PHOTOS: By L. Halevi. The ‘Chain of Events’ has begun – and what a beginning it was. From the very moment the doors opened at 7:30, residents of the “Rt. 9 South” region of Lakewood kept streaming in to the new, magnificent hall, 978 River, to participate in the first-of-it’s kind regional event in Lakewood.

All pre-event estimates of the number of people that would attend were wrong. Of the approximately 1.500 families in the region, at least a full 25% were represented; by the most conservative count, at least 400 people made it their business to be in that hall to show their support for the 54 Cholim currently being helped by RCCS. In fact, some of those Cholim themselves were in attendance as well as many friends and family members of others.

The program began promptly at 8:30 with R’ Mordechai Kaszirer, an event committee co-chairman and the evening’s MC welcoming all the participants. He then introduced Rabbi Yosef Chaim Golding, Executive Director of RCCS. Rabbi Golding, who just returned from Eretz Yisroel a few hours prior, read a letter penned by a local Choleh, who was present in the room, expressing his feelings for RCCS and detailing how RCCS helped him from the very first step until today, and will continue doing so until his ultimate recovery, B’Meheira. Many people responded to Rabbi Golding’s plea for support by increasing their donations beyond what they already gave on the way in to the hall.

The crowd was then shown a moving video presentation featuring real patients and their stories and given a glimpse into the lifesaving work of RCCS across the globe.

Following the video, R’ Nosson Harkavy, a local Lakewood resident delivered heartfelt remarks about how RCCS assisted his father for over 7 years as he battled the dreaded disease. There was nary a dry eye in the room as his well-delivered words penetrated into the hearts of all those listening in awe.

It was amazing to watch how so many people came and listened and stayed and participated as if they were at a personal event; indeed it was amazing to actually feel it in the air how so many people took the plight of the local Cholim – their neighbors, friends and relatives- personally.

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything” said one person I spoke with. “RCCS is a pure and holy Tzedakah” said another. “This was an amazingly well-organized and well-run event” said yet another. Whoever I spoke to was excited to be a part of this event, had a positive attitude toward the goings on and plain and simple understood the importance of and accepted the Achrayus to support RCCS as best as they can. “And the food was awesome too!” said another participant. I think we can safely say that all who participated concur with that statement! (As well as the other statements)

The final speaker, Harav Yaakov Lazewnik, rov of Presidential estates, one of the neighborhoods of the region, delivered piercing words of chizuk and inspiration. He laced his remarks with some very poignant personal recollections of events in his life that made him very familiar with the pain and suffering of a choleh and their families.

Many Rabbanim of kehilos within the region attended the event, and if I had to describe the event in three words, I would simply say “Massiv Kiddush Hashem”.

May the support of the region’s residents for the cholim amongst us be a massive zechus for the cholim and may we live to see the day, hopefully soon, of the arrival of Melech Hamashiach and the eradication of all Machlos from Acheinu Bnei Yisroel.

The next regional event, for the “east Lakewood region”, taking place in a massive tent in Brook Rd. park is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17th. Stay tuned for details.