Once I had read an article about a female soldier deployed in the desert who found meaning and courage in a crumbled-up watermelon pattern pillowcase that she had discovered in a discarded box; it reminded her of home and family. So, joining a few supportive organizations, I began sewing pillowcases for several decades. I had never received any direct response from a soldier and was beginning to question if the hundreds and hundreds of pillowcases that I had sewn even mattered. Hashgachah Pratis provided my answer.

The week before Black Friday I was in a fabric store stocking up on colorful patterns for my KosherTroops.com project. The tall strong lady behind the cutting table asked me what I was planning to do with all the beautiful fabric so I told her that the pillowcases would go to soldiers in Afghanistan among other places. She said that she had just gotten back from Afghanistan and related that all she wanted was to sleep in a real bed; the cots were so uncomfortable in the stifling desert barracks. She said that she was often depressed so far away from her husband and children. Then one day she received a care package. In it was a “beautiful pillowcase with blooming cactus.” We both stopped mid-sentence when I asked her,” by any chance was the cuff of the pillowcase underwater pebbles?” She came around from the back of the table and bent in half to hug my 5 ft. frame as she whispered, “G-d Bless You. You saved my life!” I replied that it was not possible to which she added, “Every time I looked at that pillowcase I thought that if someone more than seven thousand miles away who didn’t even know me had cared enough to sew this beautiful work of art, I could hang on and make it home to my family. And I did. Thank you!” I never saw her before that day, and I have not seen her since.

Each of us can help. Courageous young men and women volunteer to stand in harm’s way to keep us safe. The globe is embroiled in hate and fear. I choose to honor and support our heroes. Organizations like KosherTroops.com founded over 15 years ago directly supports Jewish men and women with care packages and personal contact. WoundedWarriorsProject.org supports those who sacrifice limbs and need critical long-term medical attention. They are both my pet projects.

My students at Talmudical Academy of Baltimore are involved in tangibly showing Hakoros HaTov by sewing 88 vivid pillowcases. Each pillowcase is accompanied by a handwritten note from the student expressing appreciation for the soldier’s tremendous sacrifice. They will be sent overseas in this year’s Pesach care packages through KosherTroops.com. It is the right thing to do, and we can all be role models to teach our children and grandchildren that every act of chesed and patriotism matters. I tell my students that if HaShem gives you a talent, it is your responsibility to find a way to use it in service of others.

I deeply appreciate the wonderful parent chaperones: Mr. Andrew Singer, Mrs. Tehila Blau, Mrs. Tova Cohen, Mrs. Rochell Hoffman, Mrs. Malka Markowitz and Mrs. Dena Lerner.

The wonderful enthusiastic TA students who volunteered their Sundays to do this chesed:

Dovid Singer, Shaul Aryeh Hexter, Eli Blau, Yanky Blashka, Nachum Cohen, Asher Frydman, Danny Prero, Reuvain Schwartz, Yehoshua Hoffman, Yehoshua Feldman, Tzvi Aryeh Markowitz, Noam Schulman, Yeshaya Twersky, Ami Buck, and Rafi Lerner.

TA Student Receives Personal Thank You from US Soldier in Afghanistan

From: Darr, Wayne O CTR (USA)
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 12:54:57 AM
To: Sefer Torah <sefertorah@talmudicalacademy.org>
Subject: Thanks to You

I would like to thank a young man who made a Pillow case that made it into a Purim package to me in
Afghanistan.  Thank  you so much, Tzvi Aryeh Markowitz I will enjoy it very much.  Thank you all so
very much for your support.  It makes being here much more bearable.  To all of you the work you
are doing is truly appreciated it is a Mitzvah.


Wayne Darr
CI Screener
Bagram Airfield,
Afghanistan