Jewish Teacher Fighting For Life After Getting Hit By Car Walking From Shul
A renowned Jewish educator was hit by a car when walking home from synagogue in Los Angeles, leaving him hospitalized and severely injured. Now, a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for his medical bills hopes to collect $100,000 — and is already a third of the way there in less than one day.
British-born Marcus Freed has worked as an innovative Jewish teacher in the United States for some years now. His website explains that Freed is a “guru-trained yogi, yeshiva-trained educator, published author, BBC broadcaster and classically-trained actor.” The website also features praise from such figures as the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom Lord Jonathan Sacks, who called him “An educator of many talents.. a wonderful playwright and dramatist and actor-manager.”
The driver left the scene, so Freed cannot rely on the driver’s insurance to pay for his care, the fundraising appeal stated. “As an artist, Marcus does not have private insurance or disability coverage to cover his bills and keep him afloat while he recovers,” it added.
Marcus’s brain is still bleeding, the note continued. “With massive prayers the doctors say he will make a full recovery, but his medical bills will total at least $100,000,” it added.
The campaign was started by a woman named Aubrey Jacobs, who said that she first came across the inspirational Freed in 2010 when he taught at a Limmud conference.
Contact Aiden Pink at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!