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It was with tremendous trepidation that Rabbi Meir Hacker approached the camera to record his recent extremely vulnerable video message to the public
But, as he explains right away, he has “no choice left.”
Hacker has been known in Israel’s volunteer world for many years. He has worked with ZAKA including after the recent massacres, and volunteers in hospitals as well. While he wasn’t caring for others outside of the house, he also had to carry the home. His wife is suffering from a severe neurological disease which causes her to be bedridden.
“It’s not easy for the kids on Shabbat,” he says, his voice swelling with emotion, “not seeing their mother at the table, her being in bed”
Despite their challenges, the Hacker children have learned to be resilient. Now, daughter Esther Hacker is engaged to be married. Due to the family’s extreme poverty, she doesn’t have anything she needs for the ceremony, or life afterward.
Some are choosing to say “thank you” to this ZAKA hero by helping him to marry off his daughter with dignity, and support his ill wife.