I found myself in an emotionally traumatizing situation some four months ago. As a newlywed, I had been in an abusive marriage and finally decided that things would only be getting worse so I packed up my things in order to leave my matrimonial home; however, with an excess of furniture, books, dishes and clothes, I needed help in order to move to my new place.

At a moments notice, my family, friends and neighbours came to my side with empty boxes, mini-vans, cars, lots of helpful and strong limbs, smiling faces and even muffins and pizza for all of the hungry movers.

I couldn't have done this move, as peacefully, without so much love and support from others that was not only at a moments notice, but also in the middle of a very cold and stormy winter.

Once I arrived at my new apartment, realizing that not only didn't I have a land line, but I also hadn't purchased a cell phone yet, when a neighbour who was a total stranger loaned me his phone so that I could let my family know that I was safe and sound in a home of peace.

Unlike most people, I don’t find it uncomfortable asking for help. When I see people in desperate situations, I feel compelled to help them and to convince others to do so as well.

We are well aware of the poverty in the world and even in our own communities. There are many fine organizations to help the poor and I heartily encourage you to do join them in their work.

However there is another type of poverty that you may not be as familiar with. It is poverty that is destroys our finest children and our future. It makes us feel helpless and hopeless. This poverty is the poverty of the spirit – our moral foundation.

In January of 2002 I created an organization, Partners In Kindness to address this need. Just over three years later more than 50,000 people are reading our e-mails and newspaper columns every week. It is infusing them with hope and positive feelings for others.

But hope and positive feelings are not enough to change the world. What is needed is intense spiritual energy. One such organization that is providing this spiritual energy is the organization that I am encouraging you to support today – Partners In Torah.

Shortly after I started Partners in Kindness, I signed up to be a "Tele-Partner" with Partners in Torah. I called Partner’s in Torah’s toll-free phone number and gave them some information about myself. I told them when I had an hour a week available to study on the phone with someone who requested tutoring and what I wanted to teach. I chose "Ethics and Fundamentals of Belief."

A few weeks later, a woman called me to discuss a match they found for me. His name was Steve and he lived in Montana. A few days later I got an information packet in the mail and I gave Steve a call, using the free calling card Partners In Torah had sent me.

Steve told me he wanted to study about "Anger Management." It just so happened that I had read the perfect book, "A Letter for the Ages." Steve bought the book on the internet right away and we began studying it together on the phone every week.

After a short time Steve told me that he saw a big impact on his behavior that his wife and children were also noticing. He continued reading "A Letter for the Ages" on his own and we began to study other topics.

About a year later, Steve told me that his anger had come back. I explained to him that in order to change a behavior we need constant reminders -- when he had stopped studying the material on his own, his anger came back. It was in important lesson for both of us.

When Steve’s obligations at work began to take up all of his time, we had to put things on hold and I asked Partners In Torah to set me up with another partner.

They set me up with Harry in New Jersey. Harry and I are studying E. E. Desler’s "Treatise on Kindness" from his series of books entitled "Strive for Truth."

I love using "Strive for Truth" as a springboard to talk about the scientific research I am doing for my upcoming book and then hearing Harry’s reaction to it. Harry is fascinated with the topics we are discussing and he contributes his own research to our discussions as well. Our discussions about current events and the business world and whatever else seems to be related to our study, have helped us to understand and appreciate what we are studying and it is great fun as well.

There is something special about the friendship you build with someone you are study with every week, even when it is just on the phone. It is even more special when we meet in person from time to time.

Partners in Torah will be honoring me on June 26, at their annual fundraising breakfast. I encourage you to sponsor an ad in their journal in my honor.

If you appreciate our e-mails, please write something about it in your advertisement and mention what city you live in.

Even if you are unable to provide financial support to this wonderful organization please give them a call at 1-800-STUDY-4-2 so they can set you up with a study partner. Or visit their website https://www.partnersintorah.org.

Wishing you blessings for all good things,

Shmuel Greenbaum