World-renowned philanthropist Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz of Los Angeles was in the tri-state area yesterday to present his dear friend, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, with an award at the Ohr V’Daas dinner at the Valley Terrace in Monsey, NY.
Ohr V’Daas is the premier institution in the Monsey area educating special needs children. The school celebrated its 25th anniversary of being at the forefront of helping children and teens succeed in life despite their challenges.
The evening began with an exclusive reception held in honor of Mr. Rechnitz. The gathering featured warm remarks from several people, including Rav Yeruchem Zeilberger, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford.
At the Ohr V’Daas dinner, the chairman was Mr. Sruly Orzel, who introduced Mr. Rechnitz. R’ Shlomo Yehuda effectively described the nisayon faced by parents of special children, keeping his audience spellbound with his oratory. He described how these parents suffer in silence, shedding tears when no one is watching. Their pain is immense, their pekel so heavy, yet they don’t complain. They take it in stride. They seek out the best for their children and expend so much energy on their behalf. They are heroic in their strength and determination. Ohr V’Daas helps them deal with their daily struggles, providing strength and stamina and help them deal with their challenges.
R’ Shlomo Yehuda, having just watched Ohr V’Daas students perform his composition, El Hanaar Hazeh, announced that he would be doubling his initial pledge to the school. He then presented Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz with his award.
Mr. Rechnitz, who is famed for his devotion to causes of Torah and chessed, departed the dinner following Rabbi Lipschutz’s speech, heading south to Brooklyn to attend and address the annual dinner of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in honor of the rosh yeshiva, his esteemed father-in-law, Rav Yisroel Belsky.
This involved numerous logistic difficulties, with a tight schedule, so Ohr V’Daas chartered a helicopter to ensure that Reb Shlomo Yehuda would arrive at the second dinner on time. In the end, due to inclement weather, Reb Shlomo Yehuda traveled by car.
At the Torah Vodaas dinner, Reb Shlomo Yehuda announced that he was pledging the astronomical sum of $1 million to the yeshiva in honor of a special individual. Click below to watch:
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
