the medication, give it to his daughter, and save her life.
Everything we do for Hashem is precious to Him. He remembers everything and uses it to help us. Everyone has their own tests, on their own level. The common denominator is that no deed is ever considered small by Hashem. The sacrifices we make to do His will will be used to help us both in this world and the Next.
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