Cover Story

NONE SHALL GO

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Yad Ezra redoubles outreach to fight
Jewish hunger against the backdrop
of a spacious, new
distribution center.

. •

A Growing Concern

"Every president here has a focus, and Mickey
Eizelman's[who served 1999-2001] was outreach to
families not availing themselves of our services,"
Luger says.
Under Eizelman, the kosher food pantry increased
efforts to reach out to synagogues and day schools.
Rabbis and social service professionals told him of
people in the community who qualified for Yad Ezra's
assistance, but hesitated to come.
"Sometimes, rabbis or their spouses would call us
and we'd provide food for the family [through them],"
Luger says.
To reach unaffiliated Jews or those not connected to
the Jewish community, Yad Ezra contacted agencies
like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Salvation
Army and Royal Oak-based Beaumont Hospital. Yad
Ezra was placed on a master list of organizations that
provide services.
Clients now plugged into the Yad Ezra system
often express their appreciation in letters.
One client wrote: "Thank you for bringing
much-needed sustenance to my door,
both in the form of nutritious produce
... and spiritual food."
Wrote another, "May God bless you
and your families with all good things
... and strength to continue your most
noble work."

Hurdle For Jewish Poor

.

SHARON LUCKERMAN
Staff Writer

I

n its 12-year history, Michigan's only
kosher food pantry has doled out much
more than food. For many, Yad Ezra has
been a lifeline to and from the community.
"It teaches our kids what we as a community can do
for each other," says Barbara Horowitz, a volunteer from
West Bloomfield.
This month, after a five-year search, Yad Ezra
opened a roomy new warehouse at 2850 W. 11
Mile Road, west of Coolidge, in Berkley — com-
plete with ample storage, state-of-the-art equip-
ment, more privacy for clients and convenient
parking (see related story).
Its new home also makes it easier to serve
the 60 percent increase in clients Yad Ezra
experienced last year. The growth was
phenomenal: going from 1,500 peo-
ple served in December 2000 to
2,500 people served in November
2001, according to Lea Luger, co-
director of Yad Ezra with Elaine Ryke.
The increase was not unexpected. Luger
attributes some to an economy with growing
unemployment and under-employment.
But most of the new clients come from a
dedicated outreach effort to prevent Jews
who go hungry — perennially the elderly,
single parents, immigrants, and the mental-
ly and physically disabled — from falling
through the cracks. A past president's focus
is credited for the stepped-up outreach.'

.3/1
2002

14

W.VA.

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Despite the growing numbers of
people helped by Yad Ezra, Ryke says it
still is difficult for many to believe hun-
gry people live in our Jewish community.
"No matter how much publicity we
have, people are still very surprised to
find out about us," Ryke says. "The corn-
munity needs to know that there are Jewish
hungry people here."
Yad Ezra works against a myth that claims all
Jews are rich, successful and able to take care
of themselves. But that's not true, Luger
says.
"We see elderly Jewish people who have
to make a choice of whether to eat, buy
their medication or pay their rent," she
says.
Embarrassment felt by potential clients
also complicates getting Yad Ezra aid to
those in need.
"I got a call once from a man.who used
to volunteer here," Luger says. "He was
crying because he had lost his job and
was uncomfortable asking for help for
his family."
Luger told him to come right
down and get some food. "That's
what we're here for," she
reminded him.
"I hear new stories every
day," says Rabbi Daniel'
Nevins of Adat Shalom
Synagogue in Farmington
Hills. "I think it's important
for people to realize how high