Inspirations and Influences
Yoram Eliyahu has been serving others through charitable organizations for most of his adult life. His passion for philanthropy and service has been influenced and inspired by many events throughout his life, resulting in his present dedication to helping his community.
An early inspiration came from Chabad, a large Jewish outreach and educational movement that provides activities for Jews through community centers, synagogues, schools and camps. Chabad is a world-wide organization, with institutions in over 1000 cities. There are more than 3,600 Chabad Institutions worldwide, in 70 countries.
While serving his three-year term in the Israeli army, Yoram encountered Chabad for the first time. Their care for the soldiers was impressive; providing food and drink to his unit during holidays and lifting their morale with dancing and singing.
By the age of 25, Yoram Eliyahu was visiting Crown Heights in Brooklyn, NY, where Chabad has its headquarters and again encountered the group. Three times a year, Rabbi Lubavitch Menachem Mendel Schneerson provided his wine blessing ceremony, and Yoram was fortunate enough to be present. He had the opportunity to personally meet Rabbi Schneerson, and his kindness during their meeting was an inspiration, leaving a powerful positive impact upon him. This first experience set the stage for Yoram to return for every wine ceremony the Rabbi conducted thereafter.
Yoram Eliyahu continues to actively support the Chabad movement. Along with his family, he is a member of Kings Point Chabad, where a famous Israeli Cantor serves as a result of Yoram's hard work. Understanding that while charity begins at home, the greater community is in need as well, Yoram and family can often be found volunteering in Chabad of Flushing.