Self-Sufficiency Brings Self-Respect
We met Avi Yishai at Shalhevet, an apartment house in Jerusalem that is home to 13 disabled individuals who want to live independently. Avi is a wheelchair-bound man in his thirties. He is a self-taught accomplished musician, a recording artist, who spent years touring in concerts all over the world. A few years ago, while playing the drums on stage, he suddenly felt very dizzy and lost the feel of his right hand and mouth. He has a tumor on his brain stem and only a part of it could be removed because of the location, leaving him in a wheelchair and with limited movement in his right hand.
October 2003
Avi is a charming man, still writing music. His dream is to get into music production using computers. He wants very much to be self-supporting. He can create and sell his programming, rhythm patterns, soundtracks and he was ready to begin working at it, but he needed sophisticated sound and recording hardware and software.
July 2004
Before Avi became disabled, he worked on many artistic projects without pay, always wanting to help others. Since becoming disabled, he has volunteered to help others with their music. Avi is a very proud man.
February 2006
Our Involvement
Hands On Tzedakah made an interest-free loan to Avi to purchase the sound and recording computer equipment he needed. The terms of the loan require repayment only when Avi is earning enough money to be self-sufficient.
After the computer and production equipment was delivered to Avi, we received a letter from him. We feel privileged to share a part of it with you. "In a situation such as I am in, after everything that has happened to me, it is difficult to find a way to continue to contribute in a productive and creative manner in what was my field before my operation - the music performing business… Your support has helped me to look toward a new approach to being creative in the music business. I understand that you have given me a once in a lifetime chance and I am looking forward to many more years of creative music production as a result of your help. I am looking forward, as well, to helping other people who are in situations similar to my own. I know, in my heart, that even my physical condition has improved as a result of merely knowing that you were prepared to help me. In the school of life, I have learned that there should be second chances so………here I go!"
The highest form of Tzedakah is to strengthen the hand of the unfortunate, by extending a loan and joining in partnership, to help those who have suffered setbacks to establish themselves.
Contact Information:
Avi Yishai, website: www.aviyishai.com, e-mail: avi@aviyishai.com
