We all know Chaverim. The phone number securely listed in our contacts along with all emergency numbers. It’s one of those numbers we never want to use but the knowledge that it exists brings a measure of calm. Many of us have experienced car trouble at some point and Chaverim arrived to assist us. That’s the goal of Chaverim. To be there with a reassuring presence in your time of need. A trusty friend to lean on. In fact if you want to know where a Jewish community exists, check the Interstate Chaverim website for a list of all Chaverim branches worldwide. On average, there’s a new Chaverim branch that starts every six months with the most recent one in Phoenix Arizona. From their humble beginnings, over twenty years ago, Chaverim blossomed into an enterprise built on Kiddush Hashem. With the launch of Interstate Chaverim in 2012, they once again continued the legacy of love and care for a fellow Yid. And now, we’re eagerly anticipating Interstate Chaverim’s tenth anniversary. We’re celebrating thousands of calls, helping one Yid at a time. What is Interstate Chaverim? Interstate Chaverim operates in areas not covered by an existing Chaverim organization. This includes interstate highways, small towns and states without a Jewish community. As soon as any existing Chaverim branch receives an interstate or out-of-area phone call, the call is transferred to Interstate Chaverim where one of the experienced interstate dispatchers will handle the call by number one dispatching it to all the members. The Interstate database has over 1,000 registered volunteers from the over 40 existing Chaverim branches. With such a large resource of volunteers and a hefty dose of Divine intervention, there is often a Chaverim member available. In addition, the dispatchers are all trained to assist callers even if there’s no member nearby. From hospitality to mechanics, from tow trucks to eateries, Interstate is a veritable treasure trove of roadside assistance. Interstate brings Achdus to a new level. A typical call on the Garden State Parkway can involve a few volunteers from different neighborhoods and backgrounds with one goal in mind – to help someone stranded. Oftentimes, calls can be critical and to get someone help as quickly as possible could be urgent. Interstate has already dealt with Chassanim and Kallos stuck on the road, families on their way to a doctor’s appointment or to the hospital, children locked into a cold or hot car, and even a baby stranded out of town on the day of his bris (a true story). A recent call involved a Hatzola ambulance with a patient on board. The ambulance couldn’t start and needed a boost. BH there was a member close by. Along with the determination and effort to help someone stranded, there’s the Master of it all orchestrating events in an intricate manner. Family M. from Lakewood set out on a 10 hour drive one Thursday afternoon to a Simcha in Detroit. Their 12 passenger van was filled to the brim with kids, food and suitcases for the 640 mile trip. They were just about halfway there at 9:00pm on the quiet I-80 near Exit 133 in Kylertown, PA. The van was rumbling along with the family banter and bathroom requests, when the car sputtered, coughed and hiccupped onto the highway shoulder. A quick […]

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