Community Magazine December 2003

48 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE s xc Y eshiva students studying Torah in Israel insure the very existence of Judaism. While the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces defend the country physically, the students of Torah defend the land’s Yahadut and thereby defend its existence as the Jewish homeland as they fervently pray, learn and beseech our Heavenly Father to watch over His children. The recent economic crisis caused by the ravages of the Intifada, with tourism at an all time low, has led to governmental cutbacks for places of learning. A severe consequence is the inability of these schools to properly feed their students. There is a critical shortage of proper nutrition for young people devoting themselves to Torah. Many are in danger of impairing their health due to a lack of sufficient calories. Eitan Miller a distributor of dairy products for the Tenuvah Cooperative is a supplier for Yeshivot in the Jerusalem area. In an interview for an Orthodox newspaper, he is quoted as saying: “There is a cutback of orders from Yeshivot; they used to order leben once a week, now only once a month. These days many consider cottage cheese superfluous.” Shachar Shener of Tamar Catering and a food vendor for Yeshivot related the following: “You could see my daily log, and find that some Yeshivot haven’t ordered meat for over a month except for Shabbat. For the rest of the week they get by with potatoes and rice. The last thing one should cut is food, but it pains me to see many institutions skimping on portions.” We seek to impart our values to our children, that Torah study in a Yeshiva is an education of the highest value. Baruch Hashem, thousands upon thousands of students are toiling in their studies even under the duress of physical deprivation. Still it is the obligation of the worldwide Jewish community to see to it that these students are treated as the Torah princes they truly are. Many students, boys and girls from larger families, or children of poor backgrounds reside in dormitories of Yeshivot. It is a tragedy when their food portions are reduced. For over 200 years, Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes Charities (RMBHC) have made the supporting of the poor in Israel its goal. It is a sacred mission and one that gives back to the giver. It has long been held that giving financial aid to the residents of the Holy Land is especially meritorious, with many testimonies over the years declaring how prayers were answered in the zechut of performing this special mitzvah. The staff of RMBHC in Israel has received many pleas from institutions, educators, and parents for help in these crises. Any Rosh Yeshiva or principal will testify that the most worrisome thing confronting an institution is the disruption that meager meals create. The success of Yeshivot is the Jewish people’s success, and these children are our future. In response to this tragedy, the charity’s Board is arranging a special fund dedicated for preserving and enhancing food rations for Torah institutions. With the help of foundations -private and public- they hope to be able to provide for many of those appealing for help. All funds will go directly to the food vendors who supply the meals, and for those Yeshivot that have their own kitchens, monies are sent to the suppliers so that the Yeshivot they can purchase what they need. RMBHC are not able to forward funds that they do not have. Therefore, on those unfortunate days no sponsor is available, they sadly are not able to provide supplemental help. A donation of as little as $300, which is the average cost of a meal for a typical institution can make all the difference on the quality of the learning. As it is said, “If there is no flour [money] there can be no Torah.”A week of food rations is about $2800 as $1,000 is the cost for Shabbat meals that include fish and meat and the traditional side dishes, that create a proper Shabbat environment for the devoted students. In recognition of the generosity of those who donate, arrangements have been made to have placards placed in the dining rooms of the various participating Yeshivot, for all the students to see the name of the benefactor and the memory, zchut or refuah for which it was intended. Many Yeshivot are already receiving aid, but the charity’s means are limited. A strong response by foundations and benefactors will give the organization a needed boost to expand their efforts in support of Torah living in Israel. Material support of Torah Scholars and their families in Israel, benefits the giver as much—if not more than it does the receiver. As Hashem promised, “If you bring joy to mine, I will bring joy to yours”. For more information, please e-mail senderport@aol.com or write to Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes Charities P.O.B. 191188 Brooklyn, NY 11219. See our ad. Nutrition Drive for Israeli Yeshivot