A young Jewish teenager is released from prison!
A young Jewish teenager is released from prison following the intervention of dedicated activists from the newly established D’ror organization.
A joyful seudas hodaah gathering was held last week in Boro Park to celebrate the release of a fifteen year old boy from a youth correction facility. This accomplishment was the result of tireless efforts and negotiations, after which the young boy was finally freed from the unbearable environment where he had been languishing over the last several months. This unfortunate child has now been given a new lease on life, as he has been saved from a long term prison sentence, and is now allowed to rejoin society.
In order to protect the family’s privacy, exact details of the saga will be omitted, but suffice it to say that this New York teenager has undergone years of suffering and neglect before becoming entangled in legal trouble. Before he even realized the extent of his predicament, he found himself imprisoned in a facility for young criminals.
Needless to say, such an environment is a poisonous one for a young Jewish boy, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The child suffered bitterly, surrounded by juvenile delinquents and far away from a normal Jewish community.
This teenager does have relatives overseas that are capable of taking him in and raising him in their own warm, functional household, but their attempts encountered much opposition in court, and they were prevented from obtaining his release. The relatives ran from one organization to the next, seeking help on behalf of their unfortunate cousin, but they hit a brick wall and made no progress until meeting up with the dedicated askonim of the D’ror organization. Rabbi Chaim Hersh Freund, R’ Yoel Mendelovitz, and R’ Yoel Bochner, among others, threw themselves wholeheartedly into this case, not resting until they effected the boy’s release.
The first step was the arrangement of a yungerman to visit the youth daily, bringing him kosher food, and lifting his spirits to prevent him from falling into depression. Then the askonim hired the best possible attorney for the case, at the same time establishing connections with helpful authorities. After a long period of legal struggles, examinations, and trials, and other official procedures the child was finally a free individual once again. The relatives arrived from a distant country to greet the boy, and as per the advice of the judge, they immediately obtained the necessary papers. Through much intervention and Siyatta Dishmaya, this step was accomplished, and on the very same day, the boy left the shores of America. Together with his newfound family members, he was now on his way to a secure future, B’ezras Hashem.
The seudas hodaah which the D’ror askonim organized was held immediately after the boy’s release. Many family members and close friends who had exerted superhuman efforts on the boy’s behalf took part in the event, most notably the esteemed Faltishaner Rav, R’ Efraim Stein, the Rav of the D”ror organization.
The event took place in a tasteful Boro Park venue, where the ambience was suited to the joyous occasion. A group of energetic young men from the renowned Mekimi organization provided suitable entertainment through lively music and singing. Various family members and askonim addressed the assemblage, and the program ended with the boy himself warmly expressing his heartfelt thanks to all those who had a hand in saving his life. The seudas hodaah was an emotional event for all the attendees, who were zoche to witness a Yiddishe neshama being rescued from the depths of despair, and especially for the indefatigable askonim of d’ror, who spend each day toiling to rescue downtrodden Yidden. It was truly a momentous occasion, during which they were able to savor the fruits of their labor.