6 | JULY 23 • 2020 Views I n March, I was contracted to work with Yad Ezra on a variety of projects. What started as a focus on social media and marketing quickly changed in the frenzy of the COVID-19 pandemic to a focus on client and volunteer communications and logistics. The feeling that “the world has gone crazy” was felt here. Everyone sensed that things were out of sorts — concerns about health, community, economy, politics. No one was exempted from the sense of uncertainty and anxiety around us. At Yad Ezra, we responded to the heightened needs of approx- imately 1,250 client families, the extra stressors put on the staff, and we kept moving forward. We just did what needed to be done, understanding that food is not optional, and that we must do our best to make sure all our clients are cared for. Now, as the rhythm of that work has evened out, I am glad to be able to turn some of my hours toward the broader com- munications goals of the organi- zation. Everything is now filtered through a kind of COVID sen- sitivity, and we are keenly aware that it has affected many lives around the world. I was privileged to participate in a Zoom call with Yad Ezra and Rabbi Michael Schudrich, chief rabbi of Poland, and his col- leagues. Schudrich became aware of Yad Ezra’ s work thanks to an introduction by Roz Lullove Cooperman, a good friend and colleague of the rabbi and Yad Ezra. Roz produced and directed “Yad Ezra, We Can Learn From You!” a dialogue with the rabbi when he visited the food pantry in July 2018 and became inspired by the organization’ s model. With the guidance of and fundraising by Yad Ezra, the rabbi established a kosher food pantry in Warsaw in early 2019. During the call, he shared their experiences from their first year in operation — it was a Zoom call worth sharing. As the chief rabbi of Poland, Schudrich is the official interloc- utor with both the Polish govern- ment and the Catholic Church. Schudrich works to connect American Jewry with their Polish Jewish heritage, establish philan- thropic relationships and care for the small Polish Jewish commu- nity, spiritually and otherwise. During the past year, the food pantry in Warsaw has established itself so that, since the spring, it has been making approximately 80 grocery deliveries a month. Remarkably, those deliveries are split into two groups. One group is to the roughly 40 Jewish families in Warsaw. Each family receives staples, including flour, sugar and grains, as well as additional items such as canned or jarred soup or vegetables, fish and tea biscuits. Without refrigeration and large storage facilities, the food pantry has managed to find ways to deliver supplemental food packages to Jews in need in the Warsaw com- munity, and it delivered Passover food that allowed the Jewish community to celebrate the holi- day. The food has been delivered throughout the COVID pan- demic using taxis and volunteers. Most moving was the story the rabbi told of the second group of needy recipients of food from the pantry. There are approx- imately 40 Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jews who helped to save Jews during the Holocaust, who currently reside in the Warsaw area. They are all elderly, and the pantry provides them a monthly food delivery. Remarkably, the connection Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov Don’ t Paint with Wide Brush In his letter “Regarding the ‘ Editor’ s Note - Healing Ourselves, ’ ” (July 2, page 8) Edward Kohl presents a con- vincing argument of why Black Lives Matter Foundation Inc. is anti-Semitic. However, he offers a troubling assertion: “We Jews helped start the NAACP and walked with Dr. King… When will they finally stand with us to support Israel?” This is an abrupt shift from talking about the Black Lives Matter organization specifi- cally to the Black community in general. We know that one organization no more represents the entire Black community than Michigan Jewish Action Council or J Street speak for the entire Jewish community. And we know and appreciate that many Black people have fought against and continue to speak out against anti-Semitism. Painting an entire population with the brushstroke of a sub-group is counterproduc- tive to fighting racism. — Cheryl Berlin Farmington Hills Physician’ s Dilemma One of the outstanding profes- sions today is that of a physi- cian. They have the daunting task to always do their best to keep people alive and healthy. Unfortunately, there is not a sig- nificant financial compensation considering the many years of education, training and consid- erable debt amassed, with what amounts to a small return upon investment. How do I know this? My son-in-law is the director of a residency program and assistant director of internal medicine. He has mentioned to me countless stories of physicians unable to meet their financial obligations. Remember the old joke about doctors becoming plumbers for better income? There is some great wisdom in that old joke. After a visit to a doctor, we should consider sending a thank- you note of appreciation or send- ing a donation in tribute to your doctor to have merit for his/her continued success as a healing messenger. — Henry Friedman Historian, Educator, Lecturer Correction The article “Visa Freeze” (July 16, pg. 30) reported that the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center helps employers obtain immigrant visas. In fact, the MIRC only aids low-income workers. LETTERS from page 5 continued on page 10 Krystyna Wišniewska essay We Are Together