Program Spotlight: High Holy Days Help for Elderly Jews

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Program Spotlight: High Holy Days Help for Elderly Jews

“In the past two years, no one has ever brought me anything. Thank you so much for caring and making sure I have food for the holidays. Thank you for visiting. Please come back.”

As the Jewish new year approaches, The Fellowship is gearing up to again provide food, clothing, and other basic necessities to thousands of needy children, families, Holocaust survivors, and other aging Jews in Israel and the former Soviet Union in time for the High Holy Days, which begin at sundown on October 2.

Similar to previous years’ efforts, the Fellowship’s High Holy Days assistance program will allow Jews living in extreme poverty to celebrate the 10-day holiday observance – beginning with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) through Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) – with dignity, food, and fellowship.

Bringing Hope to the Lonely for Rosh Hashanah

Minna is an 82-year-old immigrant to Israel from the former Soviet Union (FSU) who lives alone in a tiny one-room basement public housing apartment with worn furniture and old appliances. In addition to living alone, she doesn’t know her neighbours, and has no one to call when she needs help.

Minna has been a widow since the age of 30, but had two sisters she could rely on for support. However, in the past two years, she has lost her entire family as they have all passed away. Minna has two married grandchildren, but they live in different cities and never come to visit her.

When Yael Eckstein visited Minna, she was glad to finally have a caring visitor spend time with her and ease her loneliness. Yael's visit was just as important, if not more so, than the food she brought. Minna told us, “In the past two years, no one has ever brought me anything. Thank you so much for caring and making sure I have food for the holidays. Thank you for visiting. Please come back.”

Thanks to The Fellowship and our generous partners, like you, needy Jews throughout Israel and the FSU will receive food packages, love, and care for the High Holy Days. And for many like Minna, a visit and a food package from The Fellowship can lift their spirits and give them hope.

Please help provide hope and sustenance for needy Jewish elderly today.

IFCJ News

“In the past two years, no one has ever brought me anything. Thank you so much for caring and making sure I have food for the holidays. Thank you for visiting. Please come back.”

 

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