Chavie’s grandmother survived the Holocaust with only a quarter of one kidney, which caused her great suffering. As a result, kidneys were a frequent topic of conversation in Chavie’s upbringing.
At a shiur about fifteen years ago, someone asked Chavie her blood type. Someone with the same type was in urgent need of a kidney. At the time, Chavie had small children at home and wasn’t in the mindset of donating, yet the conversation stayed with her, tucked away in her mind and heart.
Chavie often read the newsletters of Matnat Chaim, the non-profit organization that encourages and facilitates altruistic kidney donations. They were filled with emotional, inspiring stories of kidney donors and recipients. Chavie was moved, though not yet ready to act.
About a year ago, she saw a Matnat Chaim advertisement in a digital magazine. On impulse, she filled out the online questionnaire. To her surprise, the response came swiftly: She was an initial compatibility match with someone in need.
Chavie was stunned. She had clicked through the form almost absentmindedly, without even discussing it with her husband. When she finally raised the issue, he supported her wholeheartedly. They also consulted his father, a doctor, who, though he admitted he wouldn’t donate himself, expressed admiration and encouraged her to proceed.
Chavie moved ahead, knowing the process would be long and that she could change her mind at any time. Grateful for her good health, she wanted to share it with someone else.
In the end, her first match could not undergo the surgery. Eventually, she was matched with Dina, a resident of Alei Siach, a non-profit organization that provides chareidi and dati special needs adults with all they need to live a full Torah life. Doctors had monitored Dina’s kidney function for several years, and her condition had worsened to the point where she would soon need dialysis. Her cousin wanted to donate, but her blood type was incompatible.
This was not a problem for Rebbetzin Rachel Heber, chairman of Matnat Chaim, who had taken over the organization founded by her husband after his death from coronavirus in 2020. She excels at “making shidduchim” between patients and suitable donors.
If Dina’s cousin couldn’t donate to her, she could help another patient. In the end, Dina’s cousin donated to someone else, enabling Dina to move up the waiting list. Similarly, the son of another patient donated to someone else, so his father could move up the list as well. Chavie, as an altruistic donor, gave her kidney to Dina.
Chavie told her irreligious colleagues why she would need time off. They had never heard of Matnat Chaim or even of altruistic kidney donation, and were deeply impressed.
Before the surgery, Chavie and Dina’s families had a warm meeting. A total of six kidney operations were performed that day. The staff at Alei Siach davened that all should go well.
Both families supported Dina and Chavie throughout the recovery period, and they grew close through the experience. Dina’s family even bought things for Chavie’s family, while Leah, Chavie’s daughter, checked in on Dina. Leah once stayed with her mother overnight so her father could rest. This kindness did not go unnoticed, and before long, the families began to feel like one large, happy family.
One day, Leah rode to Yerushalayim with Elisheva, Dina’s cousin. Their car-ride conversation confirmed Elisheva’s positive impression: Leah was kind, modest, serious about her Yiddishkeit, and had exemplary midos. She seemed an ideal match for her brother’s son. Elisheva suggested the shidduch. The couple dated, and soon after, got engaged. Everyone was thrilled.
Since Matnat Chaim’s founding in 2009, the organization has arranged over 1,000 kidney matches. But this was the very first shidduch for marriage. Rebbetzin Heber personally called the parents to wish them a mazal tov.
Chavie reached out to the digital magazine where it had all begun, letting them know of the good that had unfolded as a result of their ad. The magazine shared the story, reposted the Matnat Chaim advertisement, and within days, seven more people stepped forward to inquire about donating.
Chavie describes Rebbetzin Heber’s drive to do good as truly contagious. She believes everyone is given a special talent that can be used to help others, whether it’s a healthy person donating a kidney, a baker providing for neighbors’ smachot, or any other act of kindness. And one never knows what blessings such chesed will bring in return.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
