Temple Beth Am Library Minyan The mitzvah of Matanot Le’evyonim is unique in that the money collected should not be put into a Tikkun Olam fund or sit in a tzeddakah box, but should be distributed that day and given to those in need. At the Library Minyan’s first-ever Purim Seudah on Sunday March 20th, over $400 (and one peso) was collected from the megilla reading that morning.
After the money was counted and the total announced by Noam Fields-Meyer, TBA USY’s Social Action/Tikkun Olam Vice President Jeremy Bacharach and I drove to purchase twenty $20 Subway gift cards and headed to PATH.
Once there, we were guided by security to the second floor to give gift cards to mothers and children in the Family Room. On a rainy Sunday afternoon the residents were pleasantly surprised to see us and very grateful for the cards. Some feedback was that they were thankful for the healthy food option; one child was excited for the Subway cookies; and another mother was grateful because she had just gotten a job and needed to be able to bring her lunch to work.
As a new mother it was hard not to get choked up seeing the residents’ reaction to this simple but often unmet act of charity. In addition to the gift cards, we were able to supply the floor with a much-needed microwave, graciously donated by Rabbi Susan Laemmle. The microwave will enable residents to heat their food at night after work, have some tea and other day-to-day conveniences we tend to take for granted.
With seven gift cards remaining after the Family Room, Jeremy and I went upstairs to the men’s floor where we had enough cards to give to each of the registered Veterans. Jeremy and I were able to walk through the facility and hand deliver each card. The residents appreciated the one-on-one contact while we explained who we were, Temple Beth Am, and even gave a tiny lesson about the holiday of Purim.
The mitzvah of Matanot Le’evyonim was fulfilled on Purim this year in a new and special way, thanks to the efforts of Norm Saiger, the cooperation of the greater TBA community and Library Minyan. On behalf of TBA USY and PATH Homeless shelters, I would like to thank the Library Minyan for the opportunity given to us on Purim to perform such a meaningful and impactful mitzvah.
B’Shalom,
Alana Levitt
Youth Director, Director of Camp Keshet