Correspondence

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2009-04-16T00:00:00

Whole community made Passover food box program a big success

To the editor:

At the Passover seder, we say: “Let all who are hungry come and eat.”

This year, the greater Portland Jewish community came together to ensure that everyone—in these difficult financial times—could truly celebrate this season of freedom.

Thanks to so many individuals, congregations, agencies, community leaders, schools, children and seniors, an unprecedented 70 Passover food boxes were distributed the Sunday before Pesach to families from Tigard to North Portland and from Hillsboro to Gresham.

More than $3,500 in donations has been received so far for this year’s Maot Chittin project, completely covering the costs of this year’s incredible effort and providing some additional funds to Jewish Family and Child Services for emergency aid. And this at a time when needs—and costs—jumped by 40 percent.

Maot Chittin, or “Money for Wheat,” is one of the oldest mitzvahs associated with Passover. Throughout the centuries, communities have come together to ensure that all have enough to celebrate the holiday with joy.

In some communities, the rabbis would insist that—if people were not in position to contribute to Maot Chittin—they should accept assistance. Everyone was involved.

It was in that spirit that our Jewish community came together—with financial donations and volunteer help from everyone.

The project has been coordinated for the past 15 years by Michael Rosenberg of Congregation Kesser Israel

This year substantial donations were received from The Social Action Fund of Congregation Beth Israel ($450) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland ($250 from Federation, $250 from the Community Relations Committee), as well as other donations from Kol Shalom, individuals and groups in the metro area, totaling approximately $1,500.

Rabbi Ariel Stone and the Rodfey Tzedek Committee of Shir Tikvah decided to replace the congregation’s usual Passover food drive with an appeal for Maot Chittin, while Rabbi Daniel Isaak of Congregation Neveh Shalom donated $100 from his discretionary fund to the effort, and encouraged his congregants to help.

In addition, students from PJA and elsewhere donated bright-colored cards and artwork that livened up the boxes, a Sunday School class from Neveh Shalom made the Food Box delivery their “class time” for the day, and some even emptied their tzedakah boxes to help.

People helped in many ways.

Kathy Tipsord from Cedar Sinai Park made arrangements, again, for our use of the Robison Jewish Health Center as a staging area, spread the word to Robison and Rose Schnitzer Manor residents who helped out, and came in early to make sure things went smoothly.

JFCS helped connect us with more than 70 families throughout the metro area, a Russian-speaking social worker and two Russian-speaking volunteers from Regence Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Oregon helped bridge language barriers.

A special note of gratitude to members of Congregation Kesser Israel: Our small congregation has been involved with the local Maot Chittin project since its inception, and this year members individually donated more than $2,000 as well as countless hours to help us reach our goal of making sure that everyone in our Portland community has the “makings” of a Happy Passover.

While it is impossible to mention all who contributed—and I apologize for any oversights—many thanks to the volunteer packers, organizers and drivers who came from throughout the community and helped immeasurably in all capacities.

Our tradition teaches us that all of Israel is responsible for one another, and that Passover—in addition to a “season of freedom”—is also a time of Jewish unity. This year’s Maot Chittin drive is a testament to that.

This is indeed something that we, as a community, can be proud of. May we go from strength to strength.

Any donations received beyond the costs of the Maot Chittin project will be donated to Jewish Family and Child Service for emergency aid.

Sura Rubensteinfor the Maot Chittin projectand Congregation Kesser Israel