EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

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Hunger Grips Israel

E

e started out seven years ago serving freshly prepared
"Being in business, I don't like to see waste," says Joel, who
hot meals to three needy families — 17 people — on
owns the Bottle Crew, a commercial bottle supplier. ."I was so
a daily basis. He cooked on a small stove in rented
impressed with the efficiency of Hazon Yeshaya. It reminded
space in Jerusalem.
me of Yad Ezra here in the Detroit Jewish community."
The hungry have never stopped coming.
I was mesmerized by Abraham's story.
Today, Abraham Israel's Hazon Yeshaya Soup Kitchens serve
6,000 Israelis a nutritious hot meal every day at noon from 38
Coming Full Circle
sites across the country. Recipients range from school kids to
Abraham
Israel, 54, is an Egyptian Jew whose family fled to
shut-ins, from native-born sabras to newly immigrated olim.
France
after
the Suez War of 1956. They were so poor they ate
All are screened for need. There's no discrimination. Meals
in
HIAS
soup
kitchens in Paris for three years while waiting
go to Jews, Christian immigrants and Israeli Arabs; 80 percent
for
visas
to
leave
for America, the land of opportunity.
are kids.
"It
was
embarrassing
to eat in soup kitchens," Abraham
Less than 10 percent of
says.
"But
it literally saved our lives. I don't
the recipients are Ortho-
know
what
we would have done."
dox Jews — in fact, many
The
family
immigrated to New York in
diners are kids with nose
1961
and
Abraham
lived the American
or belly rings — but every
dream.
He
graduated
from college and
meal is kosher.
worked
as
an
accountant
and retailer before
Meals are served year-
building
a
prosperous
shoe-importing
busi-
round, but Jewish law is
ness. He retired in 1995 and made aliyah,
ROBERT A. respected in deciding
settling in Jerusalem.
SKLAR
whom and what to serve
But he never forgot his soup kitchen roots.
on fast days and holidays.
Editor
He
longed to repay his debt to society and
Israel's biggest and most
help
the less fortunate.
pressing social problem is hunger —
That's
when God intervened.
hunger exacerbated by an economic climate
Abraham
met Ronit, a Jerusalem woman
ravaged by Palestinian terror. The gap
in
her
20s
who
was trying to cross Rashi
between the haves and have-nots is grow-
Street.
She
used
a cane and asked if he could
ing. Soup kitchen lines are longer. The job-
help
her
get
to
her
apartment.
less rate is a stunning 11 percent.
"I
couldn't
believe
what I saw there," he
This
Ethiopian
girl,
served
by
Poverty has become so grinding, a third
says.
"She
had
no
money
for rent, electricity or
Hazon
Yeshaya,
is
among
1.4
of Israel's kids are caught in its grip. The
food.
What
little
aid
she
got
from the govern-
million
Israelis,
including
situation is so bad, it's tearing the fabric of
ment
she
used
on
drugs
to
treat
her multiple
700,
000
children,
living
below
Israeli society. Imagine living with five kids
sclerosis."
the
poverty
line.
in one room with mattresses leaning against
Israelis who are destitute put medicine and
the wall. At night, the mattresses come
shelter ahead of food when their government
down so everyone can sleep.
aid of a few hundred dollars a month arrives,
"The percentage of Israeli children living
Abraham
says. Ronit's plight inspired him to found
below the poverty line is the highest in the
Hazon
Yeshaya
and name it after his father, whose
Western world, even higher than some develop-
yearning
for
the
land of opportunity gave young
ing countries like Mexico," Abraham Israel says.
Abe
a
fresh
start.
"We should be ashamed of ourselves."
Recalling his impoverished childhood, Abraham
Israel's poverty line is 3,000 shekels a month,
is
eager to serve kids who would otherwise starve
or $660.
unt
they enter the army at 17. I appreciate what
With its war on terrorism showing no signs of
he's
doing for kids, but I admire his reverence for
abating, Israel is struggling to ward off economic
the
often-ignored
elderly who built Israel.
collapse, Abraham says.
Abraham
Israe
1
Hazon
Yashaya.
expects to spend up to $8 mil-
He doesn't fault the government for pouring
lion
this
year.
Gifts
of
money cover the bank notes
almost every shekel into defense. He just wants Prime
spent
to
buy
food
in
bulk.
The
highest
paid of six employees
Minister Ariel Sharon to acknowledge starvation's fury, as evi-
gets
$1,200
per
month
to
head
the
Tel
Aviv
region. Agency
denced by more government referrals to Hazon Yeshaya. He
heroes
are
the
170
devoted
volunteers.
Throughout
the year,
implores Sharon to not fear hunger's negative impact on
Birthright
Israel
young
adults,
school
groups
and
vacationers
immigration.
also give time.
"Believe it or not, people wearing suits and ties, people who
Abraham stressed that he takes neither pay nor perks. And
lost jobs in tourism or high tech, are coming in with their
he
flies coach. His Web site is donated. He keeps the cost of
heads down," Abraham says. "They're dying to find a job, but
operations
to just 3 percent.
they can't. They're embarrassed, but have no choice; they have
"Tell
your
readers about us in hopes that they'll visit us
to pick up meals."
when
they're
in Israel and become our ambassadors back in
Abraham's story is lousy PR for Israel. But it's too important
Detroit,"
he
says.
"Please realize I'm not out for personal expo-
to hide. Lives are at risk
sure
—
just
the
means
to feed."
West Bloomfield businessman Joel Jacob hosted Abraham's
Joel
Jacob
validates
that:
"It's the hands-on experience at
Detroit visit on Aug. 30. Joel had visited Hazon Yeshaya this
Hazon
Yeshaya
that
excited
and inspired me. You volunteer
year and arranged for Abraham and me to meet for lunch at
alongside
Israelis
and
Jews
from
around the world.
Milk & Honey of West Bloomfield.
"It's a place rich with connections. One person, even bar or
To learn more, log on to wvvvv.hazonyeshaya.org
bat mitzvah kids, can really make a difference." ❑

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and shul. Full inclusion

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799180

2004

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