Community Magazine May 2012

Must the shoemakers’ children go without shoes? R. Sultan and interacts with his friends and relatives, concealing from them his true situation. If they knew the extent of his financial ruin, many would give him the shirts off their backs. But Joey, whose family was once known for their commitment to charity, is too proud to show his pain. He comes home to his wife and three children with that same smile and warmth as the good old days – vowing to tap all his sources of credit to keep the roof over their heads. Even many months after the situation became critical, Joey still confided only with his wife. And she doesn’t ask for much when she prays, only to be able to put food on her table for her husband and three beautiful little children. Finally, when the situation became hopeless, Joey turned to an acquaintance he knew was involved in the Sephardic Food Fund. Though still too proud to ask family or friends, he trusts that through this avenue, he can receive the help he desperately needs while maintaining some semblance of dignity. As the case files of the SFF prove, Joey is not alone. Hundreds of families in our own community are facing similar challenges. The stories are varied –a widow who can’t find work, a senior couple unable to make ends meet, a divorcée overwhelmed with expenses for her children, a career-man who was just laid off – but their cries are all one and the same: “How can I continue to feed my family?” Perhaps most shocking is the revelation that these are not strangers; they are our own neighbors, friends and, yes, even our own brothers, parents or children. The only question is, do we know how to recognize the signs? CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME To be sure, it is a Jewish responsibility to try to recognize the signs. The Torah outlines specific laws in the area of sedaka (charity), assigning priority to relatives over non-relatives, and close relatives over distant ones. Additionally, priority is given to the disadvantaged – the elderly, women and children, the sick, etc. – and there is an obligation to first assist the people of one’s own neighborhood and town before helping others. Finally, there iyaR 5772 may 2012 31