Just two weeks ago, Lori Gilbert Kaye was shot and killed in a synagogue in Poway, California on the seventh day of Pesach.

The attack which claimed her life and injured several others was so horrific that it has impacted people globally and inspired the friends of “Milt’s Barbeque For the Perplexed”, a restaurant in Chicago, to donate a lifesaving vehicle to United Hatzalah of Israel in her memory.

WhatsApp Image 2019 05 08 at 14.33.55 1024x682 2
Jeff Aeder, Driver Eli Zohar, and President and Founder Eli Beer

The emergency fly car will be dedicated on Yom Hazikaron at a special ceremony at the organization’s headquarters in Jerusalem.

President and Founder of United Hatzalah Eli Beer spoke about the unique nature of this donation. “This is such a beautiful way to honor such a special woman who was just going to pray Yizkor, the memorial prayer, on Pesach when this happened to her. What an amazing way to honor her life by saving so many lives in her memory. Now lives will be saved because of Lori.”

WhatsApp Image 2019 05 08 at 14.33.54 1024x682 1
Fro left – Aeder, Zohar, Beer and Chairman of the Board Mark Gerson

Milt’s Barbeque is not a typical kosher restaurant. It is a restaurant that aims to build a community around food and allow for its community in Chicago to help others both at home and around the world by donating all of the proceeds from the restaurant to charity.

WhatsApp Image 2019 05 08 at 14.32.19 1024x992 1
The dedication of the new fly-car

A representative from the restaurant explained the business model as such: “Our community has always been the focal point of our business, which is why we believe in giving back. 100% of our profits go to a different charity every month. Our goal is to nourish both the body and the mind and to make this world a little more caring and a lot more understanding.”

He added: “Following the horrific tragedy in California, where Anti-Semitism took another soul from us,e have chosen to donate a lifesaving vehicle to United Hatzalah. Lori Gilbert-Kaye was shot as she jumped in front of the Synagogue Rabbi to protect him. We will never forget her courage and her sacrifice. This vehicle will be used by E.M.S. volunteers and will enable them to respond as quickly as possible to emergencies. We will believe kindness and love are stronger than hate, and we vow to continue to work and pray to save lives. Our answer to hate is saving lives.”

To support the work of United Hatzalah click here: