01 Apr DONORS & RECIPIENTS: INSIDE RENEWAL’S MISSION EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RENEWAL’S FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN MENDY REINER & DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH, RABBI JOSH STURM

Receiving a diagnosis of irreversible kidney failure can be devastating. The uncertainty, medical complexities, and urgent need for a transplant can leave patients and their families feeling overwhelmed. This is where Renewal steps in—a beacon of hope, guiding both recipients and donors through the life-saving journey of kidney transplantation. Last Thursday, Ari Hirsch of The Jewish Vues visited the Renewal office in Boro Park for an in-depth look at the organization that has transformed so many lives. He sat down with Mendy Reiner, Renewal’s founder and chairman, and Rabbi Josh Sturm, the Director of Outreach, to learn more about their mission and impact. Also joining Ari was his cousin, Larry Barth, a kidney donor who has experienced firsthand the incredible process of giving the gift of life.

The Story of our First Transplant Recipient

One of the most touching stories I want to share involves our first transplant recipient. She’s now a mother of six or seven children. After her transplant, she began visiting dialysis centers in Jerusalem, where she met a young mother named Molly Pump. Molly, a Yerushalmi woman, was on dialysis and needed a kidney. Her husband, Aaron, wanted to donate, but they weren’t a match. At that time, there wasn’t a formal organization in Israel to help in such situations, so the original recipient from Renewal suggested that Molly call us.

Molly came to the United States, and within eight weeks, she received a transplant from a donor named Fishy Karmel, a roofer. Molly and her family stayed with us during this time. I helped her daughter, whom we nicknamed Pumpala, get into a school in Boro Park, even though it was only for a short time. Molly, her husband Aaron, and their daughter lived with us before and after the transplant.

Molly wrote a letter to her donor, Fishy, expressing her gratitude. In the letter, she shared her hopes of one day giving her daughter a brother or sister. Today, Molly has two additional children, and her daughter, Pumpala, is thriving.

I’ll never forget one morning when Pumpala was running to catch the bus, not wearing her coat but dragging it over her shoulders. Her mother called out, “Aren’t you cold?” Pumpala turned around and, with a smile, said, “As long as I have a healthy mother, I’m warm.” Then she ran off to the bus, leaving us all in awe of the gift of life that had been given to her mother and their family.

Why did you decide to start Renewal?
The realization that there was a lack of awareness about living kidney donation, and that many people needed help, inspired me to take action. I wanted to create a structured system to connect potential donors with recipients in need of kidneys.

How did Renewal begin?
When my Rav, the Erlauer Rav, would visit the States, I would stop working and spend that time with him, helping with whatever he needed. One day, a man came into the room, looking a little drunk, with swollen eyes and unsteady on his feet. He sat opposite me, waiting to see the Rebbe. I asked him what he was doing, and he shared his story. He needed a kidney. He was a father of five, had owned a grocery store, but could no longer work. I took out $40 and offered it to him, but he refused. “I don’t need your money,” he said. “I need you to listen to my story. I need a kidney.” I was puzzled. A kidney? What did that mean? This was around 2004 or 2005. So, I asked him what it took to get a kidney. He said, “About a quarter of a million dollars.” At that time, people were getting kidneys illegally on the black market, but not in a safe or healthy way.

The brokers on the black market had one goal: to get the kidney transplanted so they could get paid. The organs weren’t always in good condition, and the donors often came from desperate situations, selling their organs just to survive. The medical facilities could even be hotel rooms in third-world countries. It wasn’t an ideal situation.

I went home and told my wife what had happened. She suggested that we place an ad in the paper to see what happens. So, I placed an ad saying a father of five with blood type O was desperately in need of a kidney. I included my cell phone number. To my surprise, 20 to 30 people called. They asked how they could donate, how to find out their blood type, or if I could help them or their loved ones. I realized there was a need, and that there were people out there willing to donate a kidney to save a life. The challenge was connecting these people in a safe and legal way.

I shared the idea with the Erlauer Rav, and after discussing it, I reached out to larger organizations in the community. I suggested that they place an ad in the paper, offering people the chance to donate kidneys. I promised to fund the concept for the first three years. However, I was laughed out of every office. They all said, “No, we’re not doing this. No one is donating a kidney based on an ad in the paper.”

It took about a year before I met Sendy Orenstein, the founder of many community organizations. Sendy was skeptical at first, but after some convincing, he agreed to give it a try. He offered me a half-day worker, Reb Chaim Steinmetz, who joined us in December 2006. Reb Chaim has been with us ever since and is now a partner in the endeavor. Our first transplant took place in December 2006—a young woman from Israel who had previously received a kidney on the black market, but the transplant had failed. She received a new kidney through our program, thanks to a donor, Chaim Alter Berger, who had no prior connection to her.

Chaim Alter underwent a difficult procedure—open surgery, rather than the usual laparoscopy—because his kidney was located in a spot that required the doctors to remove two ribs to access it. Despite the pain and risk, Chaim Alter went ahead with the donation and saved the life of this young woman. And thus, Renewal was born.

How successful has Renewal been since its start?
When Renewal first began, we hoped to perform one kidney transplant per year, with two being a huge success. Last year, we completed 158 kidney transplants, and our impact has expanded, even inspiring other organizations like DOVE, which helps veterans with kidney transplants.

How does Renewal help the broader community?
Renewal has expanded beyond the Jewish community by targeting local groups like firefighters and posting ads in their newsletters or on bulletin boards. This localized approach has been successful in encouraging donations from people who feel connected to the recipient’s background or situation.

What is dialysis, and what does it mean for patients?
Dialysis is a treatment that only performs about 15% of a natural kidney’s function. It’s not a cure but a way to manage kidney failure. The process is painful and can lead to a slow, long decline. Statistically, 80% of patients on dialysis do not survive more than five or six years.

Why are many Jewish donors involved with Renewal?
Renewal educates Jewish communities about kidney donation, which leads many of their donors to come from within the Jewish world. They believe that local community outreach is key, as people are more willing to help those within their own communities.

Does Renewal operate outside the Jewish community?
While Renewal has a strong presence in the Jewish community, it helps anyone who reaches out. They have even been invited to speak at non-Jewish institutions to raise awareness about kidney donation.

How do Jewish communities support kidney donation?
Jewish communities are highly supportive of kidney donation, often because they have been educated about the process. If someone in a shul needs a kidney, many members are already informed and willing to help. This unity in Am Yisrael is one of Renewal’s key strengths.

Do all kidney donors meet their recipients?
About 80% of kidney donors meet their recipients.

Can a donor choose who they donate to?
Yes, donors can choose who they wish to donate to. Some donors may prefer to donate to a child or a grandparent, while others follow a first-come, first-served approach. As a policy, Renewal will not give identifying information about a particular recipient, but a donor can request a specific demographic.

How healthy does someone need to be to donate a kidney?
Donors need to be in good health, though there is some leeway. Statistically, kidney donors tend to live longer than the general population due to being selected from a pool of healthy individuals.

Why did Hashem create us with two kidneys if we only need one?
According to Reb Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, the reason we have two kidneys is so that one can be donated to someone in need.

How often do complications occur after a kidney transplant?
Complications for kidney donors are rare. The most common complication is a surgical hernia a year or two after surgery. For recipients, the main challenge is adjusting to the right medication to prevent rejection.

Are there any risks for donors after donating a kidney?
It is extremely rare for a donor to experience kidney failure in the remaining kidney.

Does Renewal have competition from other organizations?
Renewal doesn’t see other organizations as competition. The goal is to help as many people as possible, and the more help available, the better.

Who does Renewal consult for halachic guidance?
Renewal consults with Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum shlita for major halachic questions.

Does Renewal operate outside of the Tri-State area?
Yes, Renewal helps people across the U.S. and internationally.

How is Renewal funded?
Renewal is funded entirely through private donations and does not receive government assistance. Its main expenses include reimbursement for donors, medical testing, and outreach efforts.

Do kidney donors ever regret their decision?
Most kidney donors express a desire to donate again if they could.

How can someone donate a kidney?
Anyone interested in donating a kidney can visit Renewal.org or email info@renewal.org.

What is the ultimate hope for Renewal?
The ultimate hope is for 3D-printed kidneys or pig-grown kidneys to become viable solutions, rendering Renewal unnecessary because the need for organ donations would no longer exist.

What message do you have for Jewish Vues readers?
Educate yourself about kidney donation. Even if you don’t donate, share the story with others—you never know who might be inspired to become a life-saving kidney donor.

One incredible story involves Lola Lieber, a young woman who saved her family during the Nazi liquidation in 1942. Many years later, her daughter-in-law, Idii, needed a kidney, and Renewal found a match—a man who turned out to be a one-in-a-million match. The donor’s great- grandmother was saved by Lola during the war, showcasing Hashem’s divine intervention.

FAST FACTS
Founder’s name: Mendy Reiner
Year Renewal was founded: 2006
Office location: 4721 New Utrecht Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219
Website: Renewal.org
Current number of employees at Renewal: 21
2025 budget: $5 million

Total Number of Kidney donors Through Renewal
As of today, 1,242 people have successfully donated a kidney through Renewal. While this represents actual transplants, we have processed thousands of potential donors along the way. Many individuals do not qualify for donation due to medical or other reasons.

Total Number of Swabs Taken Annually
Renewal conducts an average of 2,500 swab tests per year. However, only a small fraction of those tested ultimately proceed to donate. We often estimate a 10% donation rate, but this percentage applies primarily to swabs collected during drives or awareness events. For example, last year, we conducted 1,319 swabs at awareness events. At a recent event on the Upper West Side, we collected 19 swabs, meaning that, statistically, around 1.9 donors would likely emerge from that group. While 10% may seem low, these numbers represent real lives saved.

Number of Transplants Performed by Renewal
• 2024: 158 transplants
• 2023: 134 transplants

• Total transplants since 2006: 1,242

When Renewal was founded in 2006, the initial goal was to complete just one transplant, believing that even a single saved life would justify the organization’s existence. In the first year, they facilitated two transplants. By the second year, their goal was four, but they achieved seven. Fast forward to 2024, and Renewal has facilitated 158 transplants in a single year.

Success Rate of Transplants
The success rate of living kidney transplants in the U.S. is exceptionally high:
• One-year success rate: 98.5% (the kidney remains functional in the recipient)
• Three-year success rate: 93.5%

Living donor kidneys are significantly more successful than deceased donor kidneys, which have lower success rates. While most Renewal transplants are successful, there have been rare cases where the transplanted kidney did not function as expected.

Number of Donors Who Qualify but Choose Not to Donate
Very few donors back out after completing the qualification process. Once a donor has passed all medical testing and received hospital clearance, they almost always proceed with the donation. However, there have been rare cases where individuals decide to withdraw at the last moment—including one case where a donor backed out the night before the scheduled surgery. While this is devastating for the recipient, Renewal emphasizes that donors are under zero pressure and have the right to withdraw at any time.

Estimated Number of Donors Who Started the Process in 2024
In 2024, Renewal performed 158 transplants, but approximately 300 donors went through the testing and evaluation process beyond just the initial swab. This means that roughly 1 in 2 of those who entered the process ended up donating.

Gender Breakdown of Renewal Donors
Nationally, 60% of kidney donors are women, and 40% are men. However, Renewal’s donor base is the exact opposite:
• 60% male
• 40% female

This difference is due to Renewal’s policy of discouraging young women from donating, as studies on long- term pregnancy outcomes post-donation are limited. While research suggests that one or two pregnancies after donation pose no risk, the frum (Orthodox Jewish) community typically expects multiple pregnancies, and no conclusive studies exist on the safety of donation in such cases. As a result, Renewal strongly advises younger women against donation, leading to a higher percentage of male donors. The gender balance evens out after women pass childbearing age.

Timeframe to Find a Match for a Donor
The time it takes to match a donor has changed over the years. Ten years ago, matches were made immediately upon receiving test results, as Renewal had few available donors. Today, thanks to increased awareness and participation, there is a pool of potential donors, and not every swab results in an immediate match. Some donors are matched right away, others wait a few years, and some may never be called.

Jewish Donors at Renewal
Approximately 99% of Renewal’s kidney donors are Jewish.

Time Off Work for Donors
Most donors require two to three weeks off work post-surgery. Recovery time depends on their job:
• Remote workers (e.g., desk jobs) may resume work sooner.
• Physically demanding jobs (e.g., teachers, construction workers) may require a longer recovery period.
Renewal fully covers lost wages during this recovery time.

Percentage of Successful Transplants Facilitated by Renewal
The vast majority of Renewal transplants are successful. There have been only two known cases where the transplanted kidney did not function properly from the start—an exceptionally rare outcome.

Youngest and Oldest Renewal Donors
• Youngest donor: 21 years old (minimum age set by Renewal, despite the legal limit of 18).
• Oldest donor: 77 years old (a Holocaust survivor who donated seven years ago).

Age Matching for Kidney Donations
A 77-year-old kidney i s typically not given to a 20-year-old recipient due to its age and wear. However, a healthy kidney from a 77-year-old can still be an excellent match for a 72-year-old recipient, as matches are usually made within a 10- year age range.

Average Lifespan of a Transplanted Kidney
• Living donor kidney: 15 to 20 years (some last multiple decades).
• Deceased donor kidney: Shorter lifespan.
• New compatibility testing: Renewal is one of only two organizations in the U.S. using advanced compatibility testing, potentially extending the lifespan of transplanted kidneys significantly.

Hospitals & Doctors Associated with Renewal
Renewal works with about seven hospitals in the New York area, with transplant numbers fluctuating between institutions. Historically, Cornell performed the most Renewal transplants, but in the last year, North Shore has taken the lead.

Who Chooses the Hospital?
The recipient chooses their transplant center based on their doctor’s recommendation, and the donor follows their match to that hospital.

Average Cost Per Transplant for Renewal
Renewal covers all non-medical expenses related to donation. Medical costs are fully covered by the recipient’s insurance, but Renewal covers:

• Travel, lodging, food, and lost wages for donors.
• Donor coordinators who accompany the donor through every step.

Estimated costs per transplant:
• New York area: $18,900

• National transplants (out-of- state donors): $26,000 (due to travel and lodging expenses).

Additional Key Stats
• Over 2,500 potential donors swabbed through Renewal last year.

• 300+ patients currently on Renewal’s waiting list.

Average age of altruistic donors:
• Male: 38 years old
• Female: 45 years old
• 5-year survival rate on dialysis: Only 28%, making kidney donation a life-saving alternative.

Percentage of altruistic kidney transplants attributed to Renewal:
• New York: 60%
• New Jersey: 33%

FUN QUESTIONS WITH MENDY REINER OF RENEWAL

1. What’s the weirdest request from a kidney donor?
That his kidney shouldn’t go to the Kosel. He was donating to someone from Israel and, as a Satmar Chassid, he specifically requested that the recipient not visit the Kosel. Despite his request, she did end up going. On the morning of the transplant, the coordinator in Israel called me from Montefiore and said, “The donor wants to speak with you.” So I answered, “Hello?” and he responded, “I can’t tell you where I am.”
2. Favorite food people like to eat after a transplant?
There’s no official rule, but I did find one case interesting. A recipient once told me he had never eaten salmon before his transplant. However, after receiving the kidney, he suddenly loved it. Later, he found out that his donor loved salmon.

3. Did he ever confirm that the donor liked it?
I’m not saying that’s the reason, but he insisted it was a fact. And it didn’t stop there—he also noticed another change. He said that ever since the transplant, he wakes up at 5:00 AM every Shabbos morning. When he later learned that his donor had a custom of waking up early every Shabbos to complete all of Tehillim, he was stunned. Do with that information what you will.

4. Greatest nachas from Renewal?
The beauty of Klal Yisrael. It’s overwhelming to witness such acts of Ahavas Chinam (selfless love).

Especially since October 7th, this sense of unity has been even more profound. We’ve celebrated many milestones—our first transplant, our 10th, our 50th, our 100th, our 500th, and even a beautiful event for our 1,000th transplant. Recently, we surpassed 1,200 transplants.

For some reason, this number really stuck with me. I kept thinking, Wow, we did it! But then it hit me—October 7th changed everything. Everyone is dealing with the trauma in their own way. Personally, I removed social media from my phone because it was consuming me.

And then I had a realization: What wouldn’t each and every one of us have done to stop October 7th? If sacrificing ourselves could have prevented that tragedy, we wouldn’t have hesitated.

That’s when I understood what the number 1,200 truly represents. Before, it was just another milestone. But now, I see it as something deeper—a testament to what Renewal is really about: saving lives, one at a time.

5. If Eliyahu HaNavi actually showed up at your door on Pesach night, what’s the first thing you’d say to him?
It’s time. Let’s go.

6. Favorite bracha?
Asher Yatzar.

7. Someone alive today whom you’ve never met but would like to?
I would’ve said Donald Trump, but I’ve already met him.

8. Three guests for a Friday night Shabbos dinner—anyone from history. Who would you choose?
1. The Barditchever Rebbe (Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev) – Because he was the sanegor (defender) of Klal Yisrael. He always found the good in people. There’s a famous story where he saw
a wagon driver greasing his wheels while wearing his tallis and tefillin. Instead of criticizing him, he said, Ribono Shel Olam, look at your children! Even while they’re working, they’re still davening. I always wonder—if he were alive today and saw what Klal Yisrael is doing, what would he say?
2. Dovid HaMelech – We’re always waiting for Moshiach, and he is at the heart of that longing.
3. Sara Schenirer – Very few men ever name a woman in their top three, but her impact on Klal Yisrael is undeniable. She revolutionized Jewish education for women, shaping the way our daughters learn and grow. In the past, women’s roles were different, but she built