June 24, 2008

Going to Israel Part II

A few weeks ago (June 3) we wrote about the Steirn family in Florida that had collected school supplies for The Forgotten People Fund in Israel. The Steirns were leaving for Florida that week and we had arranged for someone to pickup the supplies from a Jerusalem hotel and get them to Netanya where they will be distributed to many poor Ethiopian families. We were happy to learn that the pickup went off beautifully and when the supplies arrived in Netanya, it took quite some time to sort them all, there were so many!

This Wednesday, a traveler from a New York City-based minyan will leave for several weeks of study in Israel and he will be carrying even more school supplies that will be picked up and distributed to several needy families in the center of the country. The minyan was very interested in trying to do something meaningful for people in Israel and taking into account the fact that many members travel to Israel regularly, the idea of collecting and delivering school supplies, a considerable expense for families living on the economic edge, was born. For the families that will receive this batch of pens, pencils, markers and other important learning tools, it will make a great difference next September!

June 17, 2008

On the Wonder of Cats and Dogs …

Occasionally, it takes a little time to get used to the fact that technology today is so advanced that with the click of a few keys on the computer you can actually watch a movie emailed from half way around the world! In one of this morning’s emails was a note from Jordan Feder who works with Avshalom Beni, the dynamic founder and force behind HAMA Israel. HAMA is the acronym for humans and animals in mutual assistance, a great definition of the work carried out by Avshalom and his human and animal staff. Animal assisted therapy is complementary therapy used in many different medical and psychological settings. We all know about more traditional forms of AAT; what makes HAMA so special is that the animals Avshalom uses, his co-therapists, so to speak, are often victims of abuse and their becoming part of a therapeutic team to help others is particularly significant.

I have met many of Avshalom’s "staff" – there is Frankie, affectionately known as Frankie-the-crocodile-dog, due to the disfiguring trauma his jaw suffered at the hands of an abuser. Frankie does looks remarkably like a crocodile, albeit one who is gentle and kind! Avshalom’s first therapy animal was Doobie…a gentle Canaan breed who Avshalom rescued after the dog had been abused by a gang. Despite losing one of his front legs to the abuse and enduring severe trauma to other parts of his body, Doobie went on to live a noble and meaningful life as one of Avshalom’s staff. (sadly, Doobie succumbed to heart disease a few years ago but not before helping so many others regain their strength and self-respect.) Cat-lovers do not despair! Avshalom also uses beautiful ragdoll cats in his work.

Getting back to Jordan’s email and its contents — Jordan and his brother, a film professional, produced a short video outlining the great work being done by HAMA, and the link to that film was included in the email. Take a look – it really does give you a good sense of the fine work carried out by HAMA. (and, yes…that big black dog in the intro? That’s LaBelle, the Newfie – she really is that big and she can single-handedly bathe you if she takes a liking to you!)

Here’s the link and make sure to download it in high resolution:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kls3-EmTXro.

If you want to learn more about HAMA, take a look at their about-to-be completed web site, http://www.hama-israel.org.il.

June 16, 2008

Send in the Clowns

I met a clown today! His name, believe it or not, is Schnookums, and I suspect that as Schnookums he has changed many lives. Known as Dr. Neal Goldberg in his "regular" life, this clown-with-a-heart is the inspiration behind Lev Leytzan – Compassionate Clown Alley, a New York-based medical clown training program that attracts teens and young adults and teaches them the very special art of medical clowning. Neal is a warm and compassionate person which, no doubt, accounts for his success as a therapist with a large teenage component to his practice.

Schmoozing over some lunch today we heard Neal’s story about how he became interested in clowning and how that led him to the decision to try to encourage teens to take part in this special art. As a therapist Neal was the co-author of a book designed to help teens deal with the death of a close friend or family member. It was from those experiences writing the book that he came to think about how the act of giving of oneself can do amazing things to the "donor" – sometimes even more beneficial than what is "received" on the other end. This is not a new theme for us-it is something we hear from so many of the good people we work with. In the case of the teens who are part of the troupe, Neal knows that for many, clowning has awakened new insights and has helped them overcome difficult personal situations.

Being a member of Lev Leytzan (heart of the clown, in English) requires a tremendous commitment on the part of the teens that have come on board. Everyone is trained by both professional clowns from some of the most recognized names in clown performance, and medical doctors and mental health professionals who explore the medical and psychological aspects of medical clowning. Neal shared many moving stories with us of just how much of an impact this activity can have on the kids who have joined.

In addition to the usual hospital and nursing home visits the kids make, there are two other special aspects of this program that we were excited about. Through the generosity of a donor, members of the troupe have traveled to Israel for the past three years and performed throughout the country as medical clowns almost non-stop for a nine or ten day visit. While there they also give away thousands of dollars worth of toys to the children they meet.

The second aspect of the program deals with fire safety and has reached literally thousands of school-age children throughout the greater New York area. The "Clowns for Safety Squad" has taught fire safety and burn prevention using clowning and circus technique to more than 30,000 kids. We wonder how many tragedies have been averted by this creative but critically important activity.

What’s on tap for the future of Compassionate Clown Alley? Neal has many dreams but it looks as if one of them is about to become a reality. Why should this fabulous program be available only to kids in New York? Neal’s hope is that before too long, clowns will be performing their magic in several other major cities here in the States and in Canada.

To help the clowns in their very special work, the Good People Fund is sending some funds to help pay for the white medical coats all qualified clowns receive after they have successfully completed their training. As medical professionals, they deserve to look the part!

June 13, 2008

Ending Hunger in America

Syd Mandelbaum, founder of Rock and Wrap It Up! http://www.rockandwrapitup.org sent out his latest e-newsletter today. We are never disappointed when we read of the latest triumphs that Syd, his small devoted staff and huge corps of volunteers manage to achieve. What started as a hunger relief project that retrieved leftovers from backstage at rock concerts (performance artists are usually treated to bountiful meals prior to going onstage) has expanded in so many ways since Syd began this work in 1994. To get a complete picture of the scope of RWR’s work a visit to the website is in order, but there is one major feat we must mention here.

Syd refers to Rock and Wrap It Up! as a think tank on anti-poverty issues and if you review their site you will see just how many different areas they are involved in. There is no doubt, though, that what Syd and his group accomplished this year, described in the statement excerpted below, is an incredibly significant accomplishment. Yasher koach, Syd and Rock and Wrap It Up! As you say, the problem of hunger in this country will be greatly relieved by the passage of this bill.

Senate passes OUR BILL S 2420!!

S 2420, the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 was passed unanimously in the Senate in May. This Act was created, introduced and lobbied by Rock and Wrap It Up! It encourages the donation of food that is prepared but not served or sold. In early June, the Federal food Donation Act of 2008 was re-voted in the House, as there were some changes in the Senate version. It passed unanimously…We hope to have President Bush sign it this month. We are proud of all those who helped create awareness of the Act and helped in its passage through our legislative branches.

More importantly, millions of meals, in the aggregate will be available to feed our nations poor. This is our first step into changing American culture to feed the hungry and further green our land by not having food in our land fills. Once the Act is signed, we intend on reaching out to each State’s Governor and ask that each State building become a potential harvesting tool, further using our simple tactic to help alleviate our nation’s hunger issue.

June 12, 2008

Going Home

About 6 weeks ago, just as we were beginning our work, an email arrived from Libby Reichman, founder of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Israel. (http://www.bigbrothers.org.il) Trained as a social worker, Libby realized that there were many children in Israel who came from troubled single-parent homes who would benefit from a warm and positive relationship with an adult. Her response to that problem was to begin Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Israel. Enlisting the help of mentors, adults who commit to meeting weekly with their "littles" to share some quality time at a movie, doing homework, taking a walk or just talking, BBBS has succeeded not only in Jerusalem but has now opened a branch in Tel Aviv as well.

Libby always has stories to share – most of these children come from terribly tragic circumstances and when possible, Libby feels compelled to provide more than the usual services of BBBS…sometimes she just has to try to resolve other incredibly difficult problems these kids and their families face. It was one of those problems that Libby shared six weeks ago…

B. is a woman who made aliya from the FSU with her husband 12 years ago. After arriving in Israel the couple had two children who are now 6 and 9 years old. Unfortunately, B.’s husband became abusive and she had to flee to a local shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence. After leaving the shelter, B. and the children lived in their own apartment supported by the shelter and then eventually moved into their own tiny apartment where she and the kids sleep in the same room. B. supports her family by working as a domestic and has overcome the trauma and strain of a violent situation. Those who worked with her believe that she has succeeded in every possible way despite unbelievable odds. What she and her children miss in their lives is family – all of B’s family still live in the FSU – she has absolutely no one living in Israel. What they needed was to be able to return to the FSU to visit all of their relatives and once they had passports the cost of $3600 was all that was keeping them from making the journey.

Libby asked if we could help in any way. How do you say no to something like this? Clearly this was a family that had overcome much adversity – how great it would be for them to meet a grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins. We told Libby that if she could raise $3100, we would provide the last $500 for this meaningful mitzvah. Today’s email announced that the $3100 was raised and the purchase of tickets was in the works – could we send our portion? It was a pleasure to be part of this on behalf of Good People donors!

June 06, 2008

Tsaar Baalei Chayim (the suffering of living creatures)

Anyone reading the Jewish press (or even the New York Times) for the past month or so, could not avoid the wrenching stories coming out of Postville, a small town in Iowa which was catapulted to national attention with the early morning raid by immigration officials at the Agriprocessors plant. Agriprocessors is the largest kosher meat slaughterhouse in the country, and the May 12 raid was not the first time the company was cited for serious violations including inhumane treatment of both the animals slaughtered at the plant, and the workers providing the labor necessary to carry out the processing.

Irregardless of one’s feelings about illegal immigration in this country or one’s feelings about kashrut (the observance of Jewish dietary laws), the story coming out of Postville is one of human tragedy. The workers at this plant are human beings, many with families, working long hours to make a better life. Over the past few weeks we read about the efforts of some of the local churches to help these workers but until this afternoon could not successfully make that important personal connection that would insure that any funds we contributed would go to help the families affected by this human disaster in the most direct way possible.

Early this afternoon, I received an email from Rabbi Mark Greenspan of Oceanside, NY. Rabbi Greenspan’s weekly emails include sermons and other relevant study for the upcoming Shabbat, but this week he included the following letter from Rabbi Harold Kravitz of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Minnetonka, MN. Rabbi Kravitz made a personal visit to Postville and describes that visit in the letter that follows. Please read it…it is a disturbing first-hand account of what took place in that plant and what has happened to the workers who were arrested. We were able to contact Rabbi Morris Allen who accompanied Rabbi Kravitz to Postville and through Rabbi Morris’ connections we know that funds that we send will go to the welfare of the families impacted by this tragedy. If you would like to be part of our effort, please either send a check payable to the Good People Fund (384 Wyoming Avenue, Millburn, NJ 07041) and mark it for "Postville needs" or click on the Donate Now button to the right of your screen and make a credit card donation. Please be sure to indicate that your donation is designated for "Postville needs".

May 31, 2008 – 26 Iyar, 5768

We have stood by enjoying our kosher meat and chicken from Agriprocessors which dominates the market locally and nationally. It has become increasingly clear that this has been at the expense of simple folks who have been severely mistreated and whose lives are now in utter disarray. We have a responsibility to speak out, We must speak to the providers and distributors of Kosher food about our concerns. We must urge all quarters of the Jewish community to respond to this travesty.