Community Magazine August 2016

co mm unity HIGHL IGHTS On June 21st, Magen David Yeshivah Elementary School awarded four inspirational seventh graders with the Aram Soba Hesed Award. Given out every year in memory of Haim Dweck, the award provides $16,000 in scholarship money to students who have notably sought to implement unique and innovative hesed projects within the community. “AvrahamAvinu hunted for hesed ,” saidRabbi Sultan at the awards ceremony. “That’s our source.” Rabbi Shelby spoke next, bringing down the perspective that doing hesed is a way of bribing Hashem to look positively upon our actions. Hymie Dweck, grandchild of Haim Dweck, A”H , encouraged those in attendance to “start young, live right and jump high.” In general, Hymie said, cause and effect is unpredictable. Often, the results of our actions remain unknown – but odds are, when they are well intentioned and meet an earnest need, we can assume that we have done some good. Indeed, these four incoming 8 th graders – first place prize winner Evelyn Tawil, second place winner Diane Azrak, Sol Kurtz in third place, and Renee Orfali in fourth – thought of ideas that truly made an impact. Evelyn’s project, “Let’s Celebrate,” was founded in memory of her grandmother, who felt that life was at its zenith when something was being celebrated. Evelyn sought to bring that joyousness to those less fortunate. So far, birthday parties have been thrown for children of Imagine Academy and Reach for the Stars. Diane Azrak thought up “Sincerely Yours,” a pen pal letter writing exchange with the residents of the Ben Alezraki Children’s Home in Israel. Participating students create lasting epistolary friendships with their pen pals abroad. The anticipation of receiving mail has infused formerly bereft children with a magical spark. Sol Kurtz was deeply concerned by the lead poisoning in the water of Flint, Michigan. He raised $500 to put towards the effort of improving the city’s water. Renee Orfali collected monetary donations and school supplies for kids who could not afford them. She raised $2,000 and gathered scores of supplies, simply by going to local stores, explaining her program and asking for contributions. Next year, each of these programs will unfold on a grand scale – both within Magen David Elementary and outside of it. These admirable students will serve as hesed captains, seeing their projects to fruition. Nine hours! Can you imagine spending nine hours with five rambunctious children in a hospital? That is precisely the situation one young mother found herself in. Worried about her unwell son, she ran out with the whole family to the hospital emergency room. She completely forgot to pack food. So, there she was, enduring endless waiting with her restless children. As test after test was performed on her son, lunchtime passed. Supper time, too. Hungry children do not behave well and soon she was receiving embarrassing looks from others. But there was nothing this mother could do. She herself had had nothing to eat since breakfast, eons ago. She was worn out, frazzled and worried about her sick child, who still had no diagnosis. And then she appeared: A Lottie’s Kitchen volunteer. Equipped with an attractively packaged meal for everyone, the volunteer completely changed the dynamic. The children became calm and Mommy felt able to handle things once again. “Those Lottie’s Kitchen volunteers are angels,” smiled the onlookers now. ***** Each Lottie’s Kitchen volunteer rarely understands the full impact she makes on a family undergoing a crisis. Unless, of course, she herself is the recipient. “I’m sorry. I have to cancel,” a volunteer namedMindy* once told the coordinator. “My husband is hospitalized.” Unbeknownst to her, Mindy was put on the Lottie’s Kitchen daily roster. That afternoon, she was visited by a fellow volunteer bearing a hot, nourishing meal and some encouraging words. At the sight of her, Mindy burst into tears. “You don’t understand – I never understood – what it means to sit here, hour after hour, so worn out and exhausted,” she said. “I haven’t had a normal meal in days.” For one month, Mindy spent almost all day with her husband. Each day, as her strength ebbed and her spirits fell, she’d anticipate the arrival of a Lottie’s Kitchen volunteer. She could hardly wait to rejoin the volunteer force with a heightened concept of what she is giving to others. Lottie’s Kitchen volunteers are everywhere - in each hospital, in emergency rooms and in all the wards. How? It’s all because of you. Lottie’s Kitchen thanks Joey and Frieda Franco, who graciously allowed their magnificent home to be used for this year’s event. For further info contact: 718 853 8400, 5225 New Utrecht Ave, Bk NY 11219 / www.ezermizion.org . *Names have been changed. Four Magen David Yeshivah Students Receive the Aram Soba Hesed Award in Memory of Haim Dweck, A”H Lottie’s Kitchen Volunteers Sustain Families 84 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE