Community Magazine April 2019

adar II - nissan 5779 april 2019 35 pressure and high sugar and he is not medicated. Why? Because he has to decide what to buy – food or medicine, so the medicine loses. The socioeconomic gaps in this country are so wide, that it takes much more to support a family than it used to. This is our real problem in the modern Jewish state. We really need to find solutions for this, and I’m doing my best to do my part.” Even worse than the current conditions of deprivation which many endure, Lurie says, is the vicious cycle of poverty in which they are trapped. “It’s very difficult to put a stop to this cycle. People who are poor can’t invest in the future. They can’t put money aside for their children’s education, save money for retirement or keep some funds stocked away in the event they get sick. They can’t afford a tutor or afternoon activities or even a trip to the dentist.” Bridging the Gap To relieve the plight of poverty-stricken families in the hope of breaking this cycle, Yad Ezra V’Shulamit distributes over 3,500 food baskets weekly and feeds hundreds of children their only hot meal of the day. In addition, hundreds of children who come to the Yad Ezra V’Shulamit Children’s Centers get help with their homework, enjoy afternoon activities, and receive a brand new backpack filled with new school supplies and a new coat at the beginning of the year. “We try to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor child,” Lurie explained.  “One day, a little girl came to our Children’s Center with sandals and socks in the rain. You can imagine how she must have felt. So, we started giving out coats and boots in the winter.” The organization also provides monthly for thousands of widows and orphans. “Some situations are chronic – a widow with several children is going to always need help.” On any given Wednesday afternoon at the main headquarters in Jerusalem, volunteers can be seen packing carrots, potatoes, onions, canned goods, bread, and chickens into hundreds of individual baskets. Their Teen Centers for kids-at-risk serve over 2,000 teenagers across Israel, encouraging them to go back to school or get a job. Emergency distribution of food, clothes and household items are given out as needed in over 24 Yad Ezra V’Shulamit distribution points throughout Israel. The Baby Center delivers baby formula, food, diapers, wipes and other necessities to new mothers struggling to meet the high costs of raising an infant. The Job Desk offers employment service for the needy, helping people in poverty get their lives back on track and permanently end the cycle of poverty. Led by a professional Over 30,000 baskets are delivered for Pesach and Rosh Hashana.