Having had the privilege to work as a Rabbi for over twenty years and by doing so have gotten to know much of the hardships & challenges that Jews go through, I have learned that much of the stereotypes that we ourselves believe are simply not true.
“All Jews are rich”, that’s one that we hear very often. Ok, if they are not rich, then at least, they are not poor. Some may admit that there are Jews who are needy, but certainly, we are sure that they are in
However, regardless what community I led, I found Jews in need. Some just barely, but frankly, there are more of them than one would expect and their poverty is often much greater than one would imagine possible in an affluent society, especially an affluent Jewish community.
Yes, Virginia, there are Jews who do not have the money they need to buy food. Jews who give their kids wacky Mac, not as a reward, but because it is much less costly than more nutritious foods.
Surprisingly, I am not writing about Jews who have lost their way, living downtown or in a shelter- I am referring to our neighbours, our kids playmates, people we pray next to or even invite into our home for a Shabbat meal.
For the most part we do not know about it. Many of us cannot imagine it and sadly, some of us turn a blind eye to it. To quote the poet, “You don’t need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”, you don’t have to be an expert, a rabbi or nutritionist to catch on to the family who hopes to get a Shabbat invitation (at least for their kids), who are more than happy to “help us out” with the leftovers from an event or whose kid is always “forgetting his or her lunch”.
We have hunger here in Thornhill and even with the organizations that dedicate themselves to helping; it is not getting better.
I was recently speaking to a gentleman, a very caring, sensitive man who not only helps one of these organizations but is a considerable donor to it, he tells me that the more he advertises for funds, the more calls he gets about people in need.
This is something that we, the Thornhill Community Shul needs to address. Yet, how can we do it effectively? What do you think?
Love to hear from you,
Rabbi Avram Rothman
