We met Hannah Tomaskovic and her Mom last winter at the Barnert Memorial Temple (NJ) Mitzvah Mall when they stopped by to learn more about our work and to discuss ways she could make her upcoming Bat Mitzvah project meaningful.  As you can read in the letter posted here, our conversation with Hannah led to a simple but important project that taught her that even seemingly simple things like soap and toothpaste can have a profound impact on someone’s life, or as Hannah writes, “Helping people, possibly even kids like me, have the items necessary to get clean and feel proud to be clean, is important.”

We connected Hannah to one of our newest programs, Hope and Comfort, started by Jeff Feingold, a Boston-based executive looking for a way to turn his toddler’s upcoming birthday celebration into more of a “giving back” event than the traditional “giving gifts”.  Rather than have guests bring the usual clothing, toys and games Jeff and his wife asked that everyone bring new items that would be donated to a local agency. When the Feingold’s delivered their guests’ generous donations they learned about the shortage of toiletries available to families in need and it was that information that inspired Jeff to begin Hope and Comfort in 2011. Today, the organization not only collects and distributes vital personal hygiene products to local (and national) agencies but also partners with Boston-area schools that offer health classes that focus on personal hygiene as well.

We are proud of what Hannah accomplished with her project and know that the cases of soap and toothpaste she sent to Hope and Comfort will go a long way in helping people “feel proud to be clean.”

Think about the importance of Jeff’s efforts the next time you exit the shower feeling clean and refreshed…pretty good, huh?

Awaad is a 25 year old Eritrean residing in Israel for the past 4+ years. It was not his intention to come to Israel but circumstances were such that this is where he ended up. Awaad left his homeland at the age of 17 to avoid the draft (which is essentially a lifetime of slavery in that country) and successfully crossed the border to Sudan. He lived in a refugee camp in Sudan for 2 years and dreamed of crossing the Mediterranean to Europe and perhaps to North America.

While in the refugee camp in Sudan he (like many others) was kidnapped by Bedouins and taken to Sinai where he was held hostage for a ransom of $13,000 which was eventually paid by family and friends, but not before he was tortured as is typically done to those they kidnapped. After six months, he was released at the Israeli border in Sinai where he was picked up by the IDF and transferred to an Israeli prison in the Negev.

After three months in prison he was dropped off by the IDF on the streets of South Tel Aviv where he discovered a friend from home who took him in and helped him settle in Israel.

While never intending to come to Israel this is where he ended up and began to make a life, working and supporting himself while living with friends. If returned to Eritrea, he would be either punished severely or likely receive the death penalty for having deserted.

Approximately two weeks ago  Awaad was walking down the street near his home in B’nei Brak when he was accosted by a young Israeli who shouted at him and told him he would get a knife and come back and kill him. Indeed, within a few minutes the assailant returned with a butcher knife and struck out at Awaad’s neck. Throwing his arms up in defense, the knife severed his hand from his arm. The assailant fled, but an elderly woman who saw the entire attack from her window promptly called the police and rushed to his side. Awaad had the presence of mind to apply pressure to stop the bleeding and was transported to Tel Hashomer Hospital where surgeons successfully reattached his hand in an eleven hour surgery (with costs covered by the doctors and the hospital).

It took two weeks for the media to report this assault. When Gideon Ben Ami who runs his small food retrieval program in Tel Aviv heard the news he immediately visited Awaad and promised to help. Gideon has consulted with hospital social workers, doctors, refugee organizations and others and today Awaad received his first physical therapy session. Miraculously, doctors are heartened to see that he has sensation in his fingers. He was released from the hospital this afternoon and Gideon has brought him to his own apartment believing (justifiably so) that Awaad’s old neighborhood is no longer safe with the assailant residing nearby.

While Awaad’s roommates search for another apartment he will remain with Gideon. We have pledged to provide support for some of the following needs as identified at this time: Awaad’s share of the rent (once an apartment is secured), moving costs, transportation to and from the hospital for therapy, food and other incidentals for as long as it takes for him to resume working in a suitable job. The Ministry of Health has been petitioned to cover the cost of the physical therapy and Gideon has identified two therapists who have offered their services on a pro bono basis once the hospital-based therapy ends.

As Gideon wrote earlier, “He is a strong person and has a will to survive. It’s a joy to offer him help.” With Gideon and those he has already enlisted to help we have no doubt that Awaad will eventually recover physically, find a job that can accommodate his new reality and hopefully find peace.

Can you help us help Awaad? Any tzedakah donated will be used for his needs until he is able to regain his independence.

In our house strawberries and cherries are the preferred snack now that the “season” has really kicked in. Apparently the season is in full swing out in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, an area filled with farms and backyard fruit trees. Elise Bauman, the about-to-be first paid employee of our newest grantee, Salem Harvest, sent us these pictures this morning which show quite clearly that volunteers of all ages are welcome to help pick the fruit. Our young strawberry picker took part in one of three harvests held over the past two days. The result? More than 3,000 pounds of luscious strawberries! The boys pictured below were part of today’s cherry harvest which yielded more than 400 pounds of sweet fruit that would have otherwise been left to rot on the trees.

Salem Harvest was started by eight volunteers back in 2010. Their plan was simple — gather volunteers to harvest from local farms as well as backyards with the understanding that at least half of what was picked would be donated to local agencies such as the Marion-Polk Food Share. Apparently these founders were onto something, there are now more than 3,000 volunteers from across the socioeconomic spectrum who participate. Since their inception more than 500,000 pounds of fruit and veggies have been rescued and distributed. With Oregon having the unfortunate distinction of being the state with the highest rate of childhood hunger, Salem Harvest’s efforts are even more important.

Elise’s organizational skills, her passion and her personal experiences as a mother who sometimes worried about having sufficient food for her family makes her the perfect choice for this organization’s growth from all-volunteer to a full-time employee. We know from this morning’s phone conversation that her enthusiasm can’t be topped, which is why the Good People Fund’s matching grant to be used to underwrite this salary was just the right thing to do. Good luck, Elise!

Sometimes a request comes to us that might be considered extravagant or unnecessary but we know that often, what could be considered “extravagant” is often exactly the right response to a difficult and harsh set of circumstances. When our grantee, Fraidy Reiss, from Unchained at Last, shared her wish to take many of her clients (all women trying to leave arranged and forced marriages) on a field trip where they might forget the harsh reality of their present lives, we thought, “why not”?

Dear Naomi,

I will call you later, after the sun wakes up, to tell you about the Six Flags trip that you made possible yesterday. But I am bursting right now, so I need to start telling you what an overwhelming “mitzvah” you did.

In total, 28 people joined the trip. They included two women who are in hiding in a shelter and rarely get to leave. A mom… who recently found out her cancer has returned, and who joined with her two kids and their new service puppy.

For two of the forced marriage survivors who attended — a woman from Ivory Coast (there with her 6-year-old daughter) and a woman from Iran (forced into marriage three years ago at age 16) — this was their first visit to a theme park.

The weather was gorgeous. The energy was fantastic. And watching the survivors and their children interact with each other, crossing religious and cultural and language barriers, was overwhelming.

I told everyone that a funder sponsored the entire trip (because several of them asked about the funding), and nearly every one of the 28 people asked me to thank you personally for a wonderful, magical day.

One woman (from the Orthodox Jewish community, who attended with her four kids and a friend who helped with the kids) asked me to explain to you that she and her children have been struggling a lot lately, going through a difficult time. She had tears in her eyes as she told me how wonderful it was for them to forget their problems for a day and just have fun.

You did good.

With warm gratitude,
Fraidy

Indeed, we all “did good” as it was only through the generosity of Good People Fund donors that this trip was even possible.

Our grantee, Jacob Szotkman who founded Gabriel Project Mumbai three years ago penned an article in today’s e-Jewish Philanthropy which speaks so eloquently to why he has dedicated himself to helping the children of Mumbai’s slums; kids he so aptly refers to as “on the margins of the margins of society.” He shares that when fellow Jews ask him what he does and he describes his work with this marginalized population he is often chastised for helping “others” and not his own people… “There are so many needy Jews – why are you helping those people out there?”

Jacob’s thoughts resonated for us as well, for not only have we too been asked that very same question but it has also been a point of discussion amongst our lay and professional leadership. Just what makes us a “Jewish” organization?

We, too, believe that it is our obligation as a Jewish organization, to help everyone, irregardless of their religious beliefs. Anyone whose life circumstances leaves them vulnerable and overlooked by society deserves our help whether they be hungry, without a roof over their head or isolated by age or illness or other circumstances. As Jacob so eloquently states, we should “remember that those who society has given up on–Jewish or not Jewish–are human, too. They are worthy of love and care.”

http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/shavuots-message-of-caring-for-the-impoverished-of-the-world/

Naomi
I want you to know that today we started the course for the Druze women
There are 15 women in the course… teaching them something that will help them in the future.
It’s really great and we are so proud of you and your foundation, the Good People Fund, and thank you for letting us make this step
I want you to know that the women send you regards and a big hug
Samih and Nihaia

Who knew when I was asked if I could meet with a Druze community leader in Israel last February that I would discover another amazing individual who shared that his greatest joy in life was helping people. Samih Halibi and his dedicated wife, Nihaia, have been actively assisting fellow citizens in the city of Daliyat al Carmel for many years. Situated south of Haifa, the city is best known for its beautiful museum as well as being part of a regional high-tech center. Druze countrymen have been active defenders of the State of Israel and Samih and his children have all served with distinction in the IDF.

Samih’s wish was to select 15-20 women between the ages of 30 and 40 and introduce them to modern technology. For many a computer is nothing more than a mysterious invention and smartphones are even more confounding.

Samih and Nihaia sent this note immediately after the first session ended on Monday afternoon. Their excitement throughout the process of proposing the idea, developing a budget and selecting the right students was palpable.

When we think of a life without a computer or smartphone we understand why Samih’s idea was so important. We could not be happier to help make it happen.