Founder’s Blog
Spreading Simcha pt.3
This is the third in a three-part series of blogs on supporting the needy in Israel during the Festivals.
Spreading Simcha pt.1
Spreading Simcha pt.2
As promised, I will make an appeal for donations to a specific charity in the Land. This organization is a much-needed work in Israel, both during the Festivals and year round, bringing people back to the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Perhaps I am impartial, but one of the heads of this organization is a good friend of mine—in a sense we could be called soul mates.
When I first met Tomer, he was fresh out of the IDF, with his whole life in front of him, but had very little interest in God. He was a typical secular Israeli wanting to experience the world. He stayed with my family and began to experience things like Shabbat, Festivals and general Torah life. His soul was being ignited and day-by-day he became more interested in his own Jewishness and the religion of his forefathers.
Today Tomer is a fully-observant Orthodox Jew who runs a Yeshiva in Jerusalem with a young family of his own. His goal is to reach secular Israelis who are lost like he was in the material pleasures of this world. His desire though, is not to create scholars who spend their days studying and detached from the world around them. On the contrary, he desires to lead people into a Torah-observant lifestyle that does not prevent them from becoming a productive member of society. After all, it is only through the mingling with secular people that more lost souls can be brought back to HaShem.
Yet, life in Israel is tough. Even those who work hard often struggle to pay the bills. Every year in the spring and fall, Tomer’s yeshiva helps hundreds of observant families in preparing for the Festivals. They hand out baskets of food and household supplies. They also give money to those who need groceries, clothing for children and various supplies for Sukkot.
We have an opportunity to sow seeds into this work, which I believe are greatly needed and are a worthy endeavor in which we can participate.
Through our generosity, we can extend simcha (“joy”) to those struggling in the Land of Israel. We can help them experience joy as they are turning from secular godlessness to the Creator of the Universe. If you would like to give a donation please click here. (We have added a button on our donation page to earmark your donation. Make sure you click the button, “Sukkot Gift For Israel.”)
This year, Tomer’s yeshiva will support 60 families with food and supplies for Sukkot. The provision amount for each family is $250.00—totaling $15,000.00. We have already raised close to $4000.00 toward this goal. I would love to see us raise the rest of this money for him—meeting the immediate need and making a long-term impression. Hundreds of people each day read this blog, and if we all pitch-in, I think we can hit this goal.
Sukkot is a great time to give gifts. So, this Sukkot please consider gifting a family in Israel with provisions to insure that their celebrations will be full of complete simcha!
Please join others and myself in meeting this need.
To Donate: Online Click Here or call 1-800-775-4807
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