Sherri and Seth do amazing work. The lives they impact every day is their true legacy. Sherri's book is one of the most powerful things I have read. What they have done is take an awful tragedy that nobody should ever endure and turn it into a gift they give every day to others.
I have known the Mandells for more than 25 years and have vivid recollections of playing with young Koby and at the time his 2 siblings. The impact of losing a loved one can be devastating to a family and often the losses that are unexpected are the most challenging as they offer no opportunities to brace yourself before the grieving process must begin.
When confronted with a tragedy, people react in many ways, however, in my opinion, the path chosen by the Mandells is the right one. Their pain and suffering may never completely subside, but they are using their pain to help others. I salute their efforts and am grateful that someone has chosen the path of "pay it forward" rather than retaliation.
The work of the Koby Mandell Foundation is vital to ensuring that others in our communities chose the path of healing and not the path of more destructive behaviors. It is this kind of mentality that will truly make this world a better place for our children and children's children.
The Koby Mandell Foundation published a personal account of tragedy written by Koby's mother called The blessings of a broken heart. Not only have I read it several times, but I have sent it to many people who suffered personal tragedies and horrific losses. Without exception all those who received the book said that it brought them comfort and gave them a perspective that was extremely helpful. The foundation stands at the forefront of many organizations which help alleviate pain from terrorism . Additionally through its youth programs and trips to Israel, the foundation teaches a new generation about philanthropy and voluntary giving. This is a foundation which is very worth supporting.
I first met Seth Mandell six months after Koby was murdered. I was deeply impressed with Seth's idea of setting up a foundation in Koby's memory to help victims of terrorism. Several times over the first few years I visited the Camp Koby and saw first hand how helpful the foundation was to assisting those who had lost loved ones. Seth and his life partner Sherri have dedicated their lives to helping others. Beyond the summer camp Sherri has run programs for women who suffered losses through terrorism. Their foundation is a remarkable tribute to the memory of Koby and has helped countless numbers of people. The foundation has expanded its goals over the years to represent those who have suffered not only in Israel but in many other places throughout the globe. Sherri and Seth are modern day heroes. Their selflessness is extraordinary; their determination, commitment, and resolve is unparalleled. I have continued to support the foundation now for more then a decade.
Through the amazing, healing work of The Koby Mandell Foundation, the Mandells prove that love is ultimately more powerful than hatred. Their response to tragedy and unspeakable pain is to bring healing, hope, and light into the world. We are blessed to have such remarkable, caring people in our midst.
Please support this vital organization that uniquely provides the victims of horror with a transformation into hope, meaning, and the ability to contribute to our world!
My wife died in November 2013, and I was left with four wonderful but shattered children. For awhile it seemed nothing would ever make them smile again. Then a friend happened to mention this Foundation and the Summer camp they run. I was shocked when I found out that I could send my children to sleep away camp and it wouldn't cost me, a single parent.
My two youngest just got back from the camp this week and had huge smiles. They had an amazing time. What really moved me is my daughter told me that is that at the camp, the standard way kids introduce themselves to each other is "where do you live?" then "who died ?" They find that they are not the only kids coping with such a horrible loss. It allows them to feel like normal kids and still have all the fun a Summer camp can offer.
Everyone reading this who has donated has my complete gratitude. You put a smile on children who have cried themselves to sleep at night. And I credit the Mandells for turning their tragedy into a very real way to help other children. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
An exceptional charity that provides support for victims of terror and victims of trauma. Seth and Sherri Mandell have created Camp Koby and numerous programs which provide education, support, love, recreation and overall healing for children and adults who have suffered traumatic losses. I have heard numerous accounts of how their work has provided comfort, strength, renewal, and resilience to people in pain. It is my family's honor to support their work as yearly donors.
It is hard to find in today's world a model of heroism greater than the Mandell's. I literally refer to them in my classes on a monthly basis.
Rabbi Seth and Sheri Mandell not only have taken a tragedy and turned it around, they have become a beacon of what living a life of meaning really means.
The world talks about being better than evil, but the Mandell's have shown how to be better.
Their reward is not just the countless families that benefit immensely from their program, as impressive as that is, but it's really so much greater than that. Their reward is in showing us all how to respond to the evil of our times.
King David said, "Those who love G-d, hate evil."
Those who hate evil love the Mandell's.
My family and I were touched by the story of Koby and how his family turned his violent death into something blessed. Camp Koby and the other programs the family runs for family members of slain terror victims does invaluable work and highlights all the beauty of Judaism. By using personal tragedy to help others is inspiring. I have met the Mandells at many of their events - there are no more pure righteous people - they make me proud to be a Jew and a Zionist
I find it interesting in reading the reviews here that someone could pass judgment on how people respond to terrorism and what they do to find the light in so much darkness. As a victim of terrorism myself, I find the Mandell's inspiring beyond words. They are a voice for all of us impacted by terrorism and have taken the most traumatic thing and turned it into helping to heal hundreds and hundreds of young people who have lost family members at the hands of terrorism and in turn have helped those families in ways that only those of us impacted by terrorism can understand. After my own attack, the Mandell's gave me an opportunity to give back by working with young people who had been impacted by terrorism and I am forever grateful for the example they set to me. The work they do is 24/7 and as someone who works closely with them on a yearly basis, I see the impact they are making and the difference in so many lives. It is their example that helps so many of us impacted by terrorism and I thank G-d everyday that through the most horrific experience of my life, that I have people like the Mandell's to turn to if I need ANYTHING. A terrorist attack happens in an instant but the impact lasts a LIFETIME. We had no control over what happened to us but we have control over how we will our lives going forward and the Koby Mandell Foundation shows us how to move forward together. They were a part of my recovery and continue to inspire and empower me in everything they do!!!
My wife and I are contributors to the Koby Mandell Foundation. We have seen firsthand the wonderful ways contributions to this organization have helped heal hearts and souls. The Mandells have turned the pain of loss of a child into a movement for good. We urge everyone to join us in supporting it.
I knew Rabbi Seth and Sherri when they lived in the US and Koby (z"l) was a little boy. His murder shook all of us deeply but out of the depths of darkness they took their pain and did something positive; they created a camp where other kids traumatized by terrorism could come together to act like normal kids.
For my 40th birthday I asked my friends and family to donate to the Koby Foundation rather than give me some meaningless 'gift'. I think that should tell you all you need to know about how much I value the work that Rabbi Seth and Sherri do. Through their work they have ensured Koby's memory will always be for a blessing to thousands of children and their parents helped by their generosity.
I have had the honor of being associated with this organization in different ways since its earliest days. I was once a volunteer, later staff, and I am now a volunteer and board member again. I am continually blown away by the humanitarianism and integrity of Rabbi and Mrs. Mandell, who have turned their own personal tragedy into a mechanism of loving support for hundreds and inspiration for tens of thousands.
Really find this organizations exploiting the untimely death of their son at 13 (who would be about 24 now if not murdered) for their own belief system and think it is reprehensible. The only proper way of closure is justice for those who perpetuated these acts that this doesn't happen to others yet this organization tries to make it like a normal part of life to just laugh and get over which is really trivializing this horrible crime. Their son was never able to get married and have children (and at 13 just hit puberty) and be an adult and any normal parent would not want to have comedy and keep their child a perpetual 13 year old for their own causes. What does woman retreats, and women healing have to do with their son being murdered at 13 as it is suggesting men don't care which if that is the case your grief WOULD BE less with such a twisted attitude which really is what I sense here. Exploited their son due to their own twisted views about men that the husband and wife share for their own selfish gain.
All I can say is I wouldn't want my untimely death to be exploited for causes like this and have fun at my untimely death of never becoming an adult. I wouldn't want my father making $80,000 a year because I died unnaturally at the age of 13 which is exactly the case here of Seth Mandell making 80,000 a year. This isn't that far off from terrorists who use their son's deaths for their own causes and it even encourages parents to be neglectful of their sons as after all you can use their death to start a 401(C) and be a big player in psychological circles.
I feel groups like this make some Jews to be part of a death cult and is polluting the land of Israel with this kind of mentality. That is how I feel. Using their son's death to push their own psychological ideas and other causes
Review from CharityNavigator