NOVEMBER 2003 UPDATE

I. INTRODUCTION

It is a warm summer evening in Jerusalem.  The scene: The Village Green Restaurant, and The Event is The Second Annual Gathering of our Israeli Mitzvah Heroes. The Rabbanit Kapach is there; Anita and Giora Shkedi are there from The Israel National Therapeutic Riding Association-Mitzvah Horses, Barbara Silverman, who has sent 50,000 packages of treats and creature comforts to the soldiers, Phyllis Heimowitz, founder of the Amuta (Non-Profit Organization) for the Emotional Support of Fiancées (Girlfriends) of Fallen Soldiers of The Israel Defense Forces, Dr. Kieselstein, Kalman and Malky Samuels, founders of Shalva, and many more of The Giants…names familiar to our readers from reading our Annual Report and visiting our website, www.ziv.org. Nearly all of our people are there, plus several friends we have invited to share in the delight of all of this Mitzvah power, this Ziesskeit — human sweetness — to sense first-hand just how much individuals can do to change the lives of others who need their wisdom, insight, and human touch. This is really the essence of Ziv: learning from, and sitting at the feet of, these teachers of Tikkun Olam, Masters every one of them. The event calls to mind the quote from the late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “When I was young, I admired clever people.  As I grew old, I came to admire kind people.”

This is, indeed, the essence of Ziv.

I think it is best captured by the ancient Talmudic phrase, “Ho Hum!” On any given day, Naomi, or Arnie Draiman, or I will say or e-mail to each other in jest, “Ho Hum, just another typical Ziv day” — referring, of course, to any number of spectacular Mitzvah happenings. Rich moments, uplifting times, awesome encounters — these are the exhilarating events that fill our days.

And I would add — even the restaurant was selected for good reason. Kobi and Barry, owners of The Village Green in their previous lives were responsible for finding jobs in Jerusalem for individuals with disabilities. For many years, I have learned from them, and they “get it” — their restaurant is certainly a most appropriate place for Ziv to hold The Event.

What follows is a brief update, written jointly by Naomi and Danny: it includes new activities, updates on some of our “regulars,” some recent breakthroughs, needs, wish lists. Read on, and Lechaim…To Life!

II.  CONTRIBUTIONS

As you will see from the contents of this update, the demands on Ziv’s Tzedakah money have grown. There is so much more that needs to be done in Israel and in the United States, as well as other communities around the world. 

If you would like to enable us to continue with, and expand, our work, please send checks made out to “Ziv Tzedakah Fund” to:

Naomi Eisenberger, Managing Director

Ziv Tzedakah Fund

384 Wyoming Ave.

Millburn, NJ  07041

973-763-9396 (phone) • 973-275-0346 (fax)

E-mail: naomi@ziv.org

www.ziv.org

You may also donate through our website, www.ziv.org. The donations are handled through networkforgood.org, and there is a 3% charge to us for this service.

III. OUR AGENT IN ISRAEL, ARNIE DRAIMAN – MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

Because of a generous individual donation last winter, we were able to increase Arnie’s hours from 1/4 to 2/3 time.  We consider this one of the most significant enhancements of our work in the past few months, and it would be difficult to describe just how much this has expanded our activities in Israel. So many more people have been reached as a result of Arnie’s increased time working on our behalf. He has kept us better informed of the activities and needs of our established programs, investigated and worked with many more individuals in need, introduced our work to more groups based in Israel or on year-long programs, as well as individuals visiting for a brief period, supervised the work of Merrill Alpert, our Chavayrat Ziv-Ziv Fellow (see below), and advised us again and again on all matters relating to our work in Israel…besides continuing to boost the morale of Israeli troops with our famous pizza and schwarma parties. His work is constantly changing from day to day and his efforts are always right on the mark. The expanded time schedule impacts all that we do on a daily basis. Having a contact “on the ground” in Israel, one who knows “the system” offers us immeasurable flexibility and insight into our efforts in that country. We cannot overstress the importance of having him right there working on our behalf. Sometimes a Mitzvah-problem is solved that takes no more time than the click of an e-mail or a quick phone call to or from Arnie. We think the following story offers a fine example of what we can accomplish quickly and efficiently: Levi (a pseudonym), an elderly Shoah survivor whom we have befriended this past year, lives on the economic edge. In a chance conversation with Arnie and Merrill who were visiting, Levi mentioned that he was having trouble sleeping because he had bed bugs…proven the next morning by Merrill, who had received a number of bites during her visit. Within one week, Levi’s apartment was fumigated, a new mattress and new bedding were purchased, and he is now enjoying a restful night’s sleep.

We wish Arnie a Yasher Koach on all that he does for us. 

IV. MERRILL ALPERT, CHAVAYRAT ZIV-ZIV FELLOW

Merrill, recently retired after 18 years as youth director at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, CA, is spending several months in Israel making the Grand Rounds of our Mitzvah heroes, visiting and learning about our projects, studying Jewish texts on Tzedakah, Mitzvahs, and Tikkun Olam with Arnie, and establishing her own extensive network of Mitzvah connections on behalf of Ziv. A veteran of all five of our Mitzvah Heroes Conferences in this country, and long-time friend of Ziv, Merrill was the perfect candidate for this program. She brings to her experiences in Israel tremendous insight and a warm, giving heart — both critical components in our work.

Historically speaking, this Chavayrat/Chaver Ziv program was long overdue. In Ziv’s Early Days, and even before Ziv was officially established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) Tzedakah fund, other individuals had spent 5 months to a year meeting our Mitzvah heroes and introducing others to our work. This was more than 20 years ago. Now it is happening again and we are excited. Merrill has very quickly immersed herself in a wide range of Ziv activities, and we are very moved by the regular reports she sends to us — the most common words being “Amazing!” “Wow!” and similar terms of enthusiasm. The implications for Ziv and our projects in Israel, both immediate, and far down the road, are enormous. So much good will come from her work.

Indeed, we are so excited about Merrill’s work as well as the untold benefits that will be derived if we are able to continue this Chavayrat/Chaver Ziv program that we wish to let you — our donors and fans — know that we very much want to continue this program in the coming years and eagerly seek a donor(s) who might be interested in underwriting the costs of this program in order to make it ongoing. If you are interested or know of someone who would want to invest Tzedakah funds in this way, please do contact Danny or Naomi. We feel very strongly that this program, along with the Ziv Summer Intern project (which has already proven its worth over and over again), will enable us to spread Ziv’s message and the work of all of our programs to even more people.

A Yasher Koach to Merrill, and to Arnie, Merrill’s Rebbi and supervisor in this revived aspect of our work.

V. COME TO ISRAEL WITH US — HEROISRAEL III

“When you visitors come and say, ‘We are thinking about you. We want to be with you. We sympathize with you.’ It gives us the courage to continue.”

So spoke our good friend, Amalia Oren, head social worker at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, when she met the almost thirty participants of our HeroIsrael II Mitzvah Hero Tour last February. Departing on the eve of what was to be the start of the war in Iraq, not one of the 27 people who stepped on the plane ever imagined that this trip would be as moving and meaningful as it was. Each and every one of them learned soon after arriving at Ben-Gurion that life in Israel goes on and their initial fears were quickly forgotten. It was the normalcy that truly amazed them.

This year’s trip is being conducted in conjunction with Temple Emanu-El of Dallas — though we are actively looking for others to join us. While based at the historic King David Hotel, HeroIsrael participants will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with all of the “greats.” Spend a morning with Barbara Silverman packing “creature comforts” and treats for Israel’s chayalim bodedim (soldiers with no family in Israel), sit with the Rabbanit Kapach on a Friday morning as she responds to the poor people who ring her bell looking for a special Shabbat food parcel, or enjoy the deep azure blue of the Mediterranean while watching Anita Shkedi and her equine therapists carry out their amazing therapeutic riding techniques. We invite all of you to join us February 15-26 (this is President’s weekend) as we “make the rounds.” Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Further information is available by contacting Naomi at naomi@ziv.org or at 973-763-9396. You will not forget this trip — it is unlike any other you may have taken. More information can be found at our website, www.ziv.org.

VI. ISRAEL: TWO IDEAS

A. Coming to Israel is critical

Come for a week, come for two. Or do what two sisters, Davina and Barbara Dubnick, did this summer: rent an apartment, stay for 6-7 weeks or more, and live side by side with Israelis. They often joined us on Grand Rounds visiting the Mitzvah heroes, did many hours of volunteer work arranged by other groups, and just enjoyed being a part of day-to-day life in Israel. 

B. Buying and Sharing an Apartment

Several years ago, Highland Park Conservative Temple in New Jersey purchased an apartment in Jerusalem for its members. The deal is relatively simple — members may use it for two weeks if they study Torah, loosely defined, for 3 hours a day. There is a very modest registration fee for upkeep, but what a Mitzvah bargain! You may want to raise this issue with your synagogue, setting your own rules, such as X number of hours/day doing Mitzvah work, or some combination of Torah and Tzedakah activities. It is an idea waiting to happen in so many congregations, or for that matter for Ziv, itself — a very real investment in the Life of Israel.

VII. SPECIAL AGENTS

One of the most exciting areas of Ziv’s expanding activities is our “Special Agents”-Sheluchay Mitzvah category. Ever more frequently we are able to change the lives of individuals in Israel, the United States, and other parts of the world because of a network of individuals who allow us to bring direct relief to people in need.  In one situation, a much-needed refrigerator, in another — rent money, in others, a huge variety of human needs satisfied because of people we know who can guarantee that the Mitzvah-deed is accomplished efficiently and with no fanfare or publicity.

If this aspect of Ziv’s work particularly appeals to you, e-mail Naomi and indicate that you want to be “on call”: Include (A) How much you are willing to be called for, (B) how often, and (C) we ask, if possible, that these funds be above and beyond your normal contributions. Naomi will keep this on file and contact you as the needs arise. Often, the personal elation we feel when we are able to fulfill these occasional needs is greater than when we write a large check to some of our Mitzvah heroes….If you want to share in this radiance, please be in touch.

VIII. A PHILOSOPHICAL-LOGISTICAL NOTE

At this juncture in our work, we find ourselves involved in creating a delicate balance in our allocations. There are three areas that we are presently emphasizing, listed in no specific order of importance: (1) Our continued and increasing need to reach victims and survivors of terror in Israel — them, and their families, (2) our need to reach others in need in Israel, particularly those hit hard by the economic difficulties created by the war in Israel that has now lasted 3 years, and (3) the needs of our many Mitzvah heroes’ programs in the United States and other countries.  Each has its place in our work; none will be ignored or put aside — at least according to the donations we receive — as we continue our work.

IX. HUNGER IN ISRAEL

In addition to the ongoing war and the continued terror attacks, there was one other issue that repeatedly presented itself to us during our extended summer experiences in Israel. In a word — hunger. Food insecurity and poverty are once again in the forefront of concerns in Israel. It should come as no surprise…a country that has been fighting for its very existence over the past few years, and has suffered from the collapse of the high tech industry, is destined to feel the effects of such trauma when it comes to feeding people. It is not that the country does not have the food to feed those who are going without proper nutrition, but rather that large portions of the population do not have the money to buy the food that they need to sustain themselves and their families. With such a situation, malnutrition and subsequent medical problems are inevitable.

Soup kitchens and food pantries have always existed throughout the country. The Rabbanit Kapach has been in the forefront of feeding hungry people since she started her work decades ago. Indeed, this past Pesach, her famous food distribution provided holiday basics for a record 5,000 families (i.e., approximately 20,000 people!) Her weekly needs for wholesome food have also increased. What we saw on this visit, however, was a proliferation of new programs all directed at solving the problem of hunger. We also learned that serious movement is being made in the attempt to legislate a law similar to the United States’ Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Law which limits liability to those places that donate leftover food. Two of the programs that attracted us rely heavily upon a large corps of volunteers to carry out their work.

A. Lev Ramot

Moshe Koth is a quiet, unassuming man who takes the problem of hunger very seriously. For years, his group of volunteers has been making regular nightly visits to local catering halls and army bases to pick up the leftovers and bring them to people who are hungry. The work is carried out very quietly and very efficiently. Volunteers sporting a “Lev Ramot” t-shirt actually stand in the caterers’ kitchens and pack up the leftovers directly from the trays that the wait staff returns to the kitchen. Once packed, the food is delivered directly to the doors of families and individuals who have been identified as needing additional food. It is that simple — from the caterer to the family that needs it. Moshe learns of hungry people through social services and by word of mouth.

[Lev Ramot: Moshe Koth, Schechtman St. 6, Jerusalem 97225, 02-586-1456, 052-864-507. Assistant: Dr. Ron Schleifer, Bar-Ilan University. Ramat Gan Israel, 03-532-8189 (O) 02-586-8714 (h), schleir@mail.biu.ac.il.]

B. Meschulchan Leschulchan-Table to Table

Less than one year ago, Joseph Gitler, a young American lawyer who made aliyah about three years ago, started Table to Table in the Tel Aviv-Raanana area with a corps of volunteers to help him. The premise is simple: volunteers pick up leftovers from between 10-20 catered events each night and deliver them directly to more than 30 agencies and organizations that are responsible for feeding hungry people on a regular basis. He has more than 50 caterers who have signed on to help and recently received funding for a refrigerated truck which has made it possible for him to now collect from company cafeterias as well as local caterers. The driver of this truck is the organization’s only paid employee and Table to Table estimates that it provides more than 10,000 meals each month.

[Table to Table, Joseph Gitler, Achad Ha’am St. 54, Raanana 43211, Israel, Phone/fax 972-9-744-0313, cell 972-58-763-516.]

X. HUNGER IN AMERICA

Whether reported in newspapers, on television or radio news segments, or magazine articles, hunger in America is increasing at an alarming rate. Local food pantries have publicized the shortage of available food and large regional facilities such as New York’s City Harvest are having a very difficult time meeting the demand for food staples. Former donors to feeding programs are now finding themselves on the receiving end of such programs and with the continued economic downturn it would not appear that there will be a quick end to this national problem. Over the years, we have shared with you the stories of such Mitzvah heroes as Syd Mandelbaum, founder of Rock and Wrap It Up!, an organization dedicated originally to retrieving food from rock concerts and other entertainment venues, and now schools and college campuses, of Ranya Kelly who collects all manner of discarded items including food, of David Levitt who was the inspiration behind food retrieval in Florida’s public schools. See our website, www.ziv.org for links.

Today, we share with you the story of Pam Koner, a mother of two in Westchester, New York, who was moved to respond to a story of hunger and poverty reported in the New York Times just one year ago. The front-page story related the harsh conditions in Pembroke, Illinois, a rural community one hour from Chicago. In a town where there is no bank, no pharmacy, no police force and often no paved roads, hunger comes to town the third week of every month when food stamps run out and the food pantry’s shelves are bare. It was this moving story that prompted Pam to gather local families, each agreeing to “adopt” a Pembroke family. Before the third week of the month each family appears at Pam’s door with a box filled with the specific items Pam has requested. The boxes are then shipped free by an anonymous shipping company. The donor family knows the name of the family they are feeding and letter writing is encouraged between the recipients and the donors. What started with fifteen families has grown, in the past year to 60 families and Pam has a list of hundreds and hundreds of others who learned of her work and want to “adopt” a family in other locations. We must add here that the poverty Pam is addressing is not the “average” poverty we read about. These families live at an income level that is half the state average. Family-to-Family, Pam’s project, is, we believe, waiting to happen in many, many more communities. It is a deeply meaningful project for both the donors and the recipients and we urge you all to be in touch with Pam to learn how you can help.

[Family-to-Family, Pam Koner, 6 Circle Drive, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York 10706, 914-478-0756, fam2family@aol.com, www.family-to-family.com.]

XI. ZIV’S WISH LIST

A. Money for Salaries

I repeat from last year and previous years — Ziv has always had a policy of raising funds separately to pay for salaries.  We feel very strongly about not using a percentage — however small — of donations to pay the people who work to make Ziv run so smoothly. Finding this funding is a time-consuming and emotionally-draining struggle, and for me, personally, my greatest worry. Once again I mention that we are looking for a “Sugar Mommy” or “Sugar Daddy” to solve this problem. Please contact us if you can personally facilitate this or know someone who might want to make this happen. At this point in time, it appears likely that this year we will not have sufficient special funds to cover all salaries.

B. Donating Air Tickets

Ziv has saved thousands of dollars in the past few years because individuals have donated air tickets. The tickets are used to bring our Mitzvah heroes to the conferences and to other important events. They will also be used to allow Naomi to participate in various programs around North America which she would otherwise not be able to attend. Contact Naomi for details on procedures for donating tickets to Ziv. Contact Naomi at 973-763-9396, naomi@ziv.org. These donations are tax-deductible.

XII. MAJOR MITZVAH MONEY

On several occasions in the last few months, a number of individuals with substantial Tzedakah money have come to us for advice on how best to invest their Mitzvah dollars within the Ziv framework. We are truly honored that others believe in our work to the extent that they would consult with us about how best to distribute their own Tzedakah funds. This is a very welcome development, and — within the limited time available to us — we have managed to channel significant funds from them directly to many of our Mitzvah heroes and their projects. In no way does this change the essential nature of Ziv’s grassroots origins and essence. The preponderant amount of donations still come to us in small sums. We are pleased that others, capable of accomplishing so much “in one fell swoop,” turn to us to actualize their own ideas of Tikkun Olam. Naomi’s and Arnie’s research efforts and assistance have made all the difference in this new aspect of our work.

XIII. COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU…

For many years, we have wanted to introduce our American friends to our Israeli Mitzvah heroes. Writing about them in our Annual Report or bringing some of you to Israel on our HeroIsrael Mitzvah Hero tours was one solution to this predicament but, of course, it allows only a limited number to see, first-hand, the grandeur of their faces and their work. How do we accomplish such a feat when thousands of miles separate the “audience” from the “stars”?  (Though they wouldn’t consider themselves to be “stars.”)

This past summer, we were privileged to receive a special grant from long-time supporters of our work who believe in the importance of such encounters. The grant is being used to produce a video recording of many of our Israeli Mitzvah heroes in action. Produced by Einat Kapach, an award-winning cinematographer in Israel and granddaughter of the Rabbanit Kapach, the film follows such greats as Clara Hammer — the Chicken Lady of Jerusalem, Avshalom Beni — Israel’s foremost expert on animal-assisted therapy, Shmuel Munk and Yoram Mordechai of Bayit Cham, to name just a few, as they go about their life-saving Mitzvah work. We anticipate that this video will be an invaluable teaching tool in many different settings. For those schools and other educational institutions where the Ziv Giraffe Tikun Olam curriculum is being used, the video will allow students to hear and see first-hand the stories of the very people they are studying in their classes.

While all segments of the video are now “in the can,” we are currently working on editing and marketing this groundbreaking video with the hope that it may be available by the Spring. Look for more details in the April Annual Report, and on our website as well. We know that this film will be a winner!

XIV. TO SAVE A LIFE-PIKUACH NEFESH

Just as we were going to press with our Annual Report last spring, Ziv Tzedakah Fund became involved in a very special life-saving effort which we know many of you, our readers, were aware of at the time. Donna Glazer, an old friend and well-respected Jewish educator was advised by her doctors that her chronic liver ailment could no longer be controlled by medication and a liver transplant was the only procedure that could offer her a chance of survival. Despite her insurance company’s willingness to pay for pre-transplant testing, in late February Donna was informed that her insurance would not pay for a transplant and she was removed from the transplant list. What followed was a frenetic and amazing flurry of activity by Donna’s friends to organize a drive to raise the funds necessary to get her back on the transplant list and ultimately to receive a donated liver. Within a span of approximately three weeks, Donna’s plight was publicized through the internet and word-of-mouth, donations literally came pouring in through the mail and on-line giving, Donna was placed back on the transplant list and received a new liver on March 27. Never before had we seen such an amazing outpouring of love, concern, and giving. There was no doubt in our mind that many, many people, both within and outside of the Jewish community, believe in one of the most meaningful tenets of our faith, “All Israel is responsible for one another.” We are happy to report that Donna returned home from her surgery within weeks and continues to recover and enjoy her new life. It was an amazing experience for all of us.

XV. ARGENTINIAN JEWS

We recommend to our readers that they contact Rabbi David Gelfand, Rabbi of The Jewish Center of the Hampstons, who can advise them in their efforts to make contributions on behalf of Argentinian Jews: 631-324-9858 X 204, RabbiDJG@aol.com.  Rabbi Gelfand, a longtime friend of Ziv, has been to Argentina and has excellent contacts there. He is intimately familiar with our goals and guidelines, namely — making the greatest impact possible on the lives of others with a minimum of bureaucracy. 

XVI. A PENNY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Inspired by Elie Wiesel’s comment, “One of the greatest lessons my father taught me was to give,” Emily DuBois, a high school senior in Palo Alto, California, and chair of her local United Synagogue Youth Social Action committee, knew she had to do something about the ongoing war in Israel where many of her relatives live. Her response was the “1.5 Million Penny Drive.” With many in her family lost to the Holocaust, Emily’s decision to raise 1.5 million pennies honors the memory of the 1,500,000 children who were murdered by the Nazis. Now past the $9,000 mark, Emily’s efforts have gone from a local venue to nation-wide response. 100% of the funds collected are being transferred to Israelis who have been personally affected by terrorist attacks and are having difficulty in providing the most basic needs for themselves and their families. We have been involved in Emily’s efforts by identifying such families or individuals and making the connection to them on her behalf. Clearly, Emily has proven that even a single penny can help in our Tikkun Olam efforts. We invite you to learn more about her work by visiting her website, http://esd2u.pledgepage.org. This is a fabulous project for individuals, families or religious schools — just set out a jug and watch the loose change pile up — it is that simple.

XVII. HOT MITZVAH ITEMS

A. Guatemalan-Kippot

Ziv and our connections sell thousands of Kippot made by Guatemalan Mayan women. The Kippot are incredibly colorful with unusual designs — perfect for individuals, families, classes of students, Bar and Bat Mitzvah and weddings, and other celebrations.  And….a very real actualization of Maimonides’ highest level of Tzedakah, providing a means of self-sufficiency for individuals. Contact Kathleen Morkert:  773-506-4905, fax: 506-4906, mayaworks-chi@attbi.com, www.mayaworks.org.

B. Ethiopian-Talitot

The North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ), long famous for its life-saving work on behalf of our brothers and sisters still living in Ethiopia as well as those settled in Israel, has produced gorgeous hand-made Tallit bags for years. Now they are producing Talitot, made by Ethiopians still in Addis Ababa, waiting for their moment of Aliya to Israel. I purchased one last August at the CAJE conference, and wherever I go, people comment on its beauty and ask me where they can get their own. Contact NACOEJ: 212-233-5200, NACOEJ@aol.com, www.nacoej.org to order.

C. Exquisite Silver Judaica

Bayit Cham in B’nai B’rak brings hope and rehabilitation for individuals recovering from severe mental distress. One of those individuals reached by Shmuel Munk and Yoram Mordechai, the founders, is a master silversmith, and his Kiddush cups, candlesticks, Mezuzot and other ritual items are worthy and gorgeous additions to any home or synagogue. Contact Shmuel at 011-972-51-598-660, baitcham@zahav.net.il. To view some of the items: www.bayit-cham.com/.

D. For Beged Kefet Fans

For those of you who love the tunes of Beged Kefet, we are happy to announce that this talented group of artists, most of them Cantors and Rabbis, has just released its third album, One Little Dot. As with their previous albums and their personal appearances, proceeds from this new release will benefit the work of Myriam’s Dream, a very special organization guided by the efforts of the late Myriam Mendilow. It was Myriam who believed that by giving our Elders meaningful work, they could live the last years of their lives with respect and dignity.

Copies of the CD are available from Robert Kraus at kraus907@cs.com or checks written to MYRIAM’S DREAM for $18 plus $2 amount of postage can be mailed to: Robert Kraus, Treasurer, MYRIAM’S DREAM, 907 Four Seasons Drive, Wayne NJ 07470. 

XVIII. BRING IN THE CLOWNS

Mitzvah clowning isn’t about juggling or card tricks. It’s about bringing some fun and joy to kids and adults in hospitals and other institutions or anywhere people might be sad or worn down by their troubles. We have made major inroads in Mitzvah clowning through Mike and Sue Turk (a.k.a. Sweetpea and Buttercup) and their many training sessions conducted around the U.S. In Israel, over the past year and a half, Sivan Slapak has been Ziv’s main Mitzvah Clown. Sivan has had enormous success enhancing parties and celebrations in hospitals, nursing homes, wherever her special talents and compassion are needed. She has also become involved in training other groups to do their own Mitzvah clowning. This past summer Sivan also served as one of our interns, and in that position, she trained some of the United Synagogue Youth Israel Pilgrimage groups. To learn more about Mitzvah clowning: sbclowns@aol.com, www.mitzvahclowns.com. Yasher Koach to Mike, Sue, and Sivan.

XIX. A MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

As I reviewed my message from the last November Update, I was struck by just how much has changed in the past twelve months. Our time in Israel this summer was remarkably different from the preceding summer when it seemed as if bombs were exploding almost daily and everyone wondered if life would ever return to what it was only a few years ago. The atmosphere this summer was one of a nation resigned to a life of daily threats. While threats had not ceased, people seemed to be going about their business, cafés were bustling, tour buses were clogging traffic at major intersections and even the venerable King David lobby seemed to be a little busier than we had seen it before. And Ben Yehuda Street, always a good barometer of tourist activity, occasionally appeared to be like the “old days,” days when you had to walk with your arms tight at your sides, against the crush of humanity. It was starting to feel a little like “normal.”

But now, I remember the day we took a group of USY’ers to the Egged bus terminal in Talpiot. The teen-agers had just finished packing up bags of garinim (sunflower seeds — a bus driver’s greatest treat) and peanuts, adding colorful personal notes of support for the drivers. They stood in the depot and every time a bus pulled in after a run they cheered the driver and handed him a bag of nuts. What a sight! Young American teens with short shorts talking to the macho Israeli bus drivers who were more than thrilled by the experience! Forget the nuts! Halfway through, Danny walked away and then called me over. He had a serious look on his face, and, as I approached, he pointed to the rear of the depot. I gasped as I realized that the back of the lot was really a holding area for bombed out Egged buses. Standing there in front of me were some of the latest casualties of the terror. I was sure that the first bus in the row was the ill-fated #14 (bombed only a few days before we arrived) — it was a red and tan Egged — not the usual bright green one, and the top looked as if someone had taken a can opener and lifted it away, much like you would do to a can of sardines. Danny called the teen-agers over and we showed them the corner of the lot....It was a sobering experience for all of them and one that reminded them that what they see on TV and read in the papers is very, very real...not a made-for-TV film.

The other issue that became very clear to us almost from the beginning of our stay was that terror and war were quickly taking a back seat to the very serious downturn in the economy and the accompanying hunger and poverty that was now plaguing even middle-class Israelis. Not only were new programs popping up everywhere to meet the growing need for food, but existing organizations were finding it difficult if not impossible to meet the increased demand for their services. Hunger insecurity was now front-page news in Israel. Stories appeared regularly describing the youngster whose family could not provide him with a school lunch or the worker who would show up for work on Sunday looking tired and totally devoid of energy. When approached by his boss he reported that, though he was working, he did not have enough food to get him through the weekend. Single mothers marched to Jerusalem from distant places to protest the budget cutbacks that would make it nearly impossible for them to feed their hungry families. And, through it all, you could not help but wonder — where is the money going to come from to meet these needs? How long can a country under siege provide guns and butter? Almost all of our Israeli projects were feeling the cutbacks and were enormously grateful for whatever we could do to help them.

On the home scene, there have been some extraordinary changes within our organization. As reported by Danny earlier in this report, we now have Arnie Draiman, our Israel agent, working many more hours each week on our behalf. And, as if that were not enough, we also have our Chavayra, Merrill Alpert, learning with and assisting Arnie daily. How wonderful this is! How many more Mitzvahs we can make happen! How many more lives we can touch! Some days I almost feel as if I have to pinch myself to be sure that I am not dreaming.

While my phone continues to ring with questions about Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects and requests for meaningful ways to celebrate a Simcha, I find that now more of my time is being spent advising others on how to use their Tzedakah money in a way that will have the greatest impact on truly changing lives. I am learning daily that Ziv’s model and all that it encompasses — Mitzvah heroes, low overhead, the special agent, designated giving — is what many people want to emulate in their own giving.

I have also learned that with our vast network of contacts, people on the frontlines, we can easily discover an individual or family for whom a relatively small investment of Tzedakah dollars can make a huge difference in their lives, or even, in some cases, turn their lives around. It is this specific model, what we call the special agent, that gives all of us the greatest boost. It takes very little to uncover these situations and often it takes a relatively small sum to resolve the problem. We are, in fact, saving the world one life at a time — it is very powerful and very effective. See Danny’s notes under the “Special Agent” heading if you wish to become part of this special Tzedakah work.

At times, people have asked me if I ever feel frustrated by the huge challenges we face with the needs of more than 130 programs and the limited resources we bring to resolving those challenges. The question truly stuns me because that particular frustration never really enters my mind. There is rarely a day that goes by when I, as your agent, have not been responsible for changing a life in some way — either big or small. What awesome work I am privileged to do!

XX. A WORD OF TORAH

Nickole Evans, a high school student in Kennewick, WA, has established quite a reputation for her many acts of goodness and kindness to others. In an article I read about her, she is quoted, “I’m not the smartest girl in the world, nor am I the most talented. What I have is a heart.” And she uses her good heart to make good things happen. Use all the SAT words you want: her deeds are multifarious, variegated, multitudinous. In simple words, she loves to do good, and does a lot of it. Her Mitzvah work calls to mind the statement from the Talmud (Bava Metzia 87a): Rabbi Elazar says, “Tzaddikim-Good People say little and do much.” It is in the doing that we are defined as people. Perhaps with the right encouragement, Nickole, our wise teacher, will grow up to be an Alice Jonah, or Ranya Kelly, or Anita Shkedi, changing the world one person at a time.

One other exceptionally interesting quote, by a certain Anthony J. D’Angelo, “Realize that if you have time to whine and complain about something, then you have the time to do something about it.” (Or as it appears on famous bumper stickers, “Quit yer whining!” — and do something.)

XXI. CONCLUSION

It’s about passion. After all these years, I finally found the word that was missing from many of Ziv’s messages – “passion.” We — Naomi, Arnie, and I, are passionate about our Mitzvah work; our donors are passionate about our work — the letters, phone calls, e-mails, and faxes we receive are filled with passion, and, of course, the Mitzvah Heroes themselves embody the highest form of passion for Tikkun Olam imaginable. This is what attracts us to them. Not a bureaucrat among them; no apparatchiks, no schmoozers, grifters, con artists, machers, pseudo- and hyper-machers, kibitzers, not a single schvitzer. Just plain, humble, passionate people unwilling to accept the world as it is and determined to change it according to their vision of how life should be.

All the More strength to all of you who join us in our Mitzvah work!

Lechaim-To Life!