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    Israel Diary – An Old Friend in New Digs and a Mitzvah To Boot!

    February 16, 2009

    Israel Diary – An Old Friend in New Digs and a Mitzvah To Boot!

    On our second day in Israel I was looking forward to making my first visit to see Libby Reichman and the new home of Big Brothers, Big Sisters (Tzedakah Diary, June 12, 2008, Going Home). When I had last visited, BBBS was still occupying a small office which was bursting at the seams with desks, computers and files. Nothing quite prepared me for the magical place we saw when the taxi dropped us off at the new address. What a beautiful place it was! The view alone was worth a million dollars… indeed, this was a true “clubhouse” where the kids and their mentors could come to play games, create crafts, watch a movie… a very special home away from home. We could not have been happier for Libby and her staff.

    After our tour, we sat with a cup of tea and talked about the organization’s latest challenges. BBBS is no different than any other non-profit today—funding is limited and the organization’s needs continue. So many of the children Libby works with come from such difficult and troubled homes… it is sometimes overwhelming to hear each one’s situation knowing you cannot solve each problem. One story which Libby shared was particularly poignant… it was the story of Yonatan, a young boy now 12, who lives with his mother in a small one room apartment. Though the mother does work, funds are very limited and there is never enough to provide for much more than food and rent. Libby recounted that their minimal income (as well as limited space) meant that Yonatan and his Mom continued to share a single bed. This was not right and we knew that it was important for us to do whatever we could to change this arrangement. We asked Libby if it would be possible for her to help Yonatan and his mother purchase a second bed which might fit in their small apartment. We would cover the cost of the bed as well as some new sheets and blankets. Libby was thrilled!

    Postscript: A few days after we returned from Israel, Libby called to say that Yonatan and his Mom were thrilled by our offer and had just returned from their shopping excursion. With tears in her eyes and her voice breaking, Yonatan’s Mom shared that he now had a new bed and all of the accessories that would make any twelve year old excited!

    Sometimes it doesn’t take very much to make a profound difference!

    Israel Diary – Israel’s Young Activists

    February 15, 2009

    Israel Diary – Israel’s Young Activists

    We recently spent some time in Israel making the rounds of many of the programs and individuals we have worked with over the past year. It is always special to visit with each of them and learn about how their work is going. The give-and-take in these meetings always benefits both parties.

    In addition to seeing the “regulars”, we had a long list of new good people we wanted to meet and looked forward to hearing new stories of dedication and mitzvah-making.

    No sooner did we land in Israel, spend a restless night getting used to the time change, and off we went! Who knew that on our very first day we would be impressed by a group of young Israelis (some American olim) who were actively involved in two specific mitzvahs—lechem l’re’eyvim—providing food for hungry people, and bal tashchit—do not waste or, rescuing perfectly good food that would otherwise go into the garbage…

    Jesse Fox and his brother Steven made aliyah several years ago and now call Tel Aviv home. After many visits to the famous Carmel market, Jesse soon realized that the vast quantity of leftovers—fresh fruit, vegetables, pita, and more—that litter the ground at the close of business on Friday could actually feed hungry people…of which there is no shortage in that city. Specifically, Jesse thought about the many, many African refugees who have found their way to Tel Aviv and now reside in several shelters near the old bus terminal and Levinsky Park. He knew that most of them did not have a sufficient and reliable source of nourishment and what could be better than lots of fresh fruit and veggies? It seemed that there was one simple solution—gather the leftovers and deliver them to the shelters. But, how? Joined by his brother and two of their friends, Gilli and Daniel Cherrin, the idea for Fugee Fridays was born. What started with the four of them and a friend with a car who could help transport the many, many boxes of food they gathered each week, eventually became a group of several other Tel Aviv-area residents who learned of their efforts and joined in the rescue. Soon, some of the volunteers began to play with the refugee children or offer other types of support. In time, the group also delivered the gleaned food to other very poor residents of the South Tel Aviv area—there was more than enough to go around.

    Now involved with this project for just a year, Jesse and his friends are planning other ways they might work on behalf of this refugee population. When we sat with them we asked what they might need to help them in their work—it did not take long for them to come up with a wish-list. We thought that the idea of a t-shirt with the Fugee Friday logo would certainly help their volunteers as they gather food in the market each week, as would a sticker they want to give to the merchants who donate to them so that others would recognize their generosity. We told them to get some prices and the Good People Fund would be honored to become a partner in their work.

    Fugee Fridays’ founders and the group of volunteers who work with them are impressive examples of the marriage between social activism and ecology. What could be better than feeding hungry people with food that would otherwise end up in landfill?

    Recording History

    January 28, 2009

    Recording History

    Back on the November 14, 2008 Tzedakah Diary entry we shared the work of Alice Jonah and the residents of the old Diplomat Hotel in Jerusalem. The hotel is now home to hundreds of (mostly) Russian Elders who arrived in Israel hoping to live a life of freedom in the Holy Land. Alice has been their dedicated companion, providing for their social as well as physical welfare through both her volunteer and paid work there. Aside from a beautiful chorus, ulpan, field trips and many, many other meaningful activities, Alice has also facilitated a very special project that was the idea of a creative mitzvah-thinker we know. When our friend learned about Alice’s work with the Russians he realized almost immediately how important their past lives were and how their experiences were a mirror of history in Russia. Many of the residents took part in significant World War II events and other actions of equal historical significance, and as they pass on so does an irreplaceable part of history. The idea that grew out of this was to facilitate the recording of many of the residents’ memories so that a permanent record would be created.

    Today, we received the following update from Alice which clearly shows how very important these interviews were. We are happy to report that our friend will send us funds so that even more recordings can be made and history will not be forgotten after all.

    The interviews went very well, and for some of the people, it was the first time which they actually spoke in a structured manner of their very difficult experiences before, during and after the war years. Some have told their stories in the past, but not in this fashion. It was definitely therapeutic for most of the participants…

    Luba, who conducted the interviews, was very moved by the experience. There are such incredible stories – and each one so different. She is prepared to carry on, though her situation is such that she worked very slowly. Altogether, twenty-five interviews were completed. The people she spoke with know her well, and have trust in her, and thus were able to speak volubly and openly.

    One of our student population, Ruthie Yanovsky, transferred the taped material to computer, so we have both versions…

    Teachable Moments

    January 27, 2009

    Teachable Moments

    A few days ago, I sent an email to Ron Adams, a dynamic teacher at the Broad Meadows Middle School in Quincy, MA. to learn whether the Good People Fund might be able to help the important work he does there. We described Ron’s work with the students at Broad Meadows in this diary on April 22, 2008. Quite simply, students at the school who wish to change the world in exciting and meaningful ways can join Ron’s after-school club which is dedicated to improving the lives of kids around the world. Former students began the group more than ten years ago when they were privileged to meet Iqbal Masih, a young boy from Pakistan who had been sold by his parents to a carpet maker and remained chained to a loom creating beautiful carpets for long hours each day. When Iqbal escaped and traveled to America to receive an award from Reebok for his efforts to end child slavery, he visited the Quincy school and enthralled the students with his moving story. After returning to Pakistan, Iqbal was gunned down and so began the Quincy students’ quest to end child slavery wherever it may be. Inspired by Iqbal, they formed the Kid’s Campaign and began to accomplish amazing things around the world. Though the original students have long since graduated and are now adults (and, no doubt, profoundly changed by their experience), many students from subsequent classes have joined the campaign and continue the good work.

    Ron’s response to my question about how we could help:

    Dear Naomi,

    I met with several of our newest student campaign leaders yesterday to show them the Wish List I emailed to you. They were stunned silent. They did not know that their kids’ campaign has a long distance angel providing their group with the tools of change. You should have seen their faces. Their facial expressions went from mouth open, heads back, to looking at each other confused, to heads slumping with smiles on each face. Then the questions came fast and furious. Who is this Naomi? Who are the Good People? It was the teachable moment, and I pulled out our photo archives to show the new leaders photos from past years including photos from the (Ziv Tzedakah Fund) New Jersey and Rhode Island Mitzvah Heroes Conferences. "What’s a Mitzvah?" asked one of the girls who has become a grade 6 leader named Amira, clothed in traditional Iraqi covering, a Muslim. After that teachable moment she said she has to meet Naomi to shake her hand and to show her the posters and poems she has made for the campaign using the tools sent last school year. She is young enough that stereotypes and prejudice have not yet been permanently formed. Her family moved to the U.S. to escape the sectarian violence in Baghdad three years ago. Amira is hoping to do some "mitzvahs" this year. Other grade 6 girls joined in: Renette, recently from Haiti and Biba from Morocco both promised to work with Amira. It was a moment of innocence and sweetness. Surrounding these girls were third, fourth and fifth generation Catholics, a Jewish boy, a Universalist eighth grader, a Buddhist and Baptist. Yet, united, everyone was looking at the photos and realizing on whose shoulders they were all standing. The connections to the people, who in the past worked to create a Kids’ Campaign for Iqbal Masih and children like Iqbal in any country, suddenly became visible and obvious. I jumped in. The lesson to be learned I told them was that there are teams of good people all over the world who quietly or loudly sacrifice and volunteer together to help make the world, anyone’s world, better. They are just like us, all races, all religions. They do it, I said, not because it gets you fame or free supplies, you volunteer together because it is the right thing to do. I congratulated the new leaders for joining for the right reason, and I hoped they would now understand that grade 6, 7 and 8 students can change the world a little, but only if we build bridges to other people. Those people might be the same age or old, the same religion or race or not. And finally, good people find each other, team and dream together about changing the world a little, then, remarkably they TAKE ACTION to turn those dreams into realities. That’s how people, any person really, can better the world. I told them that we are blessed in our Kids’ Campaign because good people found us! Imagine where we would be without their friendship and encouragement and support.

    Gosh, I love working with this age group. They are still open minded and pure. I truly hope and wish and pray that they will (in these formative years) discover the good people are all from the same race…the human race.

    Reading a note like this cannot help but make us want to do whatever we can to ensure that these young idealistic kids succeed. The list that Ron sent us included several items which we hope to provide for them, but the one thing that is always the most fun to do is to go online with the long shopping list for Staples and click away! In thirty minutes I had filled my "virtual" basket with markers, pens, poster board, ink cartridges, glue sticks…and, perhaps, most important of all, some Twizzlers and some pretzels for sustenance while they work long hours after school to change the world.

    If you want to learn more about the "Quincy kids" and their work, we suggest you follow this link which will take you to information about a newly released DVD which features their story (as well as nine other stories about truly good people) https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/Mitzvah_Movies

    Clowning Around…the World

    January 19, 2009

    Clowning Around…the World

    Last summer (Tzedakah Diary June 16, July 1, 2008) we shared the work of Dr. Neal Goldberg and his troupe of medical clowns, Lev Leytzan (heart of a clown) – Compassionate Clown Alley. In addition to the many, many adults and children in the greater New York City area who have been cheered by these professionally trained teens and young adults, several clowns had an unforgettable experience last month when they made a slight detour on their annual trip to Israel. Several members of the troupe stopped in Munich to visit with elderly Shoah survivors living in that city. While still in Munich, Neal shared the following thoughts on the impact of visiting an area with such powerful significance:

    Munich has been incredible. We’re blown away. We’ve been moving between hosting home visits, senior centers and community events with historical visits. Dachau was powerful – our debriefing consensus was that our clowning brings life to where tragedy and illness try to take it away!!

    Once the full troupe assembled in Israel they spent ten days visiting hospitals, community centers, and other venues where the smile of a clown can transform anyone in need of some cheer.

    Shortly after returning from their whirlwind tour, Neal shared the following link to a great article on the clowns which appeared in CNN. Check it out…

    http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/18/clown.joy.patients/

    A Dog Tale

    January 15, 2009

    A Dog Tale

    When the school year began last Fall we were in touch with Tamara Ruben, principal of the Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim Religious School in Cranford, NJ. Tamara wanted the kids in her school to become truly involved in a tzedakah project. Putting coins in the school tzedakah box was fine, but she wanted something more than that-something truly "hands-on".

    Tamara was impressed with Avshalom Beni and his Israeli program, Humans and Animals in Mutual Assistance-HAMA Israel, and wanted her students to learn more about this unique organization which uses (mostly) rescued animals (dog and cats) as co-therapists in treating both kids and adults who experience many different types of emotional and physical disabilities. After introducing her school to HAMA through a video produced by the now-closed Ziv Tzedakah Fund, students and teacher alike embarked upon a multi-faceted effort to help HAMA.

    What follows is a note that Tamara sent to her congregation and shared with us. We think it is a beautiful description of not only her school’s efforts, but also her encounter with Avshalom, his co-therapists, and some of his most vulnerable clients. Kol Hakavod to everyone who took part in this special mitzvah.

    … I would like to share with you a story of great inspiration and hope that has to do with a connection with HAMA (http://www.hama-israel.org.il/) an Israeli organization and TBEMC’s Religious School. I am sharing this with you so that you too will be proud of our special school and its wonderful values.

    As you can read in their website, HAMA is rooted in the unique and mutual bonding and welfare between humans and animals. Its organizers work closely with various public social welfare agencies, hospitals and educational institutions in establishing a "bridge" consisting of mutual healing. It is for these elements that we decided to interest our students at TBEMC Religious School.

    During the last few months, our students have been able to raise money in time for my visit here at HAMA. In keeping with our school philosophy that the best gift one can receive is by giving of ourselves, as Hanukkah was approaching last Sunday, the entire school was busy baking healthy dog biscuits and decorating beautiful bandannas for the animals of HAMA. (I will tell you what happened at the airport at another time…:)

    While the nights are now cold in Israel and the days are shorter, my encounter with the founders of HAMA, Avshalom and his wife Pam, their dedicated staff. and their many animals who themselves have suffered devastating injuries, brought so much light, warmth and an example of human/animal kindness that transcends any written word. My visit to The Lev Hasharon Hostels for Holocaust Survivors, one of the many projects that HAMA has established, truly made me feel that this was a holy place; a place where humans understand the meaning of being "B”tzelem Elohim" in God”s image.

    Equipped with the delicious dog biscuits and the beautiful bandannas from our Religious School, my daughter and I drove to the center, about 30 minute drive north of Tel Aviv. The center is nestled in the midst of the luscious Sharon region where golden oranges are still visible in the surrounding orchards and old Eucalyptus trees are seen everywhere. It was Friday afternoon and as the cheerful dogs of all sizes and kinds leaped out from Avshaom’s van, it was a love at first site.You could feel a sense of gratitude in these animals who knew neglect, abuse and injuries and are now determined to be "healers" themselves. Their spirit was so uplifting, with an abundance of an unconditional and infectious love adorned by endless "kisses". … the dogs devoured the biscuits and proudly wore the bandannas that were lovingly made by our students at TBEMC.

    When the Holocaust survivors joined us, one could sense that this encounter brought a relief, a spark of love, a smile and touch, consoling their broken souls. There was very little that was needed to be said amidst the dogs’ excitement. In fact, words would have interfered in this stunning encounter.

    HAMA: Tormented human beings and animals who were able to build a sacred bridge that will stay etched in my heart forever.