September 07, 2008

A True Chick Flick

A friend in Israel sent a note this morning which included a link to a newly released short video which features someone who we consider to be an outstanding role model for both kids and adults. Clara Hammer, often referred to as the "Chicken Lady" of Jerusalem celebrated her 97th birthday this past May and neither age nor an occasional "bad day" stops her from providing Shabbat food for families…and particularly children…each week.

Clara’s story is a legend that has been shared with many people throughout this country, especially religious and day school students who contribute to her work. Many years ago, while visiting her butcher, Mr. Hacker, Clara witnessed him handing over a bag of chicken bones and skin to a young girl. Commenting to him that the girl must own many cats, the butcher replied that the bag’s contents were actually for the family to use to prepare a Shabbat cholent. He went on to explain that the father and mother were not well and had not worked in a very long time. Though he had extended credit to them, he could no longer do so. Clara was appalled that anyone would have to eat such garbage and instructed Mr. Hacker to give the girl two chickens and a half kilo of chopped meat weekly so that they could have a proper Shabbat. No one was to know the identity of the donor.

Clara has been performing the mitzvah of feeding hungry people for almost 30 years. (she was a "young" 69 years of age when she actually started). Her story never fails to inspire those who hear it.

Check out the following link to see this short clip:

http://www.aish.com/heroesOfIsrael/heroesOfIsraelDefault/The_Chicken_Lady1.asp

…and if you are intrigued by this amazing woman, follow the following link to an order form for a copy of a DVD produced by the Ziv Tzedakah Fund which features a more detailed version of Clara’s story (as well as the stories of several other incredible people changing the world bit by bit):

https://www.goodpeoplefund.org/Mitzvah_Movies

September 05, 2008

Chicks and Piglets – A Happy Update

On May 8 we shared the story of Chicks and Piglets with you in this diary…in that piece we introduced our readers to Pam Koner and Family to Family, a small non-profit dedicated to relieving poverty and hunger in rural communities across the country. (http://www.family-to-family.org/)

As we related then… With so many people unemployed, hunger is a huge problem in Myra (KY)…despair, hunger and poverty go hand-in-hand here. Pam’s idea is to return many of Myra’s residents to the activity that so many of their parents and grandparents were involved in–farming. How great it would be if they could be given seeds, chickens, even piglets(!) and be taught how to farm…the land is rich and fertile, the basic tools needed are relatively inexpensive… add some education about farming and lessons on how to can or preserve your bounty so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor long after the fields have been cleared and voila!…you have a plan that can work.

We liked Pam’s idea and forwarded funds to underwrite some of the costs of this program including the purchase of a male pig.

This morning Pam forwarded the following email she received from her contact in Myra…we think it says it all… Despite our "unkosher" purchase, we think we made a truly "kosher" investment on behalf of the residents of this tiny rural community where the majority of residents struggle daily just to survive.

Dear Pam,

Thank you!

September 03, 2008

Back to School With the Right Tools

Throughout the country, the beginning of August brings a plethora of newspaper advertisements that feature school supplies – Back-to-School is big-business and in the current economy presents major problems for many, many families that are struggling to make ends meet. We were impressed with the "deals" being offered by retailers…crayons for a penny a box, 8 notebooks for a dollar, markers, rulers, pens, pencils…all offered at a fraction of their original cost. We were fortunate to know someone who saw the benefit of being a "smart shopper" and sent them off to see just how much they could buy with $500 in their pocket. By all accounts (including the "miles" of register tape that documented their shopping spree) you can do quite a bit of shopping with that amount of money.

The recipient of this bounty was a non-profit that had recently had its entire budget for these items cut by 100%…in other words, without our contribution they would have had little or nothing to use in the coming months. Knowing that, made their note (which arrived today) particularly meaningful…

… we thank you all and your fellow supporters for your generous donation of school supplies, shared with our pediatric patients and families. The donation of pencils, pens, scissors, highlighters, glue and glue sticks, scotch tape, crayons, folders, notebook paper and loose leaf paper, and pencil boxes was just AMAZING!

As you already know, many children and families who come to our hospital for care are in need of these items this time of year. We are often asked to help families by sharing such resources, and being able to do so is so very appreciated by those in need. It is because of people like you and your supporters that make this possible, and for that we are very grateful!

September 02, 2008

A Sweet New Year

We noted in yesterday’s diary that the month of Elul has arrived and with it the start of the New Year. For most of us, the upcoming holiday will bring family, friends and an excess of food to our tables. Despite the warm temperatures outside, even I have started to put together menus and numbers of guests and the inevitable shopping list which seems to grow daily and never ends.

What do you do when you can barely make ends meet? When putting food on your table for a "normal" meal is a continual struggle? How can you possibly add the sweet extras that are so much a part of the holiday menu? Because of the generosity of some donors, we are now in the process of arranging for extra food allowances for people in both the United States and in Israel. Our agents who work on the frontlines in Israel have identified several families for whom a little extra help in the form of supermarket scrip will mean the difference between celebrating the arrival of the New Year with a bountiful table or one that serves as a sad reminder of the families’ precarious situation.

In the United States, our donors’ generosity will allow us to offer scrip to many Holocaust survivors across the country, who are living their last years with minimal income. They too will be able to shop and prepare more than a modest meal for themselves and any family or friends who may join them in celebration.

We are enormously thankful to those who have stepped forward to allow us to offer this extra measure of joy to the holiday celebration. Yasher koach to all of them!

September 01, 2008

Out of Sadness … A New Year

Awaiting me this bright, sunny morning on the first day of both the English and Hebrew calendar, was an email from my dear friend Phyllis Heimowitz in Israel. Phyllis, along with her daughter Tamar,(and now joined by Rena Cohen who has helped expand their work in unimaginable ways) are the founders of The Amuta (Non-Profit) for the Emotional Support of Girlfriends and Fiancees of Fallen Soldiers of the IDF. It was the Heimowitz’s personal tragedy that led them to establish this innovative and critically important group which provides emotional (as well as occasional financial support) to women (and occasional men) who have lost their loved one in an IDF-related incident. The emotional support comes in the form of weekly group therapy, individual therapy as well as shared social engagements where the unique bonds that join each of these bereaved people are strengthened. Prior to the establishment of the group, the Israeli government did not identify anyone other than a family member as a legitimate survivor and critical services such as counseling or even recognition, were not available. Today, the Amuta provides the support services and receives some funding from the government to help them with their work. Perhaps, more important though, has been the radical change in attitude that has come about because of the group’s efforts. The girlfriend or fiancee is recognized by Israeli society as a legitimate mourner and survivor. Their loss is no longer dismissed as insignificant or unimportant. Their pain is real and with the support groups offered by the Amuta they can eventually deal with their pain and hopefully find love and happiness once again.

Along with some personal exchanges, Phyllis shared the following which says so much about the importance of their work:

On Friday, we had a magnificent get together of the bereaved girlfriends. It was such a special time. Naomi, there in the quaint restaurant, we celebrated that THREE of the bereaved girlfriends are getting married this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a joy. What an accomplishment. What a miracle. I am positive that we all….had a part in this. We stood by them. We picked them up when they were totally and completely broken and helped to put them back together, piece by piece. We enabled them to mourn as they should. We encouraged them all along the way and most of all we loved them and will love them forever.

One of the girlfriends who is getting married this month is Suzie, an American girl who met her boyfriend Tziki in Thailand, when he was on vacation there and she was working for the Peace Corps in a small village in Thailand. Their love was deep and crushed when Tziki went to serve in the reserves in Israel. During his service near Hebron, a Palestinian driver tried to run him over. Tziki’s soldiers shot the driver in an attempt to save Tziki, but one of our bullets hit Tziki and he was killed.

Suzie told me that "even in his death, he provided me with my future." Those were the words she used. She came to Israel, underwent an Orthodox Jewish conversion and is marrying a wonderful young man from England whom she met in the ulpan. Our Suzie… We will fly to that wedding…

Today is the first of Elul-the month in which we celebrate a new year and the promise and hope that it brings. What better message to get in an email on this particular day?

August 19, 2008

People on the Front Lines

One of the most unique and meaningful aspects of the tzedakah work the Good People Fund is involved in is having the ability to step in when a family or individual encounters a crisis situation. We believe that if we can lend a hand before things spiral out of control, a more desperate outcome may be diverted. Having individuals "on the frontlines" – people we know and trust, and who know and understand what we want and believe, are critical to this very personal type of tzedakah. When they see a difficult situation that can be resolved expeditiously they know that they can be in touch and, if we have the resources, we will ask them to act on our behalf and arrange for the needs to be met. This can be an overdue utility bill, past due rent, a food emergency or medical bill…the list is endless.

This was the case one day last week when we heard from one of our "agents" who described a very sad situation involving a single parent with two children. While making ends meet was always difficult, she now owed her landlord for past months’ rent (he was threatening to take her to court), and also had substantial bank debt. Working with our contact and the social worker assigned to the family, we were able to pay the past due rent immediately. Within only a few days the landlord received his check and was no longer threatening suit. The donor who made that possible also wished to help with the overdrawn bank account and recurring interest, and it was decided that the woman would receive this help after she agreed to take a simple no-cost mini-course in money management and also actively sought some further part-time work. Our contact and the social worker agreed that while the help was needed, it should come with some responsibility on the part of the recipient.

The ability to act, and act quickly in these types of situations is just what makes our work so meaningful. Though time-consuming, there is a definite "high" associated with keeping a family or an individual intact at difficult times.