June 02, 2008

Saving Lives, One by One

Occasionally, there are conversations that I have which remind me in the most poignant of ways of just how important our work is and how words like "small" or "insignificant" hold no relevance in the tzedakah world. I just got off the phone with Igor Feldblyum, the founder of Am Echad, a small organization based in Maryland. Igor emigrated from the FSU many years ago but has not forgotten the people who remain behind, many of them elderly, alone and sick. It was on a business trip to St. Petersburg almost ten years ago that Igor actually saw the faces of some of these (mostly) elderly Jews and felt compelled to do something. After all, he was lucky-he had been able to leave the FSU, was welcomed to the United States by American Jewry which provided him with what he needed to establish himself and his family. So many others remained behind, destined to live their last years in poverty and isolation.

How could he help? If there was a way to send small sums of money monthly to those who were most vulnerable, perhaps some people could have a better life. It was not long before others who heard of Igor’s visit agreed to be part of a plan to help these people and that was the beginning of Am Echad, a more-than-meaningful name for Igor’s vision to bring some relief to St. Petersburg’s poorest citizens. (make a visit to http://www.amechad.net to learn just how Igor accomplishes this).

As we were ending our conversation, Igor shared that Am Echad is helping almost 90 people right now, most of them single and living alone. They each receive anywhere from $20-$75. depending upon their individual circumstances. When I asked Igor to remind me what it costs to run Am Echad each year he mentioned $36,000 (there is little or no overhead) Imagine–$36,000…how many lives have changed with these modest sums of money? …sometimes we forget-changing lives, one by one is not impossible…sometimes it just takes a vision and the will.

May 27, 2008

Searching For Your Roots: Part III – (see May 21, 22, 2008 entries)

Before we even had a chance to send some funds to Dr. Albert and the Shalom Children’s Fund we received an email from him which included the following letter which he received from his contacts in Kiev. Though we have abridged the letter, we think that what follows surely shows how important Dr. Albert’s efforts are to the children of Kiev.

Dear Moses!

Best regards, G.

Yasher koach to Dr. Moses Albert and the Shalom Children’s Fund!

May 26, 2008

Chicken Delight

Peter Freimark, one of our board members and one of the most creative and indefatigable mitzvah-doers we know, just sent me a link to a story which appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News last week. I knew that Peter had been involved in a big "chicken deal" recently, but the article described the enormity of Peter’s venture with far more detail than I realized. Can you imagine trying to find a place for 22 tons of frozen chicken? (and then, a short time later, finding recipients for an additional 22 tons?) Apparently, for Peter it was not such a difficult task. Read on to see how Peter and Temple Israel Ner Tamid in Cleveland changed many lives with some ingenuity, a little bit of sweat and some big hearts!

Click here: http://ClevelandJewishNews.com — News/Local

May 22, 2008

Searching For Your Roots: Part II – (see May 21, 2008 entry)

I was able to reach Dr. Albert tonight and heard first-hand not only the story of how he got involved in helping children in Ukraine, but also how he eventually founded the Shalom Children’s Fund, the small grass-roots organization through which he channels his energies on behalf of the children. There is nothing very complicated about what Dr. Albert does…with the donations that he receives, he travels to Ukraine every 8 to 10 weeks (at his own expense) and personally meets and accompanies children (who have been identified as in need) to the store where they can select the items that they want to wear. For so many of these children, this is a dream come true. On his most recent trip, Dr. Albert expanded his work and was able to purchase rehabilitation equipment for some kids who are disabled.

We truly enjoyed our conversation and have decided that the Shalom Children’s Fund will be one of the new programs the Good People Fund will help with their work. Talk about hands-on and grass-roots!

May 21, 2008

Searching For Your Roots ….

I often refer to my friend, Diane Lipson Schilit, as "eagle eyes". She frequently forwards emails with links to interesting stories about tzedakah, creative ways to change the world, good people…the things we are excited to learn about. Today’s email from Diane was a little cryptic…"thought this would interest you…" and a link to a news article in the Washington Jewish Week.

Diane made a good guess…the news article did interest me…the more I read, the more excited I became.

The piece shared the story of Dr. Moses Albert-a D.C.-area physician who wanted very much to explore his family’s roots and their ties to Ukraine…their original home. What Dr. Albert learned was that despite the departure of a large number of Jews from Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, many still lived there, most in great poverty. How could he help? After several visits, Dr. Albert saw exactly how he could help and with his wife, came up with a plan. With the assistance of two organizations based in Kiev, children from poor families or children with no family at all, are identified and when Dr. Albert visits the city, he takes the children shopping and lets them pick out what they want and need…This is a hands-on project in the very truest sense…I am going to call Dr. Albert and find out more…stay tuned!

May 20, 2008

Passion and Mission

Maureen Kushner was in touch this morning. We have known Maureen for many years—she is a fine example of a woman-with-a-passion as well as a woman-on-a-mission….

Her passion and her mission is the Peace Through Humor Project which she started several years ago. Formerly an art teacher, Maureen originally worked in the New York City schools and has also used her considerable talents with kids who experienced terror attacks and life-threatening illnesses in Los Angeles, Oklahoma and other parts of the country.

Peace Through Humor has been Maureen’s focus for more than ten years….she has traveled throughout Israel visiting kids in Israeli, Arab, Bedouin and Druze schools where she worked with them to develop original paintings based upon the theme of war and peace. The artwork has become part of a traveling exhibit which was adopted by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has journeyed more miles than most of us will ever do in our lifetime….Maureen tells me that at the end of this year, the paintings will be on view at Ben Gurion Airport!

Despite its impressive run, the success of the exhibit has been almost entirely borne by Maureen for she not only conceived of the idea but has also personally underwritten a very large part of its costs…which include framing, captions, art supplies, shipping and much, much more.

As the show moves from its present venue-The Mizel Museum in Denver, Maureen needs an infusion of funds to help with the costs of new captions, reproductions and other incidentals…the Good People Fund has just committed to contributing to these new costs…we believe in Maureen and we believe in what she is trying to foster, despite the sometimes bleak outlook we all embrace in times such as these…