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Overcast Celebrating Purim ‘with a purpose’
Fundraiser nets thousands for two local families struck by tragedy
Purim With a Purpose, an annual fundraiser by the East Meadow Jewish Center’s Sisterhood and Young Adult Division, continued to grow in 2015, attracting 300 residents and raising more than $4,000 on Sunday.
The money will be used to help the surviving family members of Adam Lefkowitz, a 4-year-old who died after a battle with an extremely rare disease this winter, and Zachary Merlin, a premature infant who died in 2012 of complications from severe chronic lung disease. Both families live in Bellmore.
Zachary Merlin and his twin brother, Alexander, were born three months premature on May 6, 2012, after just 25 weeks in the womb. Because of their extreme prematurity, they were susceptible to many serious illnesses and were transferred from Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia in September. Three weeks later, Zachary died because of chronic lung disease — a leading cause of death for extremely low-birth-weight infants.
Adam died on Dec. 28 from Degos disease. Fewer than 200 cases of the illness — which inflames the lining of small and medium veins and arteries, resulting in blocked vessels and dead tissue — have been reported in all of medical literature.
Adam was also treated at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. The disease caused him to have close to 20 strokes before his passing, One of his lungs partially collapsed, he had severe gastrointestinal problems, and he lost the use of his right leg and eye. His parents said he remained agreeable through it all, reflecting the kind-hearted nature that many who met him said he demonstrated during his short life.
While event organizer Jennifer Melnick said she wishes she could raise millions of dollars to help the families, she added that the fundraiser is also aimed to let them know that they have — and will continue to have — the community’s support. “I think people rally together when there’s a crisis or emergency,” said Melnick, of East Meadow. “It’s important to keep it going and continuing it so they don’t feel alone.”
In previous years, the fundraiser primarily helped the Merlin family, but it was Stacy Merlin who suggested to Melnick to expand it to include the Lefkowitzes.
