It’s all systems go at Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov and last minute preparations are well underway for the 5776 Pre-Pesach Market – a market unlike any other, which will take place in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh.
This Tuesday 10th Nissan, Rechov Shmuel Hanavi in Yerushalayim, and Wednesday, 11thNissan, Rechov Rav Yehuda Hanasi in Beit Shemesh, the streets will be closed off to traffic and transformed into open air markets, combining the essence of chessed with the mitzvah of Kimcha D’Pischa.
Askanim and volunteers worked tirelessly in their modest headquarters processing all the lists well in advance, providing the individualized Yom Tov package to abundantly meet each of the more than 10,000 recipient families’ needs. Each family has already received their personalized vouchers in a discreet manner, together with the itemized information of exactly what they will be “buying” and where and when it can be picked up.
The Pre-Pesach Market 5766 is fully stocked for more than 10,000 food packages consisting of a colossal 80,000 pounds of meat and chicken, 30,000 pounds of Matzos, 92,000 bottles of wine and grape juice from Italy for Kiddush and Arba Kosos, close to 2 million eggs and seven hundred thousand kilo of fruits and vegetables, and much much more.
Families arrive at the market where there is an upbeat atmosphere as they pass the individual distributions points with their shopping carts and load the handpicked top-quality Pesach provisions and produce, in exchange for their individual vouchers which are the “currency” of this unique market.
The “customer” comes to the beginning of the street and approaches a pile of potatoes, presents the voucher and a volunteer loads a few sacks into his cart. He then proceeds to a skid of apples and similarly a volunteer lifts a few cartons and places them in his cart. From there the “customer” continues on to the variety of canned goods, wines and other non-perishables before proceeding to the huge stock of matzos and then to the large freezers to pick up his meat, fish and chicken.
Finally the “customer’s” voucher envelope is empty and his shopping cart is overflowing with everything his family needs to guarantee a joyful, worry-free Yom Tov. The calm, dignified, relaxed atmosphere truly makes a difference. The emotions written on the faces of the “customers” who come to shop at the pedestrian market attest to the tremendous impact on their lives. The reaction of joy, relief and tears of gratitude is frequently displayed openly, as families load their shopping into the vans and taxis that are lined up to transport the “shopper” and his provisions to his home, which is already sparkling and clean in honor of Pesach.
Besides all the pre-planning, Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov, always prepares far more merchandise than the amount of the vouchers so that they can accommodate the influx of “last minute shoppers” from all ‘types and stripes’ and present themselves as in need fortzorchei Yom Tov.
Simply sponsor a family this Pesach for $250 with the knowledge that Rabbi Stern and Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov are able to stretch every donor dollar to its maximum potential by their cost effective system of buying in bulk from manufacturers and suppliers who offer a generous discount.
As you sit down to the Seder with your families you will have the zechus of having fulfilled Kol Dichfin as you envision the family that you have sponsored having oneg Yom Tov in Eretz Yisroel and may we all be zoche to L’Shana Habaah B’Yerushalayim.
Donate now, and be a part of it!
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www.friendsofoneg.org
By phone:
1.888.646.5891
By mail:
Oneg Shabbos and Yom Tov
183 Wilson St. # 339
Brooklyn NY 11211
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One Response
I remember coming to R’ Efraim’s house Shabbos morning for a meal and it was jammed with guests so we decided to ‘slip out’ and go somewhere else. After I was already on the street, R’ Efraim was shouting out his window at us to come back and told us he is gonna make ‘lots of space’ for us. What a baal chessed!