The next question is, what are the people in need to do while the problem gets solved. They still need food, clothing, medicine and housing. The basics. That is where Karmey Hesed comes in. Through Karmey Hesed’s programs, those that are in need gain relief from the stresses of poverty until it goes away.

Take the Goldstien family for example. In some ways a typical Israeli family, in other ways, not. There are 5 school age kids at home. The father works at a normal Israeli job, making a normal Israeli salary. The mother works as well. Also earning a typical salary in Israel.

The problem is, its not enough. Between the 2 parents, and even if you include the now reduced government child allowance, there is just not enough to go around. Not only are there seasons where new clothes for the growing children in out of the question, but there are many days, if not weeks, where there is not enough food. Let alone medicines when needed.

Karmey Hesed does its best to help these families. That of course depends on you. Your regular donations to this critical cause are what make it happen.

So please! Open your hearts and click here to donate now, so that those in need  can survive until G-d willing poverty finally ends!

Mobilize!

I am sitting in a cafe near the entrance to the Jerusalem Foreign Media Center. I just overheard one of the reporters say that he has never seen such a massive buildup around the Gaza Strip as what he saw yesterday. The initial news last week reported that the army had asked for authorization to call up 30,000 reservists. “Back then” they said we would likely get 10,000, the same number called up during Operation Cast Lead four years ago. This morning’s numbers are now at 75,000!

I am not a member of any government body. Nor do I write here to question what the government, and certainly not the IDF is doing (though we are certainly allowed to and expected to question the government). I just have a small yet important observation.

If we can mobilize so many, and spend so much (I do not question either the spending nor the numbers) in so short a time. certainly we can find the wherewithal to mobilize against poverty.

Missiles And Poverty

There are problems and there are problems… There is no question that the 1,000,000 residents under fire in Israel have what to worry about. And to be clear, we all know that the missiles have been flying, and landing, for much more than the past week. They have been flying for years. Since both after, and even before, we left the Gaza strip. And yet, what’s it like to have those missiles land, and sometimes kill, in addition to the minute by minuet struggle of financial struggle?

What is it like to not know when the cut-off-your-electric-bill-for-non-payment missile lands. Or the, there’s-no-milk-in-the-fridge missile lands. Yes, its a daily struggle that pervades the entire country, not just the south (or Tel Aviv…), but 20% to 30% of the population.

This is not to belittle the real life threats of death, or best case scenario, destruction of ones home of course. Its just help keep in mind some of our other struggles as well.

Karmey Chesed assists Israelis in many different ways. Ari and his wife and 6 children were a middle class family living in Jerusalem. Ari worked for a small company and spent much of his spare time learning Torah. Over a year ago, Ari fell on hard times and his life turned around. Ari’s company declared bankruptcy and Ari was out of a job without any reparations or signs of future income.

The debts piled up and there was no money to pay the rent. He fell behind. The owner is now demanding $2500 for the past three month’s rent and will evict the family if he does not receive this money within the next few weeks.

At the same time, Ari’s 5-year old daughter had to undergo major dental surgery in Hadassah and the hospital has been calling them steadily for payment.

To make matters even worse, a major plumbing pipe burst, causing a flood in the house. The bill to fix the pipe and to cover the damage to the house came to over $1,000. This has not yet been paid.

Ari needed help and turned to Karmey Chesed. The Karmey Chesed Organization has undertaken the mitzvah of collecting the money needed for Ari and his family to get out of debt and to help them return to an respectable way of life. We are setting up a special fund for him and his family. Every penny you donate will go directly to Ari and his family. Please indicate on your donation that the money should go to fund #45.

If you wish to donate to Karmey Chesed for this endeavor or towards any of the other activities we provide to indigent families in Israel, please go to our website at http://www.karmeyhesed.org/english/ and click on “donate.”

Please help us in this endeavor. Ari is only one of the thousands of families living below the poverty level in our holy country.We look to you, our faithful donors, to help us continue in our efforts to help Ari and the many other people in Israel.

May you be blessed with health and happiness and only good tidings.

Sometimes in life we come across things that aren’t exactly the way we would like them to be. We wake up in the morning, having our day planned, and then all of a sudden “life” hits us. We plan on picking up the dry cleaning at a certain hour only to find out that it will not be ready until the next day. We call our spouse and are blindsided by an onslaught of “questions” that sound more like an interrogation than a search for “understanding”. Or, we planned our monthly budget only to find out that a not so minor repair will be needed at home which blows the budget. Or G-d forbid we receive news of an illness or tragedy in the family.

The question is, how do we look at these things? Should we take them as a bullet to the chest? Or can we take them somehow in some more positive light?

The answer quite simply, and as I mentioned above, is just a YES! That is, we can of course say NO to the circumstance, and either way we will feel pain. We will feel the pain as we fight our emotions, and engage the situation. And we will feel the pain even if we accept the situation (by saying Yes). But, when we say “no” we are trying to fight the reality that just cannot be changed. When we say yes we are in essence accepting the reality, albeit with the pain that goes along with it, but by saying yes we are now empowered to do something about it. That something may well include a plan and the ability to change the reality were presented with. Or, it will be simply to accept that reality and find ways to positively cope with the things we did not plan on and would rather do without. One comes from a point of being a victim, the other of being a creator, a person with power.

So just say yes to life and feel the relief that can bring along with the inspiration.

This perhaps is THE key ingredient to getting poverty “solved” once and for all. On the “poor person’s” side, they must say “Yes” to life’s challenges and work hard to overcome and better their situation.

On the philanthropist’s side, they must say “Yes” to the opportunities to help their fellow man.

On Society’s side, we must all say “Yes” to solving humanities greatest issues.

That covering is of our past transgressions. It applies only to sins we have committed against G-D. Sins against our fellow man are not forgiven by G-D until the transgressor has received forgiveness from offended.

The second promise, “Taharah” or purification is actually symbolic of getting a fresh start. And how wonderful it must be tp be able to do that. Imagine! Starting the new year, and each day of the new year with a clean slate. With none of yesterday’s messes.

If only that were the case for the needy. Imagine, the person, or worse yet, the family that is in poverty. Having to decide between buying bread for the kids, or meds for mom. Unimaginable but as you know, very true.|

So, please donate now to help a child at least feel like he started his day with a clean slate.

Donate here:

http://www.karmeyhesed.org/english/donations.asp

Rosh Hashana

As Rosh Hashana approaches Jew around the world, “affiliated” or not, look forward to these very special days. Whether it be for the fun and pleasant things like the family get-together, or the heightened spirit of these days that empower us for self-reflection and coming closer to G-D.

Karmey Hesed, throughout the years, strives to be there for those families that have much more to think about than self improvement and whether they can keep the peace with aunt Sarah who will be joining them for the festive meals. Some families, well actually, many families, are not even sure yet that they will have running water or electricity for the Holidays, let alone food to put on the table or medication for their chronically ill family members. And who can even think of a new dress for little Ruthie?

It is possible though!

We at Karmey Hesed do our best to help those in need, BUT, for us to continue we need your help. Please accept our request for your donation today as one that comes from the heart. Not just our heart but from the heart of every Jew around the world who feels the pain, as you know, of each and every Jew, and especially those in Israel who are in need.

SO PLEASE, click here to donate now! Thank You!

Wishing you and all the are special to you a happy and healthy New Year!

Shana Tova

The Karmey Hesed Family