YAD EZRA

feed/V the Ten1:0 tiogry

March 31, 1997

Dear Friends,

At the Passover Seder we tell of the exodus of the Jewish people from the land of Egypt. We
begin the story with the words, ' This is the bread of affliction...Whoever is hungry, let him come
and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and join in celebrating the Passover festival.' The
'bread of affliction' not only refers to matza, but also to poverty. It has been suggested that the
reason the Jews were enslaved in Egypt is because of their failure to do their duty towards those
in need. The Hagadah goes to great lengths to explain the importance of opening our homes to
the poor to share our meal, because through this generous act we can aspire to redemption. This
portion of the Hagadah directs us to recognize acts of loving kindness as the backbone of the
Jewish faith.

Yad Ezra opened its doors in 1990 with the specific goal of ensuring that every Jewish family be
able to 'come [to a table] and eat'. Through the generous support of our community, we have
been able to provide Passover Seder packages to thousands of families over the years. Our
needy neighbors have celebrated their freedom, hoping that oppression was a thing of the past.

Unfortunately, due to the political reform, the needs of our people are increasing substantially. As
in the days of slavery in Egypt, there are those now who disregard the needs of the poor. Please
help us assist the hungry in our community by mailing your contribution, made payable to Yad
Ezra, to us in the attached envelope. Please note that your contribution is eligible for a 50%
Michigan income tax credit, subject to certain limitations.

This year, just as we lift up the matza at the Seder, we need to rise to the occasion and ensure
that every Jewish family can 'come and eat'. With your help, we can succeed.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy Passover.

Sincerely,

-z-----irz-4'

Jeffrey Appel
President

Lea Luger
Development Director

Elaine Ryke
Director of Human Services