The Yomim Noraim and the Yomim Tovim are fast approaching. We have, at this sensitive time in Jewish history, the job of preparing ourselves with the important mission here at Yad Ezrah, to be able to respond to the immediate needs of so many hungry, lonely, sick and poor families, widows, orphans and the elderly who have no idea of how they will properly provide for the holiday meals.
The philosophy of our wondrous Rabbi, Rav Asher Fruend zt”l, who first provided the meals and then worked on the other needs, always held that, “Before the chesed and the many needs that must be addressed…the first thing is FOOD on their tables.” That is the Yad Ezrah working plan. We help people in their life cycle and in their year cycle in so many ways, but the most important need is food.
This year, as we did last year, in addition to our usual food delivery project and the daily food kitchen, we have one project that has really taken off, and that is the assistance to the widows and orphans for the Chagim. Thank G-D, our success with the widows and orphans during Pesach, has created for us more achriut to help them, as well, for the Chagim through a special Rosh Hashana and Sukkot project. This is life saving for the widows and orphans and a big zchut for all who help them. They will receive fully prepared and chef-level fully cooked meals for Rosh Hashana and for Sukkot. This will alleviate their stress and allow them to truly enjoy Yom Tov, despite their loneliness. This is an important and expensive project and we need your help to team up with us to make it happen. Please consider adopting a widow and her orphans by contributing $1800, which will feed their family for the Chagim.
Here is a summary of our projects for the Chagim:
The Project: FOOD DISTRIBUTION
The Plan: To distribute abundant and nutritious food packages to more than a thousand very poor and needy families from all walks of Jewish life, who we have handpicked and evaluated of their needs. Each package contains dry goods, fish, wine, fruits and vegetables, plus other items pertaining to the holiday.
The Project: CHICKEN FOR THE CHAGIM
The Plan: The most important item needed for the meals is the main course – the chicken. It is also the most expensive. Our goal is to provide each family with a box of chicken (about 10 per box), which will provide an average sized family with the minimum of chicken for the holiday meals and for a few non-holiday meals as well.
The Project: WIDOWS AND ORPHANS
The Plan: As a continuation of our special Pesach program for widows and orphans, we will provide over 300 families with high quality fully cooked and elegantly prepared meals for Rosh Hashana and Sukkot. This program began about two years ago, at the onset of Corona, and the demand has grown. This special program for the widows and orphans gives them the gift of a worry-free Yom Tov – spiritually, emotionally and physically. Our wonderful volunteers deliver these gourmet meals to their doors.
The Project: HELP FOR THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED
The Plan: One of our most emotional projects is Ohr Yerushalayim, a clinic for the mentally challenged. About 150 patients are cared for all year around, which includes housing, food and therapy. For the Sukkot holiday, we will include special programs, activities and trips, which is above and beyond the yearly budget. The benefits of seeing them smile and truly enjoy the holiday are well worth the efforts and expenses.
The Project: BEIT ISSAR SOUP KITCHEN
The Plan: We have the incredible zchut to have a pleasant and well stocked soup kitchen, offering 3 meals a day, manned by loving volunteers who give attention and support to the lonely and hungry. During Yom Tov, we will provide a festive atmosphere for them with all of the toppings. This is their home away from home and we will not forget them.
The Project: MERON HOSPITALITY
The Plan: Our wondrous Rabbi, Rav Asher Fruend zt”l, encouraged us to five special attention and assistance to the thousands of needy families who travel to MERON for Rosh Hashana. A kibbutz style environment has been set up, providing meals, beds and spirituality for them to share their feelings of joy and growth in a secure and safe environment. Rav Asher would state that the gathering of so many pure souls to daven and enjoy Yom Tov brings big heavenly mercy to Am Yisroel, and davening at the tzion of Rabi Shimon Bar Yechoi is making the prosecutor into the defendant.
The Project: FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The Plan: The holidays of Rosh Hashana and Sukkot bring much happiness and excitement…but it also brings anxiety and worries to those who simply do not have the means to pay for basic holiday necessities. We will give out 1000 NIS cash to about 1000 families, for them to purchase necessities such as shoes, clothing and other basic items they may need for the Yom Tov. They will also be given food vouchers worth 600 NIS to purchase specific food items that meet their personal needs.
The Project: ESROG & LULAV SETS
The Plan: Rav Asher saw the need to provide dignity and stature to those who cannot afford to buy a decent Esrog and Lulav for Sukkot. He insisted on providing high quality and very Kosher sets for them. We give them very high quality sets at very discounted prices. This gives them the pride and dignity they deserve.
The Project: SHABBAT CHICKEN FOR THE WINTER
The Plan: Our experience for many years has shown us that right after the holidays, the poor still need to eat and the chicken distributors have a legitimate fear of providing organizations with the chickens throughout the winter months and not getting paid. For that reason, they insist on getting paid up front, and in return they will guarantee the chicken delivery at a discounted price. We put this into our Chagim budget so that we do not forget the poor and hungry families after the holidays end. Each family will receive about 3 chickens each week which will allow an average family to have a main course during Shabbat…and for a few meals during the week.
Please share this with your good friends and, if you can help us make it happen, the zchut of Rav Asher and the zchus of the simchat aniyim will shine on you forever, especially in these times. Your chesed will bring midas horachamim on you and yours and you will be zoche to be a part of the geula, in much good health, love, peace, shefa gadol, bracha and hatzlacha…