Chaya Malka Abramson went through a horrific fire. She was burned over 85 percent of her body when she was 30 years old. She repeatedly went back into her burning apartment to rescue her three children and her grandmother. Given a one in ten chance of survival, family and friends rallied around her with fervent prayers, charity and acts of loving kindness. Her life was spared and she was given the additional name of Chaya, meaning life.

Chaya Malka relates the powerful story of her recovery in her book, Who by Fire, and speaks of the power of prayer, spiritual faith and the selfless devotion of the community that supported her.

Today, the Chaya Malka Burn Foundation helps burn patients in Israel and abroad to recover and thrive.

Be Inspired by Chaya Malka Abramson by inviting her to your Community, School, Shul, Organization, or Special Event by clicking here

My Neighbor, My Superhero by Sara Yoheved Rigler, aish.com, March 2011

In the middle of the night, Malka was awakened by her grandmother’s voice shouting, “Malka, Malka, I smell gas!” Malka leapt out of bed and raced to her children’s room. She smelled nothing. Then she raced toward the living room where Nana had been sleeping on the couch. She was stopped dead in her tracks by an invisible wall of gas. Somehow, she broke through it and into the living room. “Open the windows!” Nana cried frantically. Malka opened the three windows. Then she heard a loud, echoing noise. Suddenly the entire room was on fire. Malka was engulfed in flames. She ran through the conflagration, down the hallway, and into her bedroom. She dove onto her bed and rolled herself back and forth until the flames burning her body were extinguished.