Crown Heights Resident Contracts West Nile Virus and Needs Our Help

by CrownHeights.info

For the past seven years, Yoel has been part of the Crown Heights Jewish community, quietly making a difference in the lives of those around him. Known for his kind heart, willingness to help, and genuine concern for others, he is the kind of young man whose presence brings warmth to a shul, a Shabbos table, and the community as a whole.

Now, Yoel and his family are facing a difficult chapter, and the community he has come to call home has an opportunity to give back to someone who has given so much of himself to others.

In a heartfelt appeal, Rabbi Lazer Avtzon describes Yoel as “one of the nicest young men I know,” praising his generous spirit and selflessness. “A heart of gold, the first to volunteer and always thinking of others first,” Rabbi Avtzon writes.

Their relationship began when Yoel came to daven at Rabbi Avtzon’s shul. Before long, he became a regular at the rabbi’s Shabbos table, where he was welcomed as part of the extended family. Over time, Yoel made a decision that reflected the very qualities Rabbi Avtzon describes: he moved to Rabbi Nimni’s shul, feeling that he was needed there and that his presence could make a greater difference.

Even after making that move, Yoel maintained his connection with Rabbi Avtzon’s shul, returning whenever possible to daven and join the community for Shabbos and Yom Tov meals. His story reflects a simple but powerful commitment to Jewish communal life—not merely being part of a community, but finding ways to contribute to it and to be there for others.

Today, the situation has changed. Yoel, who has spent years giving of himself and looking out for those around him, now needs the support of others. He was bitten and infected by the West Nile virus, which has left him paralyzed and in need of constant care.

His family is facing ongoing needs related to his care and support, and an effort has been launched to help ease that burden.

Rabbi Avtzon has established a fundraising campaign through The Chesed Fund, with a goal of raising $100,000 to help provide for Yoel’s care and ongoing support. In his appeal, the rabbi expresses how meaningful it would be to see friends and supporters rally around Yoel and his family during this challenging time.

For a community like Crown Heights, where the bonds of achdus, chesed, and mutual responsibility are central to Jewish life, this is an opportunity to turn those values into action. Supporting a fellow community member is about more than making a donation; it is about reminding a family that they are not alone, that their struggles matter, and that there are people ready to stand beside them.

After seven years of calling Crown Heights home, Yoel is more than a name on a fundraising page. He is a young man who has davened in our shuls, shared Shabbos and Yom Tov meals, and built relationships with members of the community. Those connections now offer a meaningful opportunity for people to come together on his behalf.

The campaign can be found here:

https://thechesedfund.com/saveyoel/yoel-needs-us-now-more-than-ever-before