LI II luIJIMJ Dun in, 1pion jimni/111 nvran 'Dnu2 JEWISH SENIOR LIFE Wishes you a Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year, 5775. Thank You to the Community for Your Continued Support of Older Adults. -Soldiers receive a delivery from Meir Panim. Helping Hands from page 53 Rochelle Upfal Chief Executive Officer Carol Rosenberg Director, JSL Foundation ment park and museums. The children Diane Ackerman Barbra Giles Associate Director Aging Services Associate Director Residential Services Matthew Lester President Officers & Board of Directors A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus 15000 West Ten Mile Road Oak Park, MI 48237 Eugene di Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus 6710 West Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 Programs • Residences • Services 248.661.1836 - www.isimi.org I NINA•NACLEMORE receive a nutritious breakfast and a hot lunch, which many would not receive otherwise. The camp also extends its activities from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow parents to work a full day. Yair, a 14-year-old boy from Or Akiva, spent much of his early child- hood sifting through trashcans to find bottles he could exchange for cash to help his single mother pay the bills. He often went to school hungry, with no breakfast, and lacking basic school supplies. Despite his difficult situation, Yair said his life is not nearly as des- perate today as it once was. A graduate of both the Meir Panim youth club and summer camps, Yair has received assistance and encourage- ment throughout the years from the organization, helping him to grow as a student and as a person. Last March, Yair was able to take part in a volunteer program to pass out free meals to needy families on Purim. The opportunity to realize that he was in a position to give as well as receive filled him with a sense of pride and purpose. Making the rounds in his local neighborhoods with a gigantic smile on his face, Yair spread joy and hope to all he met. When War Hits • ■ Suiting. Casual. Evening. Designer Collection. Made in New York. 550 West Merrill Street, Suite 230 • Birmingham (enter parking from Martin Street off Southfield Road) M – F 10 – 6 • Evenings and weekends by appointment • 248.430.4365 New York, Chevy Chase, MD, Atlanta, Aspen, Vail, Nantucket, San Francisco, Palm Desert, Seattle, Cleveland, Easton & Chestertown, MD www.ninamclemore.com 54 September 25 • 2014 When rockets rained down on Israel from Gaza, Israelis around the coun- try felt the state of emergency. This urgency translated into service and Meir Panim organized a massive dis- tribution of much-needed food and supplies to the tens of thousands of soldiers defending Israel in Operation Protective Edge. The organization delivered more than 5,000 care pack- ages to soldiers along the Gaza border. The packages included food, clothing, toiletries and other items needed by soldiers hastily called to action. Families across Israel donated home-baked desserts, giving them to Meir Panim volunteers to bring to the front lines and offering soldiers a taste of home during this difficult time. The organization also has delivered hot Shabbat meals to soldiers on military bases across Southern Israel and the Gaza border. "There is no greater comfort in the world like personally receiving sup- plies or a home-baked treat in the middle of a warzone," said Yonatan, a soldier coordinating the deliveries with Meir Panim. "We are fighting so that safety and quiet will be restored here in Israel. Knowing that organiza- tions like Meir Panim and individuals from across Israel care about us so much gives us renewed strength to carry out our mission. I feel that all of Israel has become one family in this turbulent time." Meir Panim also coordinated care packages for families in the South that included toys and snacks to keep chil- dren entertained during the difficult, long summer days — often spent in a bomb shelter. In the Southern town of Dimona, Meir Panim's Free Restaurant was forced to close due to the proximity of incoming rocket fire. Staff and vol- unteers cooked, packaged and delivered meals to the needy in their homes and in shelters. All of these efforts provided encouragement to the hundreds of thousands of Israelis in crisis. "Thousands of individual volunteers worked all day to give our soldiers and needy families in the South everything that they need in this time said Shmuel Levy, director of logistics of Meir Panim. "From hot Shabbat meals and socks for soldiers, to toys for children, so many Israelis from across the country stepped up to help, donate and give' Using precise and innovative strate- gies, Meir Panim has made a tremen- dous effort in relieving the burden for thousands of needy Israelis, young and old. As 5775 begins, we can only pray that the need for such services dimin- ishes. ❑ To join with Meir Panim in fighting poverty in Israel, visit www.meirpanim.org or email info@meirpanim.org. Donations can be sent to 5316 New Utrecht Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219, or by calling toll free (877) 736-6283. All contributions are tax-deductible.