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ארגון החסד – בית התבשיל קערעסטיר
Bet Hatavshil Kerestir, is a new non-profit organization dedicated to providing food to people in need in Bet Shemesh, Israel.
Feeding the Hungry
In Hebrew, the word tavshil refers to a hot, delicious meal, cooked with love. At Bet Hatavshil we are dedicated to providing food and love to people. The Grand Rabbi of Kerestir, Hungary, promised that whoever fed the hungry in his name would be rewarded, and so we named our organization Kerestir in his honor.
Humble Beginnings
In Israeli society, which is family oriented, a woman after birth will usually be taken care of by her own mother. However, if the couple move to a different community, it is not always practical. Being home after birth with a new baby, and dealing with the exhaustion, physical weakness and uncertainty all alone is very hard for a new mother. If in addition to this she has other children and lives far from family support, she can quickly become overwhelmed and even depressed. Bet Hatavshil was started with this need in mind – to provide one hot meal each day for a new family (mother, father and children) exactly like a grandmother would.
Meals for Mothers after Birth
Each day we deliver up to 250 hot, nutritious meals in Ramat Bet Shemesh, a neighborhood of Bet Shemesh, a town with a growing population situated about 45 minutes from Jerusalem. Ramat Bet Shemesh is a community of young families. Most of these people have moved away from their parents due to cheaper property prices and a great community feeling. In times of sadness and joy, the community supports each other. The families can order their meals the day before, and we provide these dishes free of charge for the first three weeks after a baby is born.
Breakfast
We have all heard the adage, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, but many needy families do not eat breakfast. They cannot afford food for three meals a day and so skip this important first meal. Beit Hatavshil serves breakfast to over 100 people each day. We opened a breakfast room in a local synagogue where people can pop in for a coffee and a sandwich in the morning. We do not ask questions or take payment. Many children stop in Bet Hatvshil on their way to school to take two slices of bread and some cheese that will become their lunch. Without our breakfast room, these children would not have breakfast or lunch.
Challah for Shabbat
An important part of the shabbat meal is the blessing made on two braided loaves – challah. This delicious bread is the highlight of a shabbat meal. We do not want any family to miss out on this important ingredient, so each Friday morning we distribute 1,000 loaves to local synagogues. People help themselves to two loaves each. This is all done quietly so that no one needs to ask for a handout or explain their uncomfortable situation. It is the ultimate in respectful giving.
Grocery Vouchers
Bet Hatavshil has an agreement with two small, local grocery stores. We provide a special voucher which can be redeemed for milk and bread at either of these two stores. At present 50 families with more than ten children who are living below the poverty line, receive these vouchers every week to exchange for their basic necessities.
Helping the Youth of the Community
We are very proud that through creating a culture of giving to others and taking care of needy families, we are also able to help young men who have dropped out of school and do not have any structure in their lives. Beit Hatavshil employs six young men (age 16-21) who deliver meals, clean the kitchens, manage the storage and do various odd jobs for the organization. Having a job brings them pride and financial stability that means they are not involved with crime and stealing. The structure of regular employment is important to help them stay away from negative influences on the street, and the fulfillment gained from a day of helping others who are less fortunate gives them a sense of worth.
Plans for 2019
To provide more hot meals to new mothers
To increase our services and provide special shabbat meals for families for the first two weeks after the mother has given birth
To welcome more people for breakfast and provide extra bread, cheese and vegetables so that children can pack a lunch for their school day
To increase the sum of each grocery voucher so that families can but additional staples such as eggs and cheese.
Annual Costs
A Vision for the Future
Our ultimate plan is to build a facility with a large catering kitchen and dining hall that will be open to guests all day and feed three meals to hungry people all over Bet Shemesh.
Funding Request
Bet HaTavshil is supported by small donations from the local community. In order to increase our activities, we turn to you and ask you to support our activities by making a donation. We have tax deductible for all your donations
