Dear Friends,

A student of ours is in serious legal trouble. Da'as Torah was consulted and we need to raise approximately $60,000 to pay for a defense lawyer so that we can save this bochur from years of prison R'L. By donating now you will be doing the tremendous mitzvah of Pidyon Shvuyim.

Michael* grew up as a secular Jew with almost no connection to Yiddishkiet.

Hashem guided him to a wonderful Kiruv organization and after many months attending classes and Shabbosim, he was awarded a scholarship to study in a Ba'al Teshuva Yeshiva in Israel. One year turned into two until he graduated the Ba'al Teshuva Yeshiva and went on to study in one of the top yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.

After three years of learning in Eretz Yisrael, only returning to the US for short visits, he returned to NY to look for a job and start shidduchim.

One day while looking for work and learning part time in a Brooklyn Yeshiva he was arrested, accused of a terrible crime and thrown into prison. It seems that someone he knew from many years ago, long before he became a ba'al teshuva, connected his name to a terrible crime in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. This criminal-turned-witness has changed her story numerous times (even what she swore under oath - in order to accuse Michael and get time off prison). Michael vehemently denies what he is being accused of but as of now he is facing 25 years to life in prison!

He was not allowed to post bail. Whether it was because of the seriousness of the crime or because he spent so much time in Israel and is considered a flight risk, he has been forced to spend the past 13 months in jail. (During this time he completed Meseches Brochos and is in the middle of Sanhedrin!)

We have been advised that this is a clear case of Pidyon Shvuyim and to make every effort to raise money to hire the best lawyers. It is clear that a good lawyer can B'ezras Hashem, literally save this bochur from years and years in prison!

We have visited him a number of times in prison and have been amazed by his Emuna and commitment to his sedarim. (I offered to bring him different Jewish periodicals but he felt they were bitul zman!) I was also fortunate to host a siyum for him when he completed Brachos! (He wasn't able to attend of course but we made a seuda and he called in and said the hadran and divrei torah.)

Please participate in this tremendous mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim by donating to his defense fund and help this choshuva bochur put this nightmare behind him.

May we share besuros tovos,

With gratitude,

Aharon Dovid Eisemann

Rabbi

9176961233

Mayer Friedman - member of Kollel of Rav Dovid Feinstein shlita.

(347) 831-0316