The call came two years after we said goodbye to Sholom. Rabbi Zvi Boyarsky  called, asking if we would share our son’s story to channel our grief to create a movement that could prevent other families from walking the impossible path we’ve been forced to travel.

I held the phone thinking of my son Sholom, thinking how impossible it felt to share the pain – I could hardly sit with it myself, let alone distill the grief, the loss, the experience into something shareable… And then I thought of other mothers, how maybe sharing our experience of losing Sholom in a hot car death can help prevent others from walking this impossible path. We exist collectively in a swirling epidemic of chaos, of multi tasking, of hustle culture – we need change. We need to slow down, to be more present. And it starts with awareness.

This summer marks three years since that merciless Florida afternoon on the 12th of Tammuz when our world shattered in ways I never imagined possible. But out of our deepest pain, something extraordinary is emerging: the 59 Seconds for Sholom campaign – a global movement that can save countless lives. All with actions that take less than one minute.

In the wake of our story, my husband Menachem and I have learned something tragic: hot car deaths are not rare occurrences we read about in distant news stories. They’re happening right here in our communities – in the US, in Israel, across our kehillos. Just recently, we connected with another Jewish mother who lost her 2-year-old daughter in a similar accident. A recent Times of Israel article details just how often these tragedies are taking place. The ripple effects of such tragedies extend far beyond the immediate family, shaking entire communities,  all of Klal Yisrael.

These accidents can happen to anyone—loving, attentive parents who simply had a change in routine, were sleep-deprived, or experienced a momentary lapse that every parent can relate to. 

A Solution: Clever Elly and the Power of Community

At the heart of this campaign is a simple yet potentially life-saving device called Clever Elly. This small gadget plugs into your car, charges your phone, and provides an audio reminder to check the back seat every time you turn off the engine. The custom-ordered devices for this campaign feature the voices of Jewish singers, friendly children’s voices, and other safety messages specifically designed to resonate with our community.

Please reach out to us about getting a Clever Elly to install in your own car, and the cars of your family and friends. We want every single car in our community to be outfitted with a Clever Elly, and we will be happy to send out devices to anyone who wants in. Please visit www.59seconds.org to request a complimentary device – though donations are more than welcome and help Team Protect save more lives!

In addition, the campaign is actively seeking 100 Sholom Leaders from diverse communities , to help get these devices into every car. These leaders will serve as the backbone of this life-saving effort, helping to spread awareness and distribute Clever Elly devices within their circles.

This is not just about technology – it’s about creating a network of people who care enough to take action.

We all know that saving one life is like saving an entire world. The Sholom Challenge embodies this principle, asking each of us to take small actions – things that take less than 59 seconds – that could literally save lives and bring more sholom (peace) into the world.

Please consider sharing this message.

May we soon merit techiyas hameisim and the coming of Moshiach, when the whole world will be filled with true and everlasting Sholom.

Until that day comes, we have the opportunity – we have the obligation – to bring more safety, more protection, and more peace into our world, one family at a time.

To learn more about becoming a Sholom Leader or to see the campaign video, visit www.59seconds.org

To read more about Sholom’s story and important safety information, see the recent article in Ami Magazine about the Tauber family.

SOME SAFETY TIPS THAT SEEM OBVIOUS BUT ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES:

1. Create a Backseat Habit
Before any driving with a child, place something, your shoe, your phone, your bag, in the back seat. Something you would never leave the car without.

2. Always Lock Your Car
Prevent children from climbing in unnoticed when parked at home or elsewhere.

3. Never, Ever, Leave a Child in the Car
Not for a minute. Not under any circumstances. Even with cracked windows, car temperatures rise dangerously fast. “30 second Errands” have resulted in tragedies, RL – when unexpected distractions arise during the errand.

4. Exercise Extra Caution with Routine Changes
Disruptions to normal schedules increase forgetfulness. Park with presence. 

5. Use Technology as a Backup
Activate your vehicle’s “Check Rear Seat” feature or use a device like Clever Elly for audio reminders. 

See other life-saving technologies: www.teamprotect.org/solutions

To learn more about child safety, visit teamprotect.org/poolsafety and find out how technology can BE’’H help significantly cut down drowning risks and keep our children safe.