Crocheting for a Cause
“Isn’t that an activity for older people?” Adina Betsalel (SCW ‘25) was often asked. Since she was a young child, Betsalel has loved crocheting, a hobby she learned from her babysitter at the age of nine. Throughout middle school, high school and college, Betsalel strengthened her skills and passion, while sharing the fun with friends by teaching them too. Now, as the head of the YU Crocheting and Knitting Club, Betsalel isn’t only sharing her passion with fellow students, she is using this hobby as a way to support Israeli society.
This fall, when the previous president of the club notified his members that he would be stepping down and would need to find a new president, Betsalel “jumped at the opportunity” to take over the leadership position. The club is open to all students. For experienced members, events like “Cocoa and Crochet” give students a space to chill and crochet or knit with friends, enjoying a relaxing activity. Those interested in learning a new hobby are encouraged to come to the club events where Betsalel and other members enjoy teaching the craft.
Although Betsalel loves crocheting for the pure enjoyment it brings, over the past year, she decided to shift the focus of the club, instilling a component of chesed into it. As Betsalel explained, she loves giving to others and using her passion to uplift people around her. After Oct. 7, Betsalel’s mother, Stacey Betsalel, became very involved in sending gear to Israel, including duffel bags filled with supplies for IDF soldiers and toys and games for evacuee children and reservist families. Betsalel explained, “we opened up the door to a lot of opportunities for people in the community to do chesed.”As donations continued, Betsalel’s mother realized that the older hotel evacuee population was also in need of help and looking for something to boost their morale. At that point, several knitting circles sprung up, but they did not have the budget for supplies.
To fill this void, Stacey Betsalel created a grassroots organization called “Yarn Yisrael Chai.” They collect yarn and supplies to send to older people who were evacuated to hotels. Jewish groups – Orthodox, Conservative and Reform – from all over the country began donating yarn. The organization reached out to Jewish crocheting and knitting clubs in synagogues and other groups, and were incredibly successful at collecting material. In addition to sending yarn, groups donated blankets, warm IDF hats and other knitted items to Israel, to spread their love, support and warmth. 85 duffel bags of supplies have been donated since. These donations have boosted the morale of so many Israelis, allowing them to create crocheting and knitting circles amongst themselves, and give to others.
When Betsalel became president of the Crocheting and Knitting Club, her mom suggested they collaborate in order to further their reach and impact. She was excited about the opportunity to allow YU students to play a role in the incredible organization. Betsalel hopes the club can be the perfect balance between being a fun and relaxing activity for students, through weekly crocheting and knitting circles and events, as well as an opportunity to support Am Yisrael. In addition to sending winter hats to soldiers, Yarn Yisrael Chai is collecting yellow scarves for hostage mothers who sit at weekly silent protests — the Mishmeret 101 gatherings. So far, they've collected 70 hand-stitched scarves, which were sent to Threads of Hope, who distributed them to hostage families. These scarves will be worn at Mishmeret’s weekly “White Silent Protests” in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Betsalel told The Commentator that when they see pictures online of this silent protest they know that “they’re wearing the scarves that we sent them, and we know that they were made with love in every stitch.”
Tiferet Weissman (SCW ‘25), a Crocheting and Knitting Club member who is working on a scarf, told The Commentator: “Crocheting scarves for this chesed has allowed me to infuse my crochet hobby with meaning. I am not just crocheting for myself, I am crocheting for Am Yisrael. It is such a meaningful opportunity to combine my hobby with the people and nation I have so much passion and love for.”
“It’s really amazing,” Betsalel said, “It’s really beautiful to see everyone coming together to help Israel.” The Crocheting and Knitting Club has many events coming up, a mix of events to have fun and learn how to crochet, as well as opportunities to contribute to the chesed. Currently, Betsalel is hoping to spread the word about the yellow scarf project to get more Yeshiva University students involved.
As the Yarn Yisrael Chai website explains, its goal is to create a “tight-knit” community. Through its collaboration with the YU Crocheting and Knitting Club, Yarn Yisrael Chai hopes for the impact to grow even further. Betsalel said, “It’s great, I love it. I’m excited to share the passion and spread the word more.”
Photo Caption: Adina Betsalel (SCW ‘25) holding yellow scarves to be donated
Photo Credit: Stacey Betsalel
