Dim Amor
Kobi Ben-Yaakov published a tragic cry for help on social media this week. The man who has dedicated eight years of his life to rescuing street cats announces that he faces financial collapse and asks the public to help him continue his life's mission.
"Over 500 cats have passed through my care – injured, disabled, blind, dragging their legs – those that others gave up on, and I chose to fight for them", Ben-Yaakov wrote in a post published on Wednesday. Behind these simple words lies a heartbreaking personal story of a man who sacrificed almost everything for creatures who have no voice.
Ben-Yaakov works nights for almost 11 hours per shift, and when he finishes his regular job, nearly 100 cats needing care await him at his home. "Even when I'm sick, even when I'm completely exhausted, even when I haven't eaten all day – I care for them, clean, feed, rescue", he describes the harsh reality of his life.
The magic circle breaks when it comes to money. Three years ago, Ben-Yaakov founded the "Cat Village" organization to try to transfer his activities to a more organized framework, but reality proved far more complex. "It's almost impossible", he admits painfully.
The figures he reveals speak for themselves. In recent years, he managed to reduce a debt from 104,000 shekels to 60,000 shekels, while working around the clock and saving hundreds of cats. But the personal price is unbearably heavy. The house where he lives is completely destroyed from damage caused by hundreds of cats that passed through it, and he needs thousands of shekels to repair the damage.
"I can barely manage to obtain donations for the organization", Mr. Ben-Yaakov reveals the central difficulty plaguing him. While other animal rescue activists receive media attention and public support, Ben-Yaakov struggles alone with almost no backing whatsoever.
Requests reach him from all over the country, every day and every hour. Urgent cases of injured, abandoned, or dying cats needing immediate treatment. Ben-Yaakov tries to respond to the most urgent cases, but his strength is dwindling.
"I really, really need help", he writes in tear-soaked words. He asks everyone who reads the post to donate just 10 shekels, an amount that seems tiny but could make an enormous difference. "This will allow me to reduce the burden, dedicate myself to the organization, save more cats, and rehabilitate what was broken along the way".
Ben-Yaakov's story raises difficult questions about Israeli society and how we treat civil society activists who dedicate their lives to noble causes. While millions spend on entertainment and unnecessary purchases, a man who saved hundreds of cats from near-certain death can barely obtain the minimum needed to continue his activities.
In Israel's harsh reality, where every person struggles for economic survival, it's easy to miss stories like Ben-Yaakov's. But he reminds us that there are people who chose to put kindness and compassion above their personal comfort, and they deserve our support.
When he writes "I truly gave everything and all I need from you is just a little to help me, and them", Ben-Yaakov isn't asking for pity. He's simply giving the Israeli public an opportunity to be partners in rescue work that saves lives every day.
The question is whether we'll know how to recognize the true value of people like Kobi Ben-Yaakov, or whether we'll continue to pass indifferently by such stories. The answer will determine not only the future of the "Cat Village" organization, but also the moral character of the society in which we live.
For Donations:
- Bit private / Paybox – +972-50-4555218
- Via PayPal – Click here, please
- Bank Account: Kobi Ben-Yaakov Account No. 71201 Branch 768 Bank Hapoalim
- Or for more donation options click here: Click here, please
Photos from Kobi Ben-Yaakov's Facebook page, in accordance with Section 27a
