"All Jews are responsible for one another."This, in a nutshell, is the philosophy on which The Kaddish Foundation was built.
Rabbi Yitzchok Kurlander, Founder of The Kaddish Foundation, is a veteran Jewish day school educator of thirteen years. Rabbi Kurlander's care and concern for his students is legendary among parents and students alike.
Devoted to his students, Rabbi Kurlander could not help but notice that several were in need of financial assistance. He personally raised money to send them to summer camp. This personal involvement evolved into raising funds for more basic needs, such as shoes, clothing, and very often, even for bare necessities of the family such as food and heat. In addition, he has exerted considerable effort to enable children to continue their Jewish education, raising the money to cover tuition and boarding expenses, and encouraging them in the path they have chosen. In many cases, these were situations where the children needed special education.
After his father passed away nine years ago, Rabbi Kurlander recited Kaddish, not only for his father, but also occasionally for individuals who had no one to say Kaddish for them. Five years later his mother passed away. Again he found himself saying Kaddish, keeping in mind those for whom no one would say Kaddish.
"While I was saying Kaddish for my own father and mother (o.b.m.), I came across individuals for whom there was no one to say Kaddish and realized that this important need existed."As time went on, he became more and more sensitive to this issue, recognizing the need to reach people in order to educate them about the unique importance of this prayer. Thus, the Kaddish Foundation was born. The Kaddish Foundation has become a national organization, taking responsibility for reciting Kaddish, observing Yahrzeits, and learning Mishnayos to elevate the souls of those who have left this world.
Says Rabbi Kurlander:
"The best thing, of course, is for an individual to say the Kaddish personally for this relative or friend. We can help him by providing information and texts. In the event that no one can say Kaddish, there is a way to provide this merit for the deceased by designating someone else to say the Kaddish."More recently, The Kaddish Foundation has come full circle. Now, in addition to concentrating on helping the deceased, funds which are given in someone's memory are used to help the living. Rabbi Kurlander's fundraising efforts for needy families have been incorporated into the programs supported by The Kaddish Foundation. The beauty of this cycle is that when funds are donated to help the deceased, the deceased simultaneously helps the living.
The Kaddish Foundation is currently in the process of preparing material to make available to people containing the transliteration of the Kaddish, and information about its origin and importance.
Rabbi Kurlander and his devoted staff are located at 3618 Shannon Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118. They can be reached by phone, toll free, 1-888-999-SOUL or 216-321-5557. All contributions are tax deductible.
All Jewish souls are intertwined, as we know from the statement of our sages,
"All Jews are responsible for one another."There is no place in which we see this evidenced as clearly as in The Kaddish Foundation.