Help Me Prevent Another Tragedy

As a Rabbi and Police Officer in Zichron Yaakov, I have stood in places of immense pain. I have seen grief, heartbreak, and the aftermath of unspeakable moments. But nothing prepared me for what I encountered this past Motzaei Shabbat – Saturday night.

We were called to an apartment after a woman, trembling on the stairwell, reported that her ex-husband—only 35 years old—wasn’t answering his phone. He had a known history of severe mental illness and psychosis. He had battled voices in his mind for years. She feared the worst.

When we arrived, the top lock was bolted from the inside. With authorization from our commanding officer, we breached the door.

The medic entered first… and then came the whisper that sliced the air like a blade:

“He hanged himself.”

The ex-wife collapsed in agony. Her cries of sorrow echoed through the building like a shofar of tragedy. And there, inside the apartment, we found what no soul should ever have to see:

A young father. Lifeless. Hanging from a makeshift noose—a laundry line, tied in an X-formation to a ceiling water pipe.

His right foot rested on the stepladder. His left hung suspended. One hand still on the ladder. The other stretched outward, as if reaching for one last chance at life. His earbuds were still in his ears. He had been dead for hours.

On the fridge were photos of his two beautiful daughters—ages 13 and 10. Frozen smiles. Frozen time. They had no idea their father was already gone. One was at the movies. The other was out with friends.

It was unbearable.
And it was preventable.

Mental Illness Hides in Plain Sight

I’ve seen many scenes during my service. But in that moment, one truth hit me harder than anything else:

That could be my family.

I thought of Jay (not his real name), someone very close to me. He’s just 27 — eight years younger than the man we found that night. Jay also suffers from psychosis. He hears tormenting voices. He battles unseen demons. He’s been hospitalized so many times. Medications sometimes help… until they don’t.

Jay – and this is how it feels for him —trapped in voices only he can hear, born from an ailing brain. Psychosis. courtesy of Dalle – Chatgpt

We’ve done everything. Psychiatrists. Therapists. Hospital programs. Alternative healing. Second and third opinions. Nothing has brought lasting change.

And now, we’re running out of options.
We’re running out of time.

A Ray of Hope: Dr. Daniel Amen’s Revolutionary Brain Treatment

In desperation, I turned to the work of Dr. Daniel Amen, a world-renowned psychiatrist and brain health expert. Dr. Amen’s method is unique: he doesn’t just guess at what’s wrong. He scans the brain itself using SPECT imaging, locating the specific areas of malfunction — just like a cardiologist diagnoses the heart.

It’s revolutionary. It’s science-based. And it works. This treatment could finally identify the root of Jay’s condition and offer a targeted path to healing.

But it comes at a price.

This treatment is not covered by insurance. The cost of evaluation, testing, and travel is simply beyond our reach.

Our Goal: $7,500 to Save a Life

Here’s the breakdown:

• Initial Evaluation (2 brain scans + clinical testing): $5,000
• Required Deposit (to secure the appointment): $1,500
• Travel, Lodging, and Support Expenses: $1,000

We are aiming to raise $7,500 — a full, one-time amount to ensure Jay receives the evaluation and care he desperately needs, without financial hindrance or delay.

This isn’t a luxury. This is life or death. Jay is losing his grip. He has said things that frighten us. He’s withdrawn. He struggles to believe life can be better. We cannot wait until we find him the way we found that father on Saturday night.

Please Help Us Before It’s Too Late

I am not asking for myself. I am asking for someone who still has a chance to live.

If you can contribute — whether it’s $10, $100, or more — please know that you are saving a life. And if you cannot give, please share this campaign. Every act of kindness brings us closer to hope.

Please visit https://gofund.me/322aa4f6 to help make a difference.

https://youtu.be/kdtrq_gho9A

Daneil Kuperhand composed a beautiful song to bring awareness for mental health and my gofundme page. (Thank you Daniel!)

I stood in a room of death on Saturday night. I heard a woman’s soul shatter. I saw what happens when we arrive too late.

I will not let that happen to Jay.
I will not give up on him.
Please help us give him a future.

With brokenness and hope,
Rabbi Avi Schwartz
Shomrei HaAm
Zichron Yaakov Police Volunteer
Father. Friend. Protector. Believer in Miracles.