MISASKIM: MORE THAN SHIVA CHAIRS

WHAT IS MISASKIM? ASK ANY PERSON ON THE STREET AND YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THE SHIVA DELIVERIES THAT SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE UTILIZED. HOWEVER, FIND AND ASK A MISASKIM VOLUNTEER WHAT MISASKIM DOES, AND THEIR ANSWER WILL KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR FEET.

Misaskim is well-known for their disaster recovery services as well as the service provided to those grieving a loss. But there is so much more that goes on and people have absolutely no idea about it. For years, the volunteers at Misaskim have shied away from the public eye, preferring instead to do much of their holy work secretly and without anyone knowing about it. But now for the first time, in this exclusive piece on the organization, we are going to uncover some of that mystery.

MOURNER’S NEEDS
When a loved one passes, Misaskim is at the forefront in providing for the family during the week of shiva. Beyond the shiva necessities such as delivering the chairs, water and prayer books, an additional incredible act of kindness is what the team of volunteers does to the shiva home come Shabbat, when there are young children sitting shiva for a parent. When a family is mourning, going into Shabbat with the mirrors covered and the furniture moved out of the way makes a difficult time feel even more so. Volunteers come into the home on Erev Shabbat to pack all the paraphernalia away and then put it all back out on Saturday night. It is a small kindness that goes a long way, bringing many families to tears.

Misaskim’s volunteers are trained to look around the shiva house they are servicing, and to take note of anything that might be missing that would be needed. Whether it is a light bulb that needs to be changed, or a fridge that needs to be stocked or laundry that needs to be washed, the volunteers will go above and beyond to do what is needed.

When there are young children in the shiva home, volunteers will show up with toys that are age appropriate to keep the kids busy. Master storytellers and entertainers are also sent to the home to bring some joy to these young neshamot. Misaskim stores all their toys in a warehouse to ensure they have supplies whenever they may be needed.

Misaskim goes above and beyond to help those sitting shiva, but their work begins before and extends way beyond the shiva.

There are families who cannot afford to bury their loved one. There are families who do not care to bring the deceased to a Jewish burial at all and would rather go the cremation route.

And then there are those who pass away with no family at all, r”l. Who will hold a funeral for this person and ensure he receives proper kevura (burial)?

Misaskim has helped thousands in all of the aforementioned scenarios, over and over.

BEYOND THE WEEK OF SHIVA
One of the most closely guarded and beloved secrets of Misaskim operations is the work they do for the almonot (widows) and yetomim (orphans) of the community. There is a whole world of hesed performed that is completely under the radar. Part of the reason for this is the humility and secrecy in which the volunteers operate. Much of the hesed is done quietly, and while the acts may seem small, they make a world of a difference to a family suffering a recent loss.

It’s changing the light bulbs for a family who lost a small child and the parent says, “I’ve been meaning to get to that for 18 months, but life was—you know.”

It’s putting up the basketball hoop for the boys who lost their father, with their mother standing in the doorway watching with a sad smile.

It’s the call from the new almanah (widow) whose husband just died because she needs a ride home from the medical examiner’s office.

These are the details that make Misaskim great. Indeed, it is these acts of kindness that will remain as a child’s core memory, even after time has passed and the volunteers have long forgotten it. Misaskim wastes no time assisting those in need and they do not turn away or give up, even when the situation seems daunting. Long after shiva has ended and others have moved on with their lives, Misaskim volunteers receive call after call from almonot or families for assistance in a variety of matters, and they never turn anyone away.

When a person calls Misaskim, they know that their requests will be handled with their dignity intact, and with the utmost privacy. Both are essential aspects that every volunteer within the organization is trained in, and it makes all the difference.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS
The official mission of Misaskim is to alleviate tragedy and coordinate crises. One may begin to wonder why is Misaskim always in the forefront of news when it comes to community awareness? Why has Misaskim become the organization that other organizations call when they need assistance in dealing with local agencies? It all began decades ago, with Yanky Meyer, the founder and director of Misaskim. In the event of an unusual or tragic death, there is a process that needs to be followed. Local police are called, and then the body is sent to the medical examiner’s office for further investigation. Meyer would observe grieving families waiting hours to get the niftar (dead person)released by the medical examiner’s office. In his effort to help the community, Meyer spent endless hours over a span of months establishing connections with local law enforcement and government agencies to educate them on the Jewish custom of not delaying funerals or burial. They worked together on a solution that would help expedite the process of releasing a body. There is a reason that this system is set in place, and in no way does Misaskim stand in the way. Rather, after realizing that this was a process that took anywhere between 8 and12 hours, and that families were going through so much anguish due to the delayed levaya (funeral), Yanky Meyer worked for many months to streamline the process. Nowadays, instead of 8 to12 hours, it can take as little as two hours for the medical examiner to release a body.

Misaskim services the greater Jewish community in the tri-state area, with warehouses and garages in 11 neighborhoods to date, including Deal. The van used in Deal was donated this summer by Eli and Isaac Eddi in memory of their father Simon Eddi.