This Rosh Hashanah, Hear the Call to Help
It is hard to believe that Rosh Hashanah is nearly upon us. It is the time of year when some become introspective, reviewing the past year, and thinking about what they did well and where they could use improvement. If used correctly, it is also a time to try to finish the year with a bang and further propel one into the new year with renewed vigor.
The Rabbis use a lot of imagery to create the atmosphere of making a cheshbon hanefesh—accounting of one’s soul. The imagery of scales, books of life, and accounting ledgers all have one concept in common, asking us, as individuals, to do self-accounting. Truth be told, Maimonides instructs us that this cheshbon hanefesh should take place each night before we go to sleep so that we can always improve our behaviors and characteristics. Still and all, this period, culminating with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—the High Holidays, is deemed a propitious time for self-reflection.
For Jewish Family Services (JFS), this season is also the time we have our bi-annual fundraiser for the Virtual Food Pantry. The Pantry program is the most utilized program of JFS, servicing the entire Jewish Michiana area. Regardless of affiliation, all Jews can participate in this program and receive help throughout the year to fend off worries of food insecurity and/or the ability to put gas in their car, so that they can get to their jobs, medical appointments, and other important destinations.
On average, we are sending over $1,700 monthly to our Pantry recipients, thus allowing families and individuals to buy what they need. During the holidays, Yom Tov (holiday) preparations require more spending, and it’s then that the need for funds is truly felt. Our Rabbis tell us that giving tzedakah (charity) is one of the three ways to annul bad decrees—the other two being tefillah (prayer) and teshuva (returning to Hashem and the Torah).
Baruch Hashem, due to the generosity of our amazing community, every campaign that we have launched has met and even surpassed our goals. G-d willing, we will be able to continue this tradition. Our goal for this Rosh Hashanah Appeal is $6,000. Please give whatever you can and help us reach our goal and ensure the viability of our Pantry program. Click here to donate directly on our website.
On behalf of Jewish Family Services and myself, I would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and sweet Rosh Hashanah. In the merit of your donations, may we all merit to see a peaceful end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, a return of all the hostages, and be sealed in the Book of Life!
Rabbi Fred Nebel
Jewish Family Services Director
574-233-1164 x1806
RabbiNebel@TheJewishFed.org