Many organizations throughout the Queens Bukharian community not only help in a myriad of ways, but also personify the beauty of the Jewish people. The endless care and support offered from these great organizations show the world that we are a people of chesed and kindness, wanting to do whatever we can for our fellow person. While each organization in its own right is valuable, when two organizations come together, uniting their strengths to help each other, that shows true achdus (unity) in a profound way. On Sunday, November 19, we were fortunate to see two great mosdos unite for the betterment of our community, when members of the ABA and RCCS met at the Beth Gavriel Center in Forest Hills.
RCCS, or Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society, has been assisting cancer patients for the last twenty years. As a vital lifeline for every cancer patient–whether through helping needy patients pay for crippling insurance premiums, or referring and procuring appointments with top cancer specialists in the area–RCCS is the first call for many cancer patients. This year alone, through their patient advocacy program, RCCS was able to recoup over $3 million from insurance companies to help pay for treatments and services that the companies had previously denied. Not only is RCCS a global organization, helping over 2,100 patients throughout the world, but it is a local organization as well, currently assisting over 20 Bukharian patients in Queens alone.
The ABA, or Alliance of Bukharian Americans , needs little introduction. In the short time that the organization has been around, it has made great strides to connect organizations to the Bukharian community. Through their tremendous political advocacy and by bringing great organizations into the community, the ABA is committed to uniting and strengthening the Bukharian community.
The meeting was a first step into formally connecting RCCS with the Bukharian community. ABA Liaison David Mordukhaev opened the meeting with a warm greeting to the representatives of RCCS and described the great advances that the ABA is doing within the Bukharian community. Mikey Biederman and Chaim Kurz, both RCCS board members and Queens natives, spoke about the great history between RCCS and the Queens community. Rabbi Aron Steier, Regional Director for RCCS, shared an emotional story that happened this past Shabbos with a current RCCS patient from Israel, and Rabbi Yisroel Mayer Merkin, Director of Organizational Advancement, described to the members of the ABA the direct impact that RCCS is having on the Queens Bukharian community. The successful meeting was also attended by Rabbi Yaniv Meirov (ABA Kew Gardens Hills Liaison), Rabbi Avishai Meir (ABA Kew Gardens Liaison), Simcha Musheyev (ABA Forest Hills Liaison), Dr. Rafeal Yakutilov (community activist), and Pesach Osina, who leads ABA’s Governmental Affairs division and is a major advocate for RCCS.
The meeting was not only a tremendous first step in forging a new relationship between these two great organizations, but was also a testament to the power of unity. With the new partnership of the ABA and RCCS, we will hopefully see more organizations come together in an effort to strengthen our community. We wish RCCS and the ABA only hatzlachah and look forward to seeing the great impact that they can bring to our community.
ABA Takes Key Step In Connecting RCCS With Bukharian Community
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