Going to Bed Hungry

Going to bed as a child, I was so hungry.

But my father would say, go to sleep and when you wake up, it will be a new day.

These are the childhood memories of many Jerusalemites from the late 1940’s and early 50’s, days of poverty and food shortages.

Most people dread to be hungry for even one day.

Yet there are thousands of children living below the poverty line in Israel  who are hungry much of the time.

Last week I visited Yad Ezra V’Shulamit located in the wholesale market in Givat Shaul.

After he became a successful businessman, Ariel Lurie, who grew up as one of those hungry little boys, started an organization to help feed needy families.

The diversity of volunteers working together was wonderful to see.

There were native Israelis – a lawyer, an actor, and a comedienne packing vegetables along with the staff volunteers.

There were three Israeli high school girls sorting tomatoes, who came on their own and volunteered on their school holiday.

One organized group of younger girls came from Kiryat Yovel.

And this American family came on their vacation in Israel. The father remembered Ariel Lurie from his days in an Israeli yeshiva and wanted his family to have a meaningful experience.

Every week 2500 food baskets are delivered from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat, and from Nahariya to Kiryat Gat.

A variety of programs and a hot daily meal are provided at 3 active children’s centers.

There is hope that if we work together, we can help, one child at a time.

It is possible, and I saw it at work this week and wanted to share this short, uplifting story with you.

Now is a time for ahdut, for unity, for Jerusalem, and for a better future.

Now is the perfect time to reflect and think how you can help too.