Chaya Rosenfeld met Chani Minzer at a charity event in Jerusalem. Chani had asked a prominent Rabbi what she could do to help ensure G-d’s protection of her family from unforeseen illnesses or injuries, and she was told to give 18 cents each day to charity, representing the numerical value of the word ‘chai’ – life. This gave her a wonderful sense of security and, impressed with what she told her, Chaya also decided to take on the same custom. They agreed to give their daily donation to people with medical emergencies, so that by giving health they would receive Heavenly blessing.

Not wanting to keep this wonderful ‘insurance policy’ to themselves, they set out to share their idea with the entire Jewish community, to help them to protect their own families, by reaching out to help others who are in need of financial assistance towards medical treatment.

Chaya and Chani took this idea to many esteemed Torah leaders, including the Bostoner Rebbe and Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l in their neighborhood of Har Nof, HaRav Yisroel Meir Lau, formerly Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, and Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg zt”l. Rav Scheinberg encouraged them to set up an organization, to be named Chai L’Adam. He further instructed them to stick to the number 18. Eighteen cents became 18 shekalim and eventually $18,000!

Click here to hear Rabbonim talking about Chai L’Adam.

Chai L’Adam has helped babies born with complex medical problems, children needing transplants, fathers suffering from chronic debilitating diseases, and mothers fighting desperately to stay alive. Hear some of their stories here.

“When someone gives money to Chai L’Adam, he or she enters our unique life insurance program”, explains Chani. “Kindness and charity are the best investment. This is one investment that only ever goes up!”