Food Shabbos

There is a beautiful Jewish organization called Tomchei Shabbos that I had the privilege to volunteer for. This non profit quietly and respectfully delivers a box of sabbath making essentials each week, to an unfortunate growing list of needy recipients in the Jewish community. Anonymous volunteers pack the boxes in a warehouse on Tuesday, then on Wednesday another group of volunteers delivers the boxes secretly to the homes in need. Each component is carried out with the utmost respect and sensitivity towards these families. In Judaism, it is taught that the highest level of charity is done with the highest level of silence, so as never to embarrass the recipient. It's a truly beautiful, incredibly sensitive premise.

It is customary, prior to the year of a bar or bat mitzvah, for the child to embark on a special mitzvah/ good deed, to prepare themselves spiritually for the bikini clad motivational dancers and chocolate fountain at their party🙄. Monks lock themselves in a monastery in the hills of Thailand. We prepare set lists and choose color schemes and logos. Different strokes for different folks. All kidding aside, it's really nice to introduce our kids to the concept of charity work at an early age. When this is done right, and it isn't always (I reserve the right to opine when solicited for money by a thirteen year old with their own swimming pool), it imprints. Charitable kids will become charitable adults. It's that simple. There's tons of opportunities.

My daughter and I chose Tomchei Shabbos for obvious reasons. She put together a group of friends, who packed the boxes every single week for a year. The moms took turns driving and packing too. The boxes consisted of basic sabbath items and ingredients. I was astounded people couldn't afford celery and apples. It was really eye opening. When the volunteers who would then deliver came to pick up the boxes, it was always so heartwarming. It was usually men stopping off on the way home from work. It really enforced the power of community, and the idea that we all must look out for one another. That our children must be involved, that they must make a commitment to serve others. This is simply not optional. It's essential for the survival humankind. The warehouse was cold and dark, especially in the winter, but it housed importance. It contained necessity, it contained purpose. People were about to be fed, families to be helped. More so than the food was the feeding of the soul of all parties involved. The concept of giving and receiving assistance and respect to others. As sad as it is to know there are so many hungry, needy families, there is always joy in doing whatever we can to alleviate that, even temporarily. I'm so proud of my daughter for making this commitment at such a young age, she took it so seriously and packed with such intention. We donated all the fresh produce from her party to the organization to be used the following week. Yes, we had the DJ, the color scheme cake pops, the dancers, the whole shebang. But most importantly, the event had so much meaning because she had put in the time and effort, and was shaped over the year by her charitable experience. I learned a lot from her that year, as I continue to do every year. I'm very grateful that I'm part of a community where helping others is woven into the fabric of our children's lives. I know it's Monday, but Good Shabbos anyway ❤️😘😊🤗