Chessed from age of 10: who carried the Olympic torch? Prophile

Already at the age of 10, Efraim Goldstein received the blessing of his Rav: "Deal with Chessed". Six years later, without any financial support, he founded a few organizations which helped the Hareidi community in London. Yesterday (Mon.) he carried the Olympic torch, a few days before the opening of the Olympic games.

Goldstein, 23 years old, single, lives in Stamford Hill, was one of the followers of Hagr"a Friend zt"l.

"At the age of 10, when I came to get a brocha from him, he said to me: "You will one day deal with Chessed," he tells, "and since then this sentence echoed in my head and didn't let go of me".

Already that year, he raised money for the Yad Ezra organization: "I managed to collect 1000 pounds within two weeks," he recollects. "I had a lot of satisfaction from that".

During his youth, Goldstein had difficulty with his studies, "I went through many things in my personal life. It wasn't easy for me." One of the days on Chanuka, at the age of 16, he went to visit a boy from the Hareidi community who was hospitalized in one of the hospitals in the area.

During this visit he recognized a hardship: "I noticed that people were lonely, there was no one to celebrate the chag with them, to light the Menorah with them or give them doughnuts. This boy was so happy, and since then the idea started, after which today more than 200 volunteers help and make those hospitalized happy."

Towards the age of 18, Goldstein started considering the idea of forming the organization "Hashomrim" in the Hareidi suburb.

"There were many Antisemitic incidents and crime, hareidi people feared to complain at the police and then the idea of founding the organization came about". According to him, factors within the suburb tried to dissuade him, the police refused to give him recognition and didn't like the idea.

"When years passed, everyone admitted they were wrong," he tells. "Almost all the money I saved I spent those days, in order to raise the project, and B"H there are 40 volunteers in the area who work with us".

In addition, Goldstein also founded the "Hachnasas Orchim" in Bermsgate, where Seudos are held twice a year for those who come up to the grave of the minister Moshe Montefiore z"l. "Each rosh chodesh a seudah is held there, and on the Yahrzeit hundreds enjoy the food there".

Goldstein also manages a few small organizations, among them a Gmach for electronics, and more.

This morning he marched 300 meters carrying the Olympic torch. There were those who criticized him, and in a text message which was spread among part of the hareidi kehilla, he was even called a "Misyaven".

"I'm used to it already, it doesn't disturb me from going on".

And how did the people from the Olympic board get to him?

"A few friends sent a sign-up form for me. Millions signed up and a mass and open vote is held. Afterwards, a team of judges sets up another list, and I got into the list of the 8000 marchers.

"I immediately phoned up one of the Rabbonim and consulted with him on the matter. He told me it would be a great Kiddush Hashem, and so was my feeling this morning.

"My family was happy for me, I got responses from all over the world."

It wasn't easy for Goldstein to organize the uniform he ran with, "The costs were paid by a large company which took the sponsorship, but there were complicated issues such as checking the clothes for Sha'atnez etc."

And he has a message: "One should never stop doing Chessed, it's something which has to be at the top priority of each and every one. No matter for whom, and what is the Chessed which has to be done for him, you will always have satisfaction from it".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!