We’ve all heard the stories. Stories of neighbors, relatives, or friends who are struggling to put food on the table, to buy the bare essentials for their families. Some of them have been struggling for years, while others were once financially comfortable and have now fallen on hard times.
We hear the stories, sigh sympathetically, and offer a tefillah for things to improve. Then we move on to the next thing on our to-do list. It’s not that we don’t care; we just feel so helpless. What can we possibly do to improve the poor family’s lot?
Consider the case of Family A.
Mrs. A. has a master’s degree in her chosen field and works hard to support her family. She lives in a comfortable house, though the front lawn looks somewhat neglected. There are two cars parked in the driveway, because both she and her husband commute to work.
When Mrs. A. goes shopping, she compares prices and often returns items to the shelf when she sees the total will surpass her budget. She rarely buys herself new outfits and tries to make do with the hand-me-downs of a well dressed relative. She’d rather reserve any wardrobe purchases she can afford for her children.
At first glance, it may appear that Mrs. A.’s family is living a financially comfortable life. She and her husband are homeowners and drive their own cars. In truth, however, a business reversal resulted in some serious debt and the family’s home is now in foreclosure.
Any extra expenses are difficult for the A. family, so preparing for Shabbos each week is a real challenge. Grape juice, chicken, fish, challah… None of these come cheaply, yet all are an essential part of Shabbos.
So what can we do, you ask? How can you, a compassionate Jew sitting in from of his computer, possibly reach out to Family A. and others like them? Can you really make a difference?
INVITE A TOMCHE SHABBOS FAMILY FOR SHABBOS
The answer is a resounding “YES!” Now you can finally offer more than a sigh and a prayer. You can take action and ensure that struggling families will be able to enjoy the peace of Shabbos and partake in proper Shabbos meals. Perhaps, as they sit together with food on the table, they will temporarily forget their financial woes and experience real menuchas haShabbos.
So how exactly does the program work? Obviously, Family A. and others like them do not want to wander from house to house each Shabbos, broadcasting their pathetic situation and having pitiful glances thrown in their direction! Imagine the shame and humiliation that would cause!
For years, Tomche Shabbos of Rockland County has worked tirelessly to help families maintain their dignity while receiving weekly boxes of food items necessary to prepare Shabbos at home. These boxes, delivered under the cover of darkness, ensure complete anonymity and allow struggling families to hold onto their dignity, even as they reach out for help. Some of these families are struggling because the primary breadwinner was laid off. Others are dealing with a serious illness, which resulted in a lost job and mounting medical debt. And then there are those who keep working and trying to make ends meet, yet simply can’t keep up with daily expenses.
Now, Tomche Shabbos has launched a unique program to allow generous people everywhere to “invite” these families for Shabbos. With the “Invite a Family” program, you don’t shame families by inviting them to your table, but for only $50 each week you can sponsor their Shabbos meals so that they can eat with dignity in their own homes. Additionally, you can choose to “invite” families with children that are close in age to your own. Thus you can enhance your Shabbos meals with the knowledge that a family similar to yours is enjoying their Shabbos food, thanks to your generosity.
INVITE A TOMCHE SHABBOS FAMILY FOR SHABBOS
As one family said, “Supporting a family similar to our own is so meaningful to us. We feel it is like an insurance policy that guarantees that we will be able to continue supporting our own family.”
The F. family from Flushing, New York, has also joined the “Invite a Family” program and is sponsoring a family that has two children with special needs, who require a specialized education program. They’ve also shared that “helping a family enjoy a meaningful and special Shabbos each week really enhances our own oneg Shabbos.”
To invite a Tomche Shabbos family and enhance your family’s Shabbos, please contact Rabbi Akiva Tendler at 845-641-8450 or visit our website at www.tomcheshabbos.org and click on “Invite a Family.”
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4 Responses
Although the intentions are good and this seems like a good idea, however when a family invites another family who is struggling, it can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing for the recipients, especially if they’ don’t usually socialize. When food or money is distributed to them during he week, whether it be in their mailbox or on the doorstep, it avoids this embarrassment. Your thoughts??
@cmfriedman
I believe you missed part of the article. Here is a quote from it that should explain\
“With the “Invite a Family” program, you don’t shame families by inviting them to your table, but for only $50 each week you can sponsor their Shabbos meals so that they can eat with dignity in their own homes.”
#1 – You obviously didn’t read the article to the end. When you “invite” a family via Tomchei Shabbos, you are sending Shabbos meals via Tomche Shabbos to a specific family. This is as if they are actually guests at your Shabbos table. Now you can have guests without having to cook or clean extra!
We actually use this concept to explain the Pesach concepts of “Kol dichfin” from “Ha Lachma Anya” to our children. We say all are invited, but there are no strangers at our Pesach Seder. In reality, the Kimcha D’Pischa money that we gave to provide Yom Tov food for families of lesser means actually means that they are our Yom Tov guests. Only in this manner, we have spared their dignity and allowed them to sit at their own tables.
For social company though, you’ll have to invite your own friends.
DR put very well