How a 6-Year-Old Floridian ensures a baby in Israel is fed

“Neri is turning 6, she wants to help hungry babies in Israel!”

This isn’t the typical line included in the notes section of a donation to American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri’s Feed-a-Baby donation form. So, when an office manager saw it, she decided she wanted to hear more about Neri and how a 6-year-old from Ormond Beach, Florida was helping feed a baby across continents.

Florida and Israel may be separated by over 6,000 miles, but the distance is no match for one local family committed to helping Israeli families in need. Dr. Maurice Kaufman, an anesthesiologist in Ormond Beach, has a special tradition: in honor of his daughters’ birthdays, he makes an annual donation to AFYE/B’ezri’s Feed-a-Baby program to support hungry infants in Israel. The program helps needy families purchase formula, the costs of which put substantial and additional strain on a household already struggling to remain stable. For Dr. Kaufman, the contribution isn’t only about fulfilling a mitzvah, it’s also a tribute to the legacy of his late father, Norbert, who demonstrated how the smallest acts of kindness can bring light to even the darkest of times.

“My father, who passed in 2017, was a World War II survivor and fought for the Russians at the ripe age of 17. Growing up he told the stories of how we had lost 17 relatives in the concentration camps. Even though he started off with meager means after immigrating to Venezuela and then the United States, he always taught us the importance of tzedakah,” he explained.

“As a child I never understood why he would sit down every month and write checks out to numerous charities even though money at home was sometimes tight,” Kaufman continues. “He explained to me that it was a mitzvah and a Torah commandment that all Jews must fulfill.”

Norbert Kafuman’s teachings illuminated a path for his family that crosses generations and continents. Dr. Kaufman follows his father’s example, donating to various charities in Israel including American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri. He and his wife Leanne, a nurse anesthetist, have two daughters (Neri, 6, and Nava, 2) who are also learning the profound values of compassion and bringing light into the world. It seems that Neri’s spirit of generosity is in her DNA.

“Neri was named after my father, and once she was born I began the habit of donating additional money on her birthday. When she was three I started explaining to her what I was doing. To be honest she really never understood, but this year on her birthday she surprised me. She said, ‘I’m turning six tomorrow—are we going to send money to help hungry babies in Israel this year?’ I was blown away and very proud. We are blessed to have all we need and want to give back.”

Their act of giving back is expanding, too. Nava Kaufman just celebrated her second birthday. Born with a large facial port wine stain and arterial malformation, her medical journey has brought its own challenges. Yet, the family draws resilience and hope from their commitment to making a difference.

“Dealing with my daughter’s medical condition has been a challenge. It is with gratitude and with giving that we are able to find the strength and courage to live each day. We set an example for our daughters at an early age and hope that they will continue this most important mitzvah. So we plan to repeat the same donation every year on Nava’s birthday as well. Thank you to Yad Eliezer/B’ezri for helping us help others.”

Through their ongoing commitment to charity and compassion, the Kaufman family not only honors their past, they also ensure that their values continue to shape their family’s future- with acts of kindness that shine light across generations, miles, and lives.

To learn more about American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri’s Feed-a-Baby program, which provides formula to struggling families in Israel, visit their website at bezri.org.