Help feed Israel’s hungry
I have always been incredibly supportive of Colel-Chabad, mainly based on the emotional reaction I got from watching Colel-Chabad’s Salie Mazon (Food Baskets) video.
Many of us are really unaware that, in general, there are three types of economies: namely, first world (where most people are considered above the poverty line); third world, where most people are below; and then there is what I call in-between.
Though Israel has had, thank G-d, unprecedented technological growth, the sad fact remains, based on Israel’s comprehensive government report, that there are approximately 131,000 “single parent” families in the country, nearly 31 percent of which live in poverty. In addition, two out of every five children in Israel go to bed hungry.
Unlike in America, where there are food stamps and Section 8, stipends are given only, for example, if one has an income below $1,570 with one child or $1,790 for two children.
A full 80 percent of these women work, resulting in quite simply the working poor.
When the government wanted to do something (unfortunately paltry, relative to the need) they partnered with Colel-Chabad.
While the government supplies 20 percent and Colel Chabad 80 percent (mainly from donations of American Jews) thank G-d now over 8,500 families (selected by local social workers in over 70 municipalities) receive a food basket that ensures nutrition security (valued at 500 shekels worth of dry goods, and 250 shekels for a food gift card.)
But the sad fact is there are approximately another 95,000 families in truly dire need.
If the plight of a child going to bed hungry, a mother not knowing how to feed her children, is one that you feel, I encourage you to go to our Special Campaign, colelchabad.org/Campaign.htm?aCampaign=GC12&aId=980, and, equally important, to encourage others to do so.
(Editor’s note: Rabbi Zevi Wineberg is currently director of a special Let’s Stamp out Hunger in Israel campaign for Colel-Chabad.)
Zevi Wineberg
Brooklyn, New York
