[COMMUNICATED] We live together on a BLOCK. We build our homes families and communities on our BLOCK. We can accomplish so much as a BLOCK.
Join the BLOCK campaign and don’t let poverty BLOCK the simchas Yom Tov of thousands of our neighbors.
1 in 20 families in our community receive support from Ahavas Tzedakah. This is a staggering number that unfortunately keeps on growing. That means that each one of us knows at least one family who is currently being assisted by Ahavas Tzedakah.
As each of us prepares for the busy Yom Tov season, we cannot allow the 763 families, 4354 children and 84 single parents to suffer. When we buy our children new shoes, let’s think about those who cannot afford that. When we buy our family food let’s think about those who may go hungry. And, when we buy our children the latest cute outfits for Yom Tov, think about those who cannot buy any clothing for themselves or their children.
For over 20 years the block campaign has been our communities way of showing solidarity around Yom Tov season. Our community cannot and will not allow so many to suffer in silence.
The Rambam writes in Hilchos Yom Tov:
וּכְשֶׁהוּא אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה חַיָּב לְהַאֲכִיל לַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה עִם שְׁאָר הָעֲנִיִּים הָאֻמְלָלִים. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁנּוֹעֵל דַּלְתוֹת חֲצֵרוֹ וְאוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה הוּא וּבָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מַאֲכִיל וּמַשְׁקֶה לַעֲנִיִּים וּלְמָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ אֵין זוֹ שִׂמְחַת מִצְוָה אֶלָּא שִׂמְחַת כְּרֵסוֹ. וְעַל אֵלּוּ נֶאֱמַר (הושע ט ד) “זִבְחֵיהֶם כְּלֶחֶם אוֹנִים לָהֶם כָּל אֹכְלָיו יִטַּמָּאוּ כִּי לַחְמָם לְנַפְשָׁם“. וְשִׂמְחָה כָּזוֹ קָלוֹן הִיא לָהֶם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלאכי ב ג) “וְזֵרִיתִי פֶרֶשׁ עַל פְּנֵיכֶם פֶּרֶשׁ חַגֵּיכֶם“:
While on eats and drinks to celebrate Yom Tov, one must feed the ger, the orphan, the widow, and other poor people. Anyone, however, who locks the doors of his courtyard and eats and drinks along with his wife and children, without giving anything to eat and drink to the poor and the desperate, does not observe a religious celebration but indulges in the celebration of his stomach!
The Lakewood community celebrates Yom Tov in the proper way, by ensuring everyone is able to fully rejoice, having all their needs met with compassion and dignity.
Ahavas Tzedakah is renowned for ensuring that everyone receiving assistance is valued and is able to maintain their dignity. This is a critical component in the Mitzvah of Tzedakah. Those going through a rough patch have enough to worry about. Many times their egos are shattered and self worth diminished. It is our job to not only provide monetary resources, but to provide emotional ones as well, and there is no more important of a time to do so than now.
Please donate generously to this campaign through your block representative, online at https://ahavastzedakah.com/ email donations@AhavasTzedakah.com, by calling 732.288.8688.
If you would like to become a block representative for you block, please call or text 732.788.3213.