Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty will distribute 2.1 million pounds of kosher for Passover food ahead of the holiday to an estimated 50,000 families in need. These holiday food packages will allow families in every neighborhood in the five boroughs to partake in holiday festivities despite the often prohibitive costs of kosher food. Staff and volunteers will distribute kosher for Passover food to families in need at the local Jewish Community Councils from March 25 to April 10.
Ahead of Jewish holidays, Met Council distributes an increased amount of food packages and food cards because we understand the unique challenges of affording kosher food and the importance of food for rituals. Throughout the world, food is often the centerpiece of religious and cultural events. Sharing a meal with friends and family in times of celebration or observance carries symbolic meaning essential to the holidays they represent.
“For most of us, Passover is a time for festive family seders. But for too many of New York’s Jewish needy, the Festival of Our Freedom is, ironically, just the opposite – yet another painful reminder of the oppression of poverty,” said David M. Frankel, CEO and Executive Director of Met Council.
“In New York City, there are a half a million poor and near poor Jewish New Yorkers who struggle to feed their family every day. The 2.1 million pounds of food we distribute will allow our clients to observe Passover with a traditional and nutritious meal that otherwise would have been price prohibitive; on average a kosher meal is 30% more expensive.”
These Passover food packages are part of Met Council’s year round Kosher Food Network, which provides a holistic care program of food packages, emergency food vouchers and prepared meals to supplement food to low-income households throughout New York City. These meals enable Met Council clients to eat more healthfully — and ensure that they can use their limited income to meet other daily needs, such as rent, clothing and medications.
This Passover, Met Council will feed 50,000 families in time for Passover by:
· Distributing 2.1 million pounds of kosher-for-Passover food at 90 different locations
· Providing $400,000 in Food Cards to allow families to purchases Passover resources
The food packages will include traditional staples, such as matzah, tuna fish, gefilte fish, carrots, potatoes, apple sauce, etc.
If you or someone you know needs food assistance this Passover, please call your local JCC.
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Brooklyn |
Bensonhurst COJOSephardic Nursing Home
2266 Cropsey Ave Brooklyn, NY 11214
Shorefront JCC JASA Scheuer House 3161 Brighton 6th St. Brooklyn, NY 11235 Thursday, April 10th at 9:30am
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COJO FlatbushPackaging @Yeshiva of Flatbush
919 East 10th St Brooklyn, NY 11230 Thursday, April 3rd at 11:30am
UJO of Williamsburg Brooklyn Navy Yard 63 Flushing Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 Sunday, April 6th at 11am |
Boro ParkMasbia of Boro Park
4114 14th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11219 Thursday, April 10th at 4pm
JCC of Greater Coney Island 3001 West 37th St. Brooklyn, NY 11224 Monday, April 7th at 10:30
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Queens
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Queens JCC119-45 Union Turnpike
Forest Hills, NY 11375 Sunday, April 6th at 12:30pm
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JCC of the Rockaway Peninsula1525 Central Ave.
Far Rockaway, NY 11691 (Entrance on Foam Place) Wednesday, April 9th at 9:30am
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Manhattan |
JCC of Washington Heights90 Bennett Ave
New York, NY 10033 Tuesday, April 1st at 7:30pm |
UJC of the Lower East Side15-17 Willet Ave
New York, NY 10002 Thursday, April 3rd 2pm |
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Bronx
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Bronx JCC2050 Bartow Ave
Bronx, NY 10475 Sunday, April 6th 9am |
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One Response
According to a study by UJA-Federation of New York, as reported by the New York Times (June 11, 2012), the New York City Jewish population is about 1.1 million. According to the article above, about 500,000 Jews in New York City are living in or near poverty, i.e., 45%. That sounds extremely high to me.
As I recall, the executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (I am not naming him, as investigations are pending, and I’m being nice for a change) has been dismissed for misconduct within the last 12 months, and that seems to cast a shadow on the integrity of the Met Council.
I raise these questions because there seems to be “too much” food being distributed by the Met Council. If the Jewish poverty rate in New York City were 22% (i.e., half of the amount reported by the Met Council), then the Met Council is raising “too much” money for this particular mission, and maybe other aspects of its activity as well. I have no objection to aid for needy families, but given the cloud over the Met Council’s former executive director, and the amounts reportedly being distributed for Pesach, I wonder whether there is some abuse going on at the Met Council.