Rabbi: Nothing is more rewarding than providing food to people in need
With the COVID-19 pandemic having caused an increase of food insecurity in South Florida, local Jewish organizations have stepped up to the plate to provide relief for families in need.
Among these include the Dorit and Ben J. Genet Cupboard of Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County, which launched a food distribution program.
Through this project, Goodman JFS dropped off groceries at 10 synagogues and Jewish day schools throughout Broward, and the institutions distributed the food to families in need.
Randy Kominsky, the agency’s president and chief executive officer, said, “The rabbis and the the people in need of food were extremely appreciative.”
“They not only said thank you, but they also gave me virtual hugs,” he continued. “The rabbis pointed out the large families that needed extra food, and we gave them extra food. People had smiles on their faces and told me that their families and kids in particular really appreciate what we’re doing.”
Kominsky said the agency donated approximately 20,000 pounds of food for 350 families living in the county.
Regarding the prompting of the program, Kominsky said that back in May, 750 families were helped by the agency’s food drive in Davie.
“We discovered there were many families in need of kosher food around Broward County, but the people that need our help were unable to come to us, so we decided we would come to them,” he continued.
Kominsky added, “We also recognized that people don’t want to ask for food.”
“We respect their dignity and we wanted to maintain their dignity, so we decided to partner with temples and day schools across Broward,” he said. “This way, they can preserve their anonymity and dignity by just coming to their local temple or day school to receive the food they need.”
Among the institutions that the agency dropped off food to was Chabad of Coral Springs. Rabbi Avraham Friedman of the Chabad center said that 100 bags filled with food from fruits and vegetables to cereal and other dry goods were dropped off there.
Friedman said the Chabad center is tremendously grateful for the agency’s generosity.
“There is nothing more rewarding than providing food for those in need,” he continued.
Freidman noted, “JFS has and will continue to provide us with more food deliveries which we are eager to distribute to those struggling.”
“We are most thankful to JFS for providing this service,” he continued.
Another institution receiving food from JFS was Hebrew Academy Community School in Margate.
Rabbi Shloime Denburg, Hebrew Academy’s director of development, said the school received food to distribute to 50 of its families.
“We have quite a large school population and a lot of the families are unfortunately struggling more than usual as a result of them being out of work or their businesses taken a heavy hit if they’re self-employed, so this food distribution has been a welcome reprieve for them,” Denburg continued.
Other institutions receiving food include Young Israel of Pembroke Pines/ Chabad of Century Village, Pembroke Pines Jewish Center, Chabad of Parkland, Young Israel of Hollywood, Temple Beth El of Hollywood, Chabad of Las Olas, Chabad of Deerfield Beach and Young Israel of Deerfield Beach.
Visit jfsbroward.org or call 954-370-2140 for more information on the agency.
Also helping to provide relief to the those struggling with food insecurity are the Bredoff Family, who are members of B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton.
The family, which consists of Penina, Shane, Spencer and Nate Bredoff, built B’nai Torah’s first Little Free Pantry at the Boca Raton Salvation Army.
In 2013, the family got actively involved in battling hunger in Boca Raton with B’nai Torah Congregation’s Tzedakah, Learning and Chesed program. They began by sorting canned goods at a local food bank, filling weekend backpacks for school children, and feeding the homeless. When the pandemic happened in March and their opportunities to give back became more challenging, they were inspired by Little Free Libraries to build a small wooden pantry, which can be stocked by anyone with non-perishable foods and toiletries.
“We have so many people in our community that have been helping to keep people fed all year,” said Summer Faerman, director of B’nai Torah’s TLC program. “This pantry will allow for citizens who can give to drive by and keep it stocked with non-perishable goods and for people in need to take without judgement at any time of the day.”
Nate Bredoff, a senior at American Heritage School’s Boca/Delray campus, said “Normally, I prefer to help people face to face when I volunteer to help the hungry at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.”
“But building this pantry with my family was a great experience and I’m looking forward to building more and helping to continue to feed our community,” he continue.
The synagogue plans to build and install more pantries in the community.