Shavuot
Written by Oriel Rosen for the Chasdei Naomi Nonprofit Charity Organization
College Students Volunteer
Written by Oriel Rosen for the Chasdei Naomi Nonprofit Charit Organization
Shavuot Care Packages | Dairy Distribution
The Shavuot holiday is fast approaching, and some have already started cooking the delicious dairy dishes that will adorn the holiday tables. Quiches, cheesecakes, cheese pastries, gratins, etc. On the one hand, freezers are filling up, but on the other hand, in thousands of families, the refrigerators are still desperately empty. The prices of dairy products have recently increased again, and the mere act of buying yellow cheese has become a luxury.
This year once again, Chasdei Naomi has launched a large-scale distribution campaign of dairy product kits, to allow the underprivileged the opportunity to celebrate the holiday joyfully. Chef Jeki Azulay, who received help from the organization as a child, came to pack the Shavuot Care Packages, along with The Beit Shemesh Police Academy, who joined Chasdei Naomi in packing and distributing the kits directly to the homes of the Holocaust survivors and elderly citizens here in Israel.
What does the Shavuot kit contain?
Milk and chocolate milk, pots of fresh cream, yogurts and dessert creams, white cheese, cottage cheese, yellow cheese and feta to prepare dishes such as quiches or gratins, butter cookies and milk chocolate bars to make delicious desserts, and a traditional cheesecake, the must-have of the Shavuot holiday. There is something for everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Hundreds of kits have been packed and distributed.
Police Academy Celebrate Holocaust Survivor
On the day of the distribution in Beit Shemesh, we had the privilege of celebrating the 100th birthday of Yitzhak Gerstner, a Holocaust survivor. He is the grandfather of Police Commander Tal Azoulay, who helped us, with his officers, during the packing and distribution. Mr. Gerstner was born in Germany in 1924. When he was 8 years old, Hitler came to power and life took a turn. In 1936, at the age of 11, he was expelled from school in his hometown and had to flee with his family. Most of his family members perished during the Holocaust.
Koby, Yitzhak’s son and Tal’s uncle, recounted in a choked voice: “When my father was a little boy in Poland, he was very sick, and when the doctor came, his parents were told that he had to undergo a very complex operation. His father then consulted a respected rabbi, who was also a kabbalist. He looked into books of Kabbalah and said that Yitzhak did not need to be operated on and that he would live until the age of 102. And here he is, he has reached the age of 100.”
The police academy students also packed fruits and vegetables for the Holocaust survivors of Beit Shemesh. Within an hour, the latter arrived to pick up their packages and left with a full cart, overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables – tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, cherries, apricots… and delicious dairy products.
Chasdei Naomi’s dedication to supporting vulnerable members of society exemplifies its core values of compassion and unity. Through initiatives like these, the organization continues to make a positive difference in the community, inspiring others to join in the noble cause of helping those in need.
Join us in this meaningful endeavor as we come together to honor the past, support the present, and build a brighter future for the Jewish community. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most.