Full Breakdown
Chesed Menahem Mendel Expands Orphan Support After October 7
By Drooid · · How we work
Post-October 7 Expansion of Services
The Keren Chesed Menachem Mendel – Orphan Intervention Program reports a sharp rise in the number of widows and orphaned children it assists following the events of October 7. The organization says the surge includes many very young widows who arrive at its gatherings with strollers, and children born after their fathers were killed. In response, the fund has broadened its educational, emotional and recreational programs to meet the heightened demand.
Background & Context
Founded roughly 26 years ago by Rabbi Yitzchok Marton, the program operates under Colel Chabad, Israel’s longest-running charity. After Rabbi Marton’s death in 2023, his wife, Rachel Marton—mother of nine—assumed leadership of the fund. She describes the organization as “almost part of our family,” noting that the original vision emphasized respectful, dignified assistance to bereaved families.
Data & Statistics
- The program serves more than 1,000 families across Israel, spanning all economic, religious and regional sectors.
- Academic support includes daily tutoring in mathematics, English, language and religious studies, as well as reading assessments for first-grade entrants.
- The Ma’aleh Scholarship Program awards high-school students scholarships ranging from several hundred to several thousand shekels based on academic performance.
- Seasonal offerings comprise day, overnight and summer camps, as well as enrichment classes in swimming, sports, art, music, dance and computer science.
Official Statements & Responses
Marton emphasizes that the fund’s multidisciplinary approach—addressing emotional, academic and social needs—allows it to “stand alongside the parent” and provide tailored support plans, including coordination with schools and provision of remedial teachers when needed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mrs. Rachel Marton has stepped into the shoes of her husband, Yitzchok, and then some. She has continued the work he began while bringing her own unique emotional sensitivity and spirit to it. She has given the organization new life.” — Rabbi Zalman Duchman, executive director of Colel Chabad
- “But because my husband built it in such a clear, organized, and established way, we can expand its activities to meet the need.” — Mrs. Rachel Marton
- “For children entering first grade, we monitor their reading to see whether they have learned to read properly,” — Mrs. Rachel Marton
- “These are high-quality events, planned down to the last detail, with a special, happy atmosphere,” — Mrs. Rachel Marton
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
However, the provided date ledger classifies October 7 as a scheduled date, indicating it is a future event. This creates a discrepancy between the source’s narrative of past impact and the ledger’s designation of the date as forthcoming. No additional clarification is offered in the source material.
What’s Next
The fund plans to add vocational-training programs for women, expand computer access for high-school students, and increase the overall number of families it can support, contingent on available resources. Marton remarks that “the sky is the limit” for future growth.
