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Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

the teddy bear Rabbi

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Dec 9, 2023, 5:40 PM

7000 teddybears or bust!

A proud donor to our cause, including the Oct. 7th war. Since Oct. 7th, I have been imploring our community to please donate teddy bears and stuffed toys for the displaced children in Israel. We have amassed close to 7000...

Feb 17, 2023, 10:53 PM

The donations pour in from Paramus’ Congregation Beth Tefillah

I am allowed to publish this photo only with the sticker covering the donor girl's face. Another tragedy. Another collection organized. This tragedy was an act of Nature. This time, it can't be blamed on human kind. Or can it? Is...

Feb 3, 2023, 3:00 PM

Teddy bear heroes launch us into our 21st year

( I have been granted permission to share theses photos. ) Our most recent teddy bear heroes. We are so proud of their work. Erez brought 100s of teddy bears over for us over the years. Eddie Wolfe...

Dec 13, 2022, 9:51 PM

Three wonder women at Washington school who make a difference

Three wonderful women teachers who help me with the teddy bear collections at Washington School in Bergenfield. We have been collecting together for the past 7 years. Our first collection was a bit under 80. This past year, we...

Dec 10, 2022, 12:44 PM

Bears from Bergenfield welcomes Daisy troop from Closter

Rabbi Claire welcomes Brownie Daisy troop from Closter, led by Hae Kyung Kim, all who care enough to want to make a difference. They donated 100+ stuffed toys and animals to our cause. The donations will be brought by...

Dec 4, 2022, 7:43 AM

Some Teddybear heroes who keep us blooming at Bears from Bergenfield

All pictures were taken by me or were sent to me with the intention of being uploaded here. What do all of these people have in common? Bears from Bergenfield. Over the years, we have been fortunate to have so many step...

Dec 3, 2022, 10:30 AM

What is the 21st year shaping into? (Blooming) Bears from Bergenfield

Rabbi Claire and her newest mascot bear showing up at Helping Hands in Teaneck, NJ with permission to reprint and repost. Once we reached the milestone of 20 years, I wondered what would possibly help us reach our...

Aug 22, 2022, 8:30 AM

Trashed or Treasured teddy bears; a look back over the past 20 years

A cry from pain. A shudder from another loss. A terrorist attack that killed a best friend, a sister, a parent that won't be coming home that night. What shoved us, myself and my children, into action that Fall 2002? Was...

Jul 7, 2022, 3:26 PM

Wars destroy, but our bears do bring joy

Bears from Bergenfield, in its 20th year, chose to bring various groups of do-gooders together to help celebrate the BearsCare anniversary. What unfolded was beyond Rabbi Claire's bears dreams. An emergency Spring and early Summer toy drive of close...

Jul 5, 2022, 9:51 PM

Bears from Bergenfield brings bear hugs and blessings in its 20th year

Bears from Bergenfield, in its 20th year, chose to bring various groups of do-gooders together to help celebrate the BearsCare anniversary. What unfolded was beyond Rabbi Claire's bears dreams. An emergency Spring and early Summer toy drive of 1500...

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About Me

Rabbi Claire conceived of the concept Bears from Bergenfield upon a routine check of the Israeli staff at camp SLC August of 2001. She realized that the world needed to wake up and become aware of the suffering the Israelis were enduring as the Palestinians continued their intifada against them. After 18 years and 195,000 teddy bears amassed and redistributed, Rabbi Claire is searching for more public platforms to proliferate and advance her message, that Jewish lives matter, especially with a teddy bear. Rabbi Claire lives in Bergen County with her husband of 38 years, Larry, and their 4 children, Sam, Shira, Seth, and Sarah Rose, plus their incoming son-in-law Ivan. For further information of how to get involved with this endearing project, contact her at lgcg98@aol.com.

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