Young Israel Launches Shavuos Food Campaign for Families from Gush Katif

The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) announced that it has reactivated its Shalosh Regalim Campaign to provide provisions for the Yom Tov of Shavuos to the former residents of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron who were expelled from their homes in August 2005. Nearly four years after they were forced out of their homes, many of the former families of Gush Katif are still living in temporary quarters, do not yet have jobs, and are struggling every single day to put food on their tables and make ends meet.

The Young Israel’s food distribution campaign will also help the families of Sderot, whose lives have been in turmoil for the past several years while deadly rockets rain down on their community.

The National Council of Young Israel initially embarked on its food distribution campaign before Succos 2007. Since that time, working together with the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel (CYIR), and in conjunction with the Yad Ezra organization in Israel, the NCYI has provided dozens of truckloads of food to the families who had been evacuated from Gush Katif. With the help of Eugen and Jean Gluck of Forest Hills, Queens, and many other shuls and individuals who made additional financial contributions, the National Council of Young Israel has been able to deliver food to nearly 1,000 families.

With Shavuos 2009 virtually upon us, the National Council of Young Israel is again collecting funds to purchase food for the families of Gush Katif and Sderot for Yom Tov. NCYI Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner urged people to participate in the Shalosh Regalim Campaign so that families, who otherwise would not be able to bring the joy of Yom Tov into their home, will be provided with the opportunity to do so.

Shuls and individuals are encouraged to help sponsor a family or families at $180 – $250 for the Yom Tov. Contributions should be made payable to “Young Israel Charities – Shalosh Regalim Campaign” and mailed to the National Council of Young Israel, 111 John Street, Suite 450, New York, New York, 10038. Donations can also be made online at www.youngisrael.org (simply click on “Donate” and select “Gush Katif Shalosh Regalim Campaign”).

For more information, contact, NCYI Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner at [email protected] or call 212-929-1525 x100.

{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}