[COMMUNICATED] Tonight, at 7:30 PM in Ateres Chana Hall, the Lakewood community is joining together in a monumental display of taking achrayus. Ahavas Tzedakah is celebrating their 9th Annual Dinner, and it’s our achrayus to attend.
As the Lakewood population has continued to grow exponentially, bli ayin hora, so has its population of those who need help covering basic life expenses. These include men, women and children in just about every neighborhood and every age group. Some parents have lost their jobs. Others are coping with a family crisis. Some are single parents. Others can make ends meet all year but have no way to cope with the added expenses ahead of Succos and Pesach.
They may live on your block. Their child may be in your child’s class. They may even be your sibling. But they would never muster to ask you for help directly.
Ahavas Tzedaka takes achrayus for them, and we need to take achrayus for Ahavas Tzedaka.
Achrayus transcends any dollar amount, but Ahavas Tzedaka’s spreadsheet is jaw dropping. What began as Dr. and Mrs. Shanik’s small home operation now distributes over $2 million a year to local families in the form of a generic credit card.
Ahavas Tzedaka’s budget is only growing. Over 135 desperate families are on the waiting list for assistance – some for weekly, some for the Yomim Tovim – that the organization’s current stretched budget simply cannot shoulder.
Dr. and Mrs. Shanik asked TLS to remind the community that every person who attends makes a huge difference.
Tonight will also feature a groundbreaking panel discussion with Ahavas Tzedakah Founder Dr. Reuven Shanik; Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, author of Halachos of Refua on Shabbos, and Chaver of the Bais Havaad; Dr. Chuna Chaim (Howard) Lebowitz, Chief Medical Officer of LTACH and member of the Medical Board of Chayim Aruchim; and Rabbi Eliezer Gewirtzman shlit”a, Rav of Coventry Shul and member of Machon Chayim Aruchim. The panel will be moderated by the always entertaining Rabbi Elchanan Schwartz LMHC, Director of Crisis Intervention at BINA Stroke and Brain Injury Assistance.
In addition to the above fascinating panel, Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner shlit”a of London will deliver the keynote address. Dayan Dunner’s combination of toichen and an entertaining speaking style is truly unique, making him a coveted speaker at community events around the world.
Honorees at evening include Rabbi and Mrs. Noshi and Mimi Zelikovitz, who will receive the Ahavas Tzedaka Award; Mr. and Mrs. Yoni and Leah Mayer, Block Representatives of the Year; Mr. and Mrs. Cheely and Lieba Hirth, Guests of Honor; Mr. and Mrs. Elisha and Aidi Levine, Rodef Chesed Award; Mr. Simcha Leiner, Journal Chairman; Mr. Yitzy Shanik, Campaign Chairman; and Rabbi Shloimy Epstein, MC.
Please take the achrayus to participate. You won’t regret it!
For more information or to donate today, please visit www.ahavastzedakah.com/dinner.