By COLlive reporter
When friends of Mrs. Lifshy Ajzenszmidt clicked to watch her take the “Ice Bucket Challenge” in support of those suffering of Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, they didn’t expect tears.
The Chabad Shlucha in the Lantau Island in Hong Kong joined the social media frenzy of pouring ice cold water on yourself and encouraging people to donate to research a cure for the motor neurone disease.
Except for her it has an emotional aspect.
She filmed the video to honor her late father, Chazzan Shmuel Shuchat who passed away from ALS at the age of 46 on the 23rd of Av. His 9th yartzeit will be on Tuesday.
“It’s not just about pouring ice over your head,” Ajzenszmidt says in the video. “It’s about knowing that there are people and emotions behind the story… be there for them…”
“During his year-long battle with ALS, he never stopped smiling and was always trying to enocurage people to see things in a positive way. He would always point to the Heavens and say ‘It is all in G-d’s hands,'” she said.
“We, his children, have learned from our father how to accept what G-d has given us and to bring joy into our every day lives,” Ajzenszmidt writes in the video before being helped by her daughter with the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Sara Tema Leider, a friend of hers, wrote: “Beautiful. I also cried remembering your dad. May his neshoma have an aliyah. Ice Bucket Challenge is beautiful but your narration of a child of someone whose father had ALS brought the picture of the disease.”
Another friend, Desi Yishay wrote: “Lifshy, you made me cry – this was so special! Wishing your father the highest of aliyas in shamayim!”
VIDEO:
To donate to Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz who is battling ALS, visit hurwitzfamilyfund.com.
The ice bucket challenge was something that ppl were doing in order to help spread awareness of Als. So lifshy made a video of her experience of when our father was sick and passed away .
23 I’m sorry about your father it must have been really hard and rough to go through ;(
Im in tears…Thank you for sharing, May Hashem give you and your family good health and much joy and happiness.
Moshiach Now!!
Your father was a great man.. thank you so much for posting
ליפשי, בכיתי ביחד איתך!
את גדולה מהחיים!
ומלמדת אותי כל הזמן דברים חדשים על החיים..
אוהבת
Lifshy you did an amazing job bringing the awareness of Lou gheric disease ALS. You really touched thousands of people. Your father who gave his life for bikur cholim made a huge impact of hundreds of sick patients. Lifsha who your named after was the mikva lady in crown heights. She used to prepare the mikva for the rebbe. When the rebbe finished he would put coins in the pushka ,and she would change the coins with dollars. When a woman couldn’t have children she would give them the rebbe coin.After they would have children. The mikva was in terrible… Read more »
Thank you all for your kind words , it was very nice to read all the above comments
I used To babysit For you with Gila YOUR parents are were amazing people
I’ve been crying watching your video remembering your father’s smile and how welcoming your mom always was
Briendy Allouche ( Hurwitz
He used to run the minyan for all those not yet well at Kingsbrook Jewish Hospital and his childern would help get the all the Yiddisha patients to the shul in that facility and he would lead the services and have kiddush and sing chazzonus for everyone. He was a very holy man with a beautiful smile and I miss him dearly. All his kinderlach and family should have the best in all matters.
. I am very touched by everyones responses. My father has touched so many peoples lives in so many ways. Unfortunatly my father had to die at a very young age. But no matter of how old a parent is when they pass away its always difficult. My father took his illness with happiness. always smiling even at the most toughest times. I pray to Hashem that there will be a cure for ALS so all that is suffereing from it will be cured. For the families that are dealing with a loved one with ALS Hashem should give you… Read more »
Dear Mrs Ajzenszmidt, Thank you so very much for sharing your feelings with the community. It was quite moving for me to hear your experience, understanding that we all can relate to it in some way or the other, be it a physically sick family member, or a loved one that isn’t doing well emotionally, etc. You showed us that it is important to speak out and express our feelings when we’ve had or are having something hurtful in our lives, knowing that it can help us cope with it all. I sure think that the Hong Kong community which… Read more »
Your father was an incredible person, his smile was infectious I remember being at the services when he was a Chazan it was amazing. I’ve never been to a Rosh Hashanna service since then that has been as amazing. I know he’s very proud of you. Wishing you and your family all the best.
Love,
Miriam Gardner
thank you Lifshy for posting this video, it is beautiful
i dont know you or your father, and i cried watching this
im sure you are giving him much nachas!
Bs”d
Very very moving.
Thank you.
Lifshy, I watched your video with tears in my eyes. I had no idea of all that you have gone through. Your father sounds like an extremely special and inspiring person. I am sure he is having tremendous nachas from all the good work you do on shlichus and in raising your growing family.
Borrowing the terms from the ALS ice bucket challenge, may you and your family be showered with infinite buckets filled with hatzlacha, revealed good, and simchas. May we have moshiach now when we can all be reunited with our loved ones.
May your tears open the gates of shamyim. So we can all rejoice in the ultimate geula!
How I remember Shmuel Shochat was with a huge smile and a friendly word. Not merely a hihowareyou.He stopped and spent the time to hear the answer. He loved life, his family and wanted Moshiach more than anything. An honor to see his life continue on with beautiful cildren and aineklach.
was so special. Even during his last days, he only wanted to know that everyone else was doing well. When he died I remember how the non-Jews on our block mourned him, because he was so considerate of them. Thanks for this reminder of how very special he was. Your former neighbor.
Is in his name!!!!
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story of your late father. May his neshama have an Aliyah to the loftiest heights.
PLEASE share your story on Face Book, so that ALL those doing this Ice Bucket thing can hear firsthand about ALS….both Jews & Non-Jews alike……people need to hear the real reality of this disease, not only the laughter of the icy water.
May Yitzi Hurwitz & all those others suffering from Lou Gerigs Disease have a complete Refuah Shelaima; & May all your families only know of health & Simchas.
Miriam Kessler (LA)
I last saw your father at Kehot to purchase an item. I was upset at the time. Your father said to me you always have a reason to smile. I walked out a different person, with a smile on my face. He was a very special person. He died on my birthday. May his neshama have an aliya. I am sure he is proud of all of you!
I don’t know you or your father but I’m inspired from your video and I sent a text today to 2 bachurim I know are going through a hard time due to someone in there family is sick asking them how there summer is going…
Specia!l thank you for sharing .your strength is admirable !
You family was such a special man.
I know that your aunt and uncle tried every single thing they could – looking in ALL corners of the world – in hopes that they could find a nes!
May your father have the highest aliya of all — Neshama b’guf with Moshiach Tzidkeinu
“what comes from the heart, goes to the heart”
So beautiful. May your father have much nachas from his children and a complete and speedy recovery for Rabbi Yizi Horwowitz!!
I remember your father from Shabbos mornings in kingsbrook, always so warm and jovial with the residents, and his beautiful family following his example. he surely has so much nachas from you- thank you for this special touching reminder!
Miri from Melbourne
crying with you. thank you fro sharing
lifshy you spoke so beautifully !! your father was so special , always gave everyone his full attention and love . may you continue to make him proud
Lifshy, you are an inspiration to us all!! may we merit the ultimate redemption now!
thank you for sharing! thank you for inspiring us !
You have a smile and light that shines through your tears. I’m sure your father must be so proud of you. I am very grateful to you for making this video, I’m sure it was not easy. May Hashem bless you with joy and light forever.
Dina Hurwitz
Thank you for sharing your story.
We’re so proud of you!!
-Worcester Family
May your family be blessed only with simchas and may all those who need a refuah, be blessed with a complete and speedy one.
You are a testament to your father’s greatness.
Bless her! Lifshy spoke so well. Thank you for bringing the awareness to even greater heights. Bless you and your family and wishing your father Much Nachas in Gan Eiden! Refuah May he be back here, with Moshiach NOW! And Refuah Sheliama to all Yidden who are struggling with any type of illness. Moshiach’s revelation NOW!
i didn’t manage to watch the whole thing..it kept skipping parts. whats the ice bucket challenge? why was she pouring ice onto her head?
You truly are an inspiration. May your fathers neshoma have an Aliya and moshiach come now
I’m crying away. What a privilege to have such a magnificent, loving daughter.
יהי רצון שכבר היום תבוא בפועל ובגלוי הגאולה האמיתית והשלימה
May we merit the complete GEULAH with MOSHIACH
speedily in our days when all the beloved relatives will be
re-united at Tchiyas Hameisim
Thank you for bringing this message to the masses. The Chabad community is generally familiar with ALS because of the experience of Yitzi Hurwitz, but the point of the ice bucket challenge is one which I feel is often lost on the audience. My father passed away following a 3 year struggle with ALS when I was 6 months old. Throughout my life I have been almost jealous of other diseases, those that receive more press and more money. ALS is finally receiving the attention it deserves, and I hope that people get the message and act. The words of… Read more »
sharing your emotions and personal story is a gift that will help countless people. Your father was very special. I remember coming to Kehos to buy stuff and he would always have the Rebbe speaking on tapes, listening while waiting for the customers to finish browsing. He was sooo helpful always with a smile and respect. I am happy for the nachas he is getting from you, may you be reunited with him very soon.
You spoke beautifully. You are so filled with SIMCHA in everything about your life….Baruch Hashem…and Shmuel, Z’L, lived his final years in joy, finding Simcha everywhere! He faced his upcoming return to Hashem with the utmost happiness as well! May your life with your beloved family be filled with Bracha, joys, and health in Simcha! I love you. You remind me of your dad in many ways. I love you.
When ever I walked into kehos it was a joy to see your father a wonderful chsid
He was good man. Always kind friendly and with a smile.
Your father was a very special man. He was truly loved by anyone who dealt with him at Kehos. A happy man!
Go Lifshy! We’re so proud of you!
Thank you for expressing yourself with such honesty!
Thank you very much for sharing your story with us
I remember your father when he worked in Kehos. What a wonderful man. Your video made me cry but what a special video it was! May your father’s neshama have an Aliya!
Shmuel would point up in complete recognition and utter submission to g-d and his great plan.
His whole life was filled with simcha. I never saw him without a smile. It carried all the way through his life.
May shmuel tanchum’s neshama have an Aliya, and much Nachas from his beautiful family!
Wow number eight that’s amazing
Incredibly moving! Proof when you speak from the heart it enters the heart! Your father is surely smiling down on you and your precious family!
Wow this was truly inspirational and full of love . May we merit to see Shmuel tanchum again and all our loved ones. Only bracha and good should be upon us all klal yisreal
I am at a lost for words! Thank you for sharing your moving story with so many and adding a whole new dimension to this challenge. May Yitzy Hurwitz and all those suffering be healed!
your father dedicated his life for bikor cholim . I remember your father would be in kings brook feeding the sick patients ,and he would stay around until all patients would be back up stairs . He would come home every shabbos around 3pm. He once told me he got an incredible offer to be a chazan for the entire year . They wanted to pay him almost 100k . I ask him why didn’t you take the offer? He said the sick patients go before everything ,and they need me . When he was sick in his advanced stage… Read more »
Thanks for bringing meaning into this challenge!
-friend from your Bais Chana days
Beautiful! Made me cry…!
This is the only ice bucket challenge that has true emotion in it!
Your Aba is for sure looking down at his little girl and is beaming with pride at what you have become!
Im sure he’s proud of you, your siblings and his granchildren and has much Naches!
May we merit to see him bekarov mamesh NOW with the coming of Moshiach!
Shmuel was such a warm and caring person. Thank you for posting and helping us remember.
What a brave young woman! In your zchus for sharing your story and taking on the ice bucket challenge may all the sick have a Refuah Shleimah with Moshiach Now !
what a beautiful tribute to your father. he raised a special young woman. May his neshama have an aliya.
lifshy truly amazing video . your father was a true example of biker cholim
Simply amazing! May your father smile down with nachas!