Max Fineman decided to combine his love of animals with a wonderful project so he contacted the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. After learning about the unique obstacles that blind people in Israel must overcome, he and his family decided to take on a very special project. Max obtained a beautiful Yellow Labrador puppy from Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, and raised it – using only Hebrew commands – with the knowledge that the puppy would go to Israel to help a visually impaired person. “Flash” learned his lessons well, and made Aliyah just recently.

Max is the very first student to raise a puppy that was sent to Israel to be a guide dog. Parting with the puppy was very difficult for the entire family, but the pain was lessened by the knowledge that this very special mitzvah would result in a better life for someone who is blind. The family plans to visit Flash during their trip to Israel in a few months.

For information about Mitzvah projects, please contact the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind at 215-343-9100 or write to info@israelguidedog.org