The annual Yahrzeit of the righteous Rabbi Yesheila of Krestyr, zt"l, was celebrated throughout the country and the world: lavish feasts were held in various concentrations. But there are those who chose precisely on Yahrzeit to follow in the righteous's footsteps and continue the legacy he left behind from the humble town in Hungary to the large cities in the Land of Israel.
It happened about a year ago: Under the cover of the Corona virus, many stayed at home and could not go out to earn a living - they found themselves in a difficult situation and sometimes even came up short. Most of the appeals from those poor families who found themselves in distress, poured into the mouth of the man of mercy, Rabbi Chona Deitch, who is known for his warm heart for everything related to kindness and helping others.
A year of grace
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"The number of applications was hysterical, something I've never encountered before," says Khona painfully. "These were respectable people from whom I was used to receiving donations for various projects that I support, but here they approached me, explained their difficult situation and asked for help. When I saw what was happening, I realized that something had to be done here, if only to bring joy to such homes.".
""Together with friends and people of action, we launched the 'For Satiety, Not Thinness' initiative, which began as a one-time project but soon became a regular distribution on holidays and special occasions. On the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yesheila, we made the first distribution, which mainly included meat, poultry, and fish products, and brought light to those homes that were empty of everything. Then, on Shavuot, we distributed a basket full of dairy and disposable products to hundreds of families with the help of the Lord. I received many responses from people who said that this year they were considering giving up purchasing dairy products due to the economic situation, but thanks to the distribution, they were blessed with holiday joy and happiness for their families.
"On Sukkot, we distributed a generous package of meat products and other basic products. On the 1st of Cheshvan, the day of the birth of Mame Rachel, we were able to distribute hundreds of baskets to families who were in isolation and in need. We held additional distributions on Hanukkah, Tu B'Shvat, and Purim.".
What was special about the food basket distribution you did this week?
"First of all, it was exciting to close a year of such distributions. The many volunteers and donors connect more and more to the circle of kindness from time to time, and they are happy to take part with us in the wonderful project of 'For satiety, not for thinness.' This time, in this distribution, we chose to contact the heads of the communities and receive from them a list of underprivileged families so that we can actually give the baskets to those in need. Today, the Corona pandemic is leaving us and there are almost no families in isolation, but your people Israel are still in a difficult economic situation and we are here to take care of those families who have no one to take care of them.
""We received the list from the community leaders and worked to ensure that those families received the baskets in the most respectful manner possible. They didn't even know they were supposed to receive them. The baskets arrived with the help of a transportation system from the 'Ezer M'Zion' organization, along with the wonderful volunteers and Rabbi Eli Sitruk, who made sure to bring the baskets to their homes in the most respectful manner possible.".
"The responses were not long in coming. Here is a family that has been content with chicken soup for several Sabbaths to nourish themselves, and they enjoyed receiving quality meat dishes, poultry, and fish for the first time in a long time, and here is a family for whom basic products helped them more than anything. We were thrilled to receive the responses, and all the volunteers felt part of something very great that was done for the benefit and honor of the righteous Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe zt"l, who left his mark with his concern for feeding hungry mouths in his time, and whose path we are following in our own day.".
I donated and was saved.
The distribution system is not based on just one donor, but rather consists of dozens and sometimes even hundreds of donors who each choose to donate a basket or two or even part of the basket for the families in need. In the last distribution, Chona chose to offer the donors that he would personally pray for the memory of Rabbi Yesheila in the town of Kresztir, Hungary, and the public responded with excitement and donated as much as they could and even more. Thousands of kvitlach were personally remembered in the memory by the dear man of mercy.
Yitzhak, one of the donors to the last distribution, chose to share with us his feelings and the miraculous story of salvation he experienced thanks to the donation.
"I have been working on an important project for a long time and in recent days it was sent abroad to receive final approval from the product managers. I was very worried about this and was very afraid that they would not accept the project, something that would entail losing the entire investment money. I prayed a lot but felt that I needed to do something more. When I came across Rabbi Chona Deitch's donation, I realized that this was the thing I needed to make an effort and do.
"I decided to go above and beyond my means and donated a respectable amount of baskets for the underprivileged families. I prayed to the Creator of the world that, thanks to the righteous Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe, I would have salvation beyond the path of nature. I also asked Rabbi Chona to remind me of the Zion on the day of Hilula, and indeed he did remember me along with all the donors.".
""That evening, I spoke to a family member who lives abroad, and to my amazement, it turned out that he had a close personal connection with the product manager whose approval I was waiting for for the project. I was very moved and felt the rare divine help that fell upon me thanks to the commandments of kindness and charity, and indeed the next day I received approval to accept the project. I am deeply grateful to dear Rabbi Chona, who both earned me the mitzvah and indirectly caused me to receive full salvation.".
Another story unfolded before us on the evening of the day of Hiloula, this time from a Jew whose wife was fired on the morning of the day of Hiloula and who felt great frustration at the loss of a significant part of his source of livelihood. When he was informed of the donation for the great distribution, he decided to donate a very respectable sum of 6 baskets and pray that thanks to the righteous Rabbi Yesha'a ben Rabbi Moshe, he would have great salvation. On the evening of the day of Hiloula, after receiving a personal message from Rabbi Chona Deitch about the mention of the Name on the holy mark, his wife received a message that she had been accepted into a new job that was even more productive than her previous job with better conditions. The stories of the Yeshuas that operated in the days of Rabbi Yesha'a are still operating today under the same vast umbrella of grace of distributing the food baskets.
The Circle of Grace
Along with the benevolent Rabbi Chona Deitch, a group of good people joined in and helped to carry out the division in a good and honorable manner.
First, a bank sponsored the distribution, and every time they distributed, they joined in being part of the wonderful circle of kindness, and this time they even donated a respectable portion of the baskets. I will especially remember the dear Beitar Illit branch manager, Ephraim Naki, who was always fully active as a facilitator for many acts of kindness, and in particular in the wonderful distributions of the "For Satiety, Not for Thinness" initiative.
A large number of baskets were also donated for the medical treatment of the child Chaim Aryeh Yermiyahu Ben Esther, as well as other organizations such as Satmar in Akari and Shimon Elimelech, owners of a one-time store in Beitar, who donated products for the honorable distribution. I believe that catering helped a lot for the success of the distribution. Pitsuchi Mashiach, owned by Zvika and Avi. Gishmak Bakery. The Kishtan's Kitchens chain headed by Yohanan Steinberg, who donated the packaging, Elchanan Sternhel and Avriy Klahpolz, who helped a lot with the distribution. The graphic designers Moishe Heller and Yitzhak Rechtsfer, who were responsible for the graphics in this wonderful project.
Also, the benevolent couple Yaki and Ra'anana Hershkop who helped a lot to make the distribution a success. In addition to them, R' Yanki Dinin, Gabi Horn and Yossi Wiesenstern who assisted in the fundraising activities for the success of the distribution and managed to reach hundreds of donations of food baskets, mostly from the Beitar Illit parliamentary group, many of whose members donated respectable amounts for the baskets. And the other helpers and assistants who ensured the event was an extraordinary success.
The "For Satiety, Not Thinness" project expresses hope that the people of Israel will join in their droves in supporting the charity distributions, which honorably provide high-quality, high-quality food baskets to underprivileged families: "The more donations, the more we can expand the circle of charity and brighten the homes of additional families throughout the country.".
Rabbi Huna Deitch is already storming the next project: "The truth is that I still don't know how it's going to happen and whether it's going to be successful," shares Rabbi Huna, "but we are already planning the huge distribution project in honor of Shavuot. This time we want to invest in a very honorable basket that will bring light and holiday joy to the families' homes. It is clear that without the help of the public, I will not be able to carry out this wonderful distribution, and I call from here to your people, the House of Israel, open your hearts! The families are waiting for you! Make an effort and participate generously in the next fundraiser so that we can hold the distribution in a dignified and magnificent manner.".
