When I was in Israel on business, I was asked to visit the Hazon Yeshaya soup kitchens, an organization which helps feed poor people in Israel. As you may know, Israel’s poor population has grown to unimaginable proportions. There are over 1.6 million people (about 25% of the population) and 900,000 children under poverty level in Israel.
While visiting one of the Hazon Yeshaya facilities, I saw up close the type of work they do. People in their 70s and 80s were waiting from six in the morning for what, for some, would be their only meal of the day. As the people started lining up two elderly ladies in their 70s got on line. All of a sudden a fight broke out between them, with actual punches being thrown for a spot in the line. The ‘loser’ cried silently as she waited for her food. It was truly a heart wrenching scene. To be in Israel, which is considered to be an economic power, and witness such poverty was beyond my understanding and hurt deeply.
Abraham Israel, a member of our community, who made aliyah and now lives in Jerusalem, is the founder of Hazon Yeshaya. As a child, he and his family had to leave Egypt and were refugees in Paris for a few years while waiting to come to the United States. During those difficult times, he and his family had to make use of soup kitchens in order to survive.
Abraham always wanted to be able to repay the favor and when he got the chance he founded Hazon Yeshaya soup kitchens. What started out as helping one woman in need has grown to unimaginable proportions. Abraham has dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate than he. He credits our Sephardic community for instilling in him the values to help those in need. Modestly, he says anyone from the business world could do the same if they had the time and focused their talents on doing this work.
Abraham donates all his time, taking no salary and runs this hesed organization like a business. He is away from his family, traveling six to seven months a year trying to raise funds for this vital organization. He just received the Volunteer Award for 2008 from the mayor of Jerusalem.
He is an accountant by trade and he keeps overhead low, around 2-3%. He is able to do this because the organization get thousands of volunteers from Israel and all over the world to help when they visit Israel.
Sammy Sutton of The Sephardic Community Federation (SCF) visited Hazon Yeshaya and was amazed by the way the organization was being run. He was in awe of the size, variety of services provided and efficiency of the operation.
Sammy verified the information through an independent auditor, who was hired by a Hong Kong foundation and found them worthy of significant financial support.
As Sammy said to Abraham, “I am a bit jealous of you. You left America to pursue your dream and were able to accomplish so much truly meaningful work . Your work makes a difference to tens of thousands of people. Kol Hakavod!”
Hazon Yeshaya began 12 years ago as one person meeting a destitute woman in Jerusalem and helping her. It has grown into a volunteer-driven social service organization, like our own SBH with branches in cities in Israel, like Jerusalem, Rishon LeZion, Ashkelon and Eilat, etc. They service Sderot and other places in the north and are looking to open a facility there. They are currently serving 14,000 meals per day. Over 400,000 meals per month and 5,000,000 meals per year, at over 60 locations throughout Israel!
They are dedicated to providing daily, hot, nourishing meals to people of all ages, backgrounds, immigrants and locals, healthy and ill, children from broken or abusive homes, women fleeing abusive relationships, Holocaust survivors and victims of terror. They also provide free vocational training, free dental clinics for people who are in desperate need of unaffordable dental care and free day care.
They provide food to people who come in every day to pick it up, home bound delivery, children in afternoon school extended programs, and to children in school who don’t get enough at home. In many cases, it is their only meal of the day.
Hazon Yeshaya provides this service 365 days a year, through all the holidays. They are open during Sukkot, with a sukkah and Passover when seders are sponsored for thousands of poor and elderly.
The free vocational training teaches secretarial skills, computor skills, hair dressing, cosmetics, bookkeeping and office management to help people become self-sufficient. Hundreds have already graduated. They are now working and earning a living.
They sponsor Bar/Bat Mitzvahs for orphans, terminally ill and dysfunctional children. They give them gifts, a party with young adults singing and cheering for them, a festive meal and clowns and magicians so they can celebrate with their families.
Recently, a parlor meeting was graciously co-sponsored by the Chehebar and Dabah families at the home of Raquel and Victor Dabah. After having seen first-hand what Hazon Yeshaya does, these families and others throughout the community have opened up their hearts and pockets to help feed, train and care for Israel’s poor.
The following people were inspired to join a committee and work on behalf of Hazon Yeshaya: Jack Jouky Chehebar, Kim Dabah, Solomon Dabah, Jack Doueck, Morris Esses, Ely J. Harary, Joey R. Harary, Alan M. Maleh, Chucky Mamiye, Rick Rudy, Jesse Sutton and Hymie M Shamah.
Hazon Yeshaya has become a must-see hesed stop on trips to Israel. So the next time you’re in Israel feel free to stop by and see it for yourself. It’s something you’ll never forget.
Hazon Yeshaya has been recommended by rabbis and leaders of our community and around the world. People such as Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Elie Wiesel and Ephrain Katzir the fourth president of Israel are honorary directors of Hazon Yeshaya.
On blueswitch.com/hazon.asp. you can see a video presentation which features Abraham Israel and Chief Rabbi Sachs. You can also visit their website www.hazonyeshaya.org. You will be amazed at the scope of what they do.
Your support is crucial. Donations can be sent to: American Friends of Hazon Yeshaya, 1924 East 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11223.
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Ely Harary is a community member
