While we all wish that the IDF Chesed Center, and all the other organizations that are supporting our chayalim, will soon be put out of business with the end of the war, for as long as we are needed, we will be there for our brothers and sisters.
224 Duffel Bags on One El Al Flight
This past week was monumental, not only for our operation but for the group of “chamalim” in the NY/NJ area that are working hand-in-hand, “b’yachad,” to procure, transport and distribute critical gear and cold weather clothing throughout Israel. Last Thursday, the IDF Chesed Center, Bergen County B’Lev Echad, and Boots for Israel sent 224 duffel bags on a single El Al flight from Newark! In order to make it happen, the volunteers brought a sefer Torah to the airport and made a Shacharis minyan in the terminal, ensuring that our bags were sent off with the appropriate t’filos to Hashem.
BBY 4th Grade Raises $800 for Chayalim
The previous night, the IDF Chesed Center hosted Chevy Benayon, Sara Tova Ganz, and Orly Shuckman, three fourth-graders at Bnos Beis Yaakov, who ran a bake sale and raised $800, which they donated towards purchasing thermals for chayalim in Israel. Accompanied by their moms, Orly, Chevy, and Sara Tova presented us with their donation, which we immediately put to use by ordering 120 sets of thermals. On Friday, the girls returned to pack the thermals and to write letters to soldiers, together with one of their teachers, Raylie Bodner. By Sunday, all 120 pairs had been sent to Israel, and by Tuesday they were all distributed to chayalim in the North. Kol HaKavod to the girls for their efforts, and we hope that their efforts will inspire others in the community – adults and children – to “step up” and make a difference.
Israel Action Event with YILC
Sunday, January 14, saw over 150 members of our community join the Israel Action Event, co-sponsored by the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Together we made dozens of pairs of tzitzis, wrote hundreds of letters to soldiers, and prepared over five big boxes of Handwarmers/WarmHands packages which will be sent to Israel this week.
Bar Mitzvah of Ma’ayan Ben-Simon
On Monday, January 15, the IDF Chesed Center hosted the bar mitzvah of Ma’ayan Ben-Simon of North Woodmere. Ma’ayan’s sister is a lone soldier, and his cousins, the Kutz family, Hy”d, lived in Kfar Aza, and were murdered on Simchas Torah. Ma’ayan’s parents, Yael and Liron, had planned a “packing event” in their home, intending to pack ten duffel bags of blankets to distribute to lone soldiers. When they came to the Chesed Center to pick up some duffel bags, they decided, on the spot, to relocate the bar mitzvah celebration to our “chamal.” Nearly 200 people – family and old friends of the Ben-Simons, plus a ton of “new” friends from around the community – came to celebrate Ma’ayan’s bar mitzvah. We were joined by Rabbi Zalman Wolowik of Chabad of the Five Towns, who helped Ma’ayan and his friends, and Ma’ayan’s dad, Liron, put on t’filin, and spoke about the importance of uniting with our extended family in Israel in fighting this war.
The Israel/IDF Chesed Center is planning a host of activities and is spearheading the Five Towns “Shabbat – B’Yachad Nenatzei’ach” from February 8 to February 11, an event that will unite the entire 5T/FR community in support of our chayalim.