Feeding Israel’s Children

The day just began but today’s pressures loom on my mind. 

My wife leaves for work early and I have to get the kids out to school.

Getting the kids out is a flurry of signing tests, writing mitzvah notes and missing shoes all while racing the clock to get to shachris on time.

I’ll start with the kids’ aruchat boker sandwiches, every school aged child in Israel eats a sandwich in school for “breakfast”. I take out the chummus and reach for the loaf of bread 

But the bread on the counter is done.

Today the kids will have to go to school without sandwiches.

My insides twist at the thought of my kids being hungry in school.

After davening I take a deep breath and enter the local makolet (grocery store), shoulders tense.

We need bread, everyone needs bread.

I need to feed my children.

 But the credit card is maxed out and the debit card nearly empty. 

I bring a loaf to the counter. 

“Can I… pay on credit?”, I try.

The owner, a man we’ve known for years, looks over my shoulder, anywhere but at me. 

“I’m sorry I can’t give on credit anymore, it's too much”. 

 I leave the bread by the register and walk out. 

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Yaakov is one of our distribution managers in Bnei Brak.

Like many of our managers he is involved in other community programs.

Yaakov continues with his firsthand account.

“I was walking down the block, past the makolet , when I saw Baruch.

He looked really down.

I knew his name/face from the local neighborhood Tzedakah fund.

I walked over to give him some encouragement and then I remembered today is the Bread for Israel bread distribution. I quickly gave him the details, and told him the distribution is taking place right now, and he can just go over and pick up 5 loaves of bread for his family, no need to preregister, no qualifications, just walk over and take bread.

I was prepared for thanks but not for what happened next.

Baruch began to cry. He shared what had happened just a few minutes before in the makolet, and how well timed my suggestion was.

Baruch's children will have bread for the rest of the week, sandwiches for school and bread for supper. And I assured him that in two weeks they'd have bread again...and two weeks after that... and two weeks after that…”

More than food

At Bread for Israel, our goal is to provide daily bread for hungry children in Israel. 

When children don’t have enough food for their growing bodies it controls their minds as well.

o   Why can’t my Ima give me like everyone else?

o   Why does the Rebbi ask me so many questions?

o   Will anyone notice I didn’t bring a sandwich today?

o   Will we have enough dinner tonight for me and my sisters? 

The child sits in his chair, while his mind is distracted by feelings of  fear, mistrust and shame. 

By providing bread for each home, you give children the nourishment they crave.

By providing bread for each home, you renew children’s complete trust in their parents. 

By providing bread for each home, you give parents the gift of being a provider again.

By providing bread for each home, you give children the gift of childhood, to learn and run and play just like all the other children their age.