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A major operation is underway ahead of Pesach to deliver kimcha d’pischa assistance to 4,500 homes to permit them to celebrate Yomtov in a suitable fashion. Twenty-two trucks are involved in delivering tens of thousands of cartons of goods which are packed by hundreds of volunteers filled with thousands of product under the banner of the Tov V’Chessed organization ( “טוב וחסד”) which is based in Yerushalayim but assists families nationwide.
The organization has been operating for over a decade, concentrating on homes that simply have nothing. Needless to say Pesach is one of its major drivers due to the nature of the Yomtov.
The organization is headed by R’ Yaakov Eliezer Shisha (ר’ יעקב אליעזר שישא), who carries the fundraising burden on his shoulders. Making him more unique is one of his decisions, to only deliver quality items to families, not just leftovers or second grade merchandise that is often channeled to the needy.
According to organization officials, each package delivered to the thousands of families is worth “thousands of shekels, about NIS 4,000, and of course this depends on the family’s size and the financial situation”.
With Yomtov rapidly approaching, they are working double shifts to get the packages delivered in plenty of time. They are traveling to 35 cities and municipalities from Yerushalayim to Tzfat and Tiveria via the smaller municipalities too including Betar Illit, Beit Shemesh, Haifa, Modi’in Illit and many more.
“Tov V’Chessed in recent days delivered/is delivering over 100,000 tons of matzos, chickens, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, and an assortment of items to 4,500 families that include a combined 37,000 children blei ayin hora. Amid the mounting pressure for additional assistance, the rav has approved assisting an addition 500 families amid 1,500 new requests.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)