metro
Shavuot Blessings
Forgotten Harvest, Temple Israel
provide collected food for the needy.
I
Stacy Gittleman
Contributing Writer
p
utting a modern twist on the
mitzvah most associated with
Shavuot — leaving the corners of
one's fields for the poor — Temple Israel
of West Bloomfield, in partnership with
Forgotten Harvest, will host a monthly
mobile fresh food pantry 3-7 p.m. during
the first Tuesday of every month. The
next is June 3.
Forgotten Harvest gleans unwanted
food not from the corners of fields, as
stated in the Torah, but from dozens of
grocery stores and restaurants across
Metro Detroit. Each day, grocers receive
new shipments of produce and other per-
ishable goods. Older but perfectly edible
food that would otherwise be discarded
is collected by Forgotten Harvest and
distributed to the neediest in the commu-
nity, according to Marc Berke, Forgotten
Harvest's senior director.
"Hunger is a solvable problem:' said
Berke, citing that 96 billion pounds of
food per year goes to waste in the United
States. In 2013, Forgotten Harvest res-
cued 45.5 million pounds of food and
redistributed it to 250 agencies across the
Detroit area.
While urban areas come to mind when
most think of poverty, an April report
released by the Lighthouse of Oakland
County stated that poverty in Oakland
rose 77 percent in 2005-2012.
According to Rabbi Joshua Bennett,
Temple Israel hopes to reach families in
West Bloomfield, Walled Lake, Keego
Harbor and Sylvan Lake in need of fresh
food.
Bennett said the program stems from
Temple Israel's long-standing commitment
to the Jewish value of giving and Judaism's
teaching of reserving one's corners of the
field for the poorest in the community.
This mitzvah relates directly to
Shavuot, which begins the evening of
June 3. One of three pilgrimage festivals,
Shavuot commemorates when God gave
the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount
Sinai. It also ends the counting of the
Omer, the days between Passover and
Shavuot, and is known as a harvest fes-
tival as well. It is traditional to eat dairy
foods on the holiday and to stay up all
night studying Torah.
"There should be no stigma attached
to feeding your family," Bennett said. "It
doesn't matter where you live, whether the
city or in the suburbs, but senior citizens
and children are always the hardest hit
PALM BEACH
PATIO & CASUAL FURNITURE
Donna Diem and her son, Joshua, of
Royal Oak volunteer at the fresh food
pantry at Temple Israel. Rabbi Joshua
Bennett is in the background.
7350 Highland Road (M-59) • Waterford
www.PalmBeachPatio.com
(248)-666-2880
HOURS: M-Th 10-7- • T-W-F-S 10-6 • Sun 12-4
1921930
when it comes to food insecurity:'
Among the tables displaying tomatoes,
cucumbers, lentils and bread, a woman
from Keego Harbor, who wished not
to be identified, selected food with her
grandchild. Her daughter, a single moth-
er who had just started a new part-time
job and is returning to school, could not
take the time off work to make the trip.
"My daughter receives no assistance
from the child's father; said the woman,
a part-time administrative assistant, who
added that it has become increasingly
difficult to make ends meet each month.
"I never thought I would ever have to ask
for help — and I hate to ask — but com-
ing here I did not feel intimidated at all:'
Temple Israel member Donna Diem
and her grown son, Joshua, both of Royal
Oak, spent the afternoon volunteering at
the mobile pantry. They set up food for
display and helped people load their cars
with groceries.
"Temple Israel has helped my family
through some hard times and this is our
way of paying it forward," said Donna
Diem, 57.
The first mobile food pantry at Temple
Israel on May 6 attracted about 60 fami-
lies. That number is expected to rise to
several hundred families throughout the
summer, as this is traditionally a lean time
for food pantries.
Advanced registration for the food
pantry is not required to come by and col-
lect food. For those who have misgivings
about coming but still need help, contact
Kari Provizer, LMSW, ACSW, at (248)
661-5700 or laura@temple-israel.org for a
private appointment.
On Exhibit June 1 to August 24, 2014
The Holocaust Portfolio
M
artin Mendelsberg is
a graphic artist and
educator. He combines Hebrew
characters with historical
photographs of life before and during the
Holocaust, creating artworks that are
haunting, meaningful and even beautiful.
Exhibit Opening Event
Artist Talk and Presentation
by Martin Mendelsberg
Sunday, June 1 at 3 p.m.
Generously
supported by:
Susan Malinowski
and Gary Shapiro
Lori and Steven
Weisberg
Generously
Aviva and Jack
Robinson
GPNC
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Free with museum admission.
Kosher refreshments will be served.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER ZEKELMAN FAMILY CAMPUS
28123 Orchard Lake Rd. • Farmington Hills, Ml 48334 www.holocaustcentenorg
❑
May 29 • 2014
19