Why it matters
When someone we love leaves this world, the neshama, the soul, continues on its journey. We can no longer walk beside them as before. But we can still go with them. Not with noise, only with small, faithful acts, done with love and with intention.
Three gifts we can still give
In Pirkei Avot, the Mishnah teaches that the world stands on three things: Torah, Avodah (the service of the heart, prayer), and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving-kindness).
Throughout a lifetime, these are the paths by which a person refines the soul. Once the soul rises to the Olam HaElyon, the World Above, it can no longer add deeds of its own. From here, with love and intention, we can offer them on its behalf.
Torah
The word Mishnah (משנה) is made of the same letters as neshama (נשמה). When Mishnayot are learned l’ilui nishmas, for the elevation of the soul, the neshama is wrapped in the light of Torah and rises higher.
What we do: Kollel scholars and yeshiva students in Eretz Yisrael learn Mishnayot for every name entrusted to us, and your gift helps support their Torah learning.
Avodah
Kaddish sanctifies God’s Name in public, and the congregation answers Amen. Tradition tells of Rabbi Akiva, who taught the son of a soul in distress to say Barchu and Kaddish before the congregation, and the father’s soul found rest.
What we do: A rabbi says Kaddish before a minyan for every name entrusted to us. And on the yahrzeit, a memorial candle is lit for the neshama at the daily prayers.
Gemilut Chasadim
The Midrash teaches that the living can bring merit to those who have passed on. Tzedakah given with a particular soul in mind, or a seudah, a meal held in its memory, is a kindness done in its name.
What we do: Our chesed organization distributes food in Eretz Yisrael to families in need, to widows and to orphans, and we hold seudot after the prayers at our kollel and yeshiva, all l’ilui nishmas the neshamot entrusted to us.
Chesed shel emet: a true kindness
Some souls have no son or daughter to say Kaddish for them, no one to learn Mishnayot or give tzedakah in their name. These are the souls who need us most of all.
To care for them is chesed shel emet, a true kindness, the kind that can never be repaid. It gives a neshama what its own family would have wished to give.
Where a son or relative can say Kaddish, that is always the first and best way. We are here for every other time.
No Neshama Left Without Kaddish
And every small act, done with intention, lifts it a little higher.
As a rule, each gift supports all three: the learning of Mishnayot, the saying of Kaddish, and chesed and seudot l’ilui nishmas the neshama. If you would like it to go especially toward one of these, simply tell us, and we will gladly accommodate your wishes: main@fortheneshama.com or WhatsApp.
Register a nameSuggested registration donation: $5 or $10 per name · any amount from $1 welcome
