Last week, the morning before we left on a trip, our head counselor here in Camp Dora Golding, Rabbi A.C. Posner, shared with the campers a post from a Sullivan County Facebook page which was making its rounds. It was written by Ann-Marie Barton, a non-Jewish bus driver who had driven a group of frum boys on a trip and was incredibly impressed:
“I had a bus full of 14-year-old boys from one camp, and I could not have asked for a better behaved, polite and grateful group of boys. Each one thanked me as they got on my bus and again as they got off. I asked them all not to leave a mess and there was not one thing left on my bus. Not ONE thing! My hat is off to the parents raising these boys.”
What I found very moving was that when Rabbi Posner finished reading the post, our campers erupted with clapping and cheers. It had not been written about our campers, and we didn’t know which camp those boys were from. Yet they instinctively felt a sense of pride because that kiddush Hashem clearly represented us as well.
Since October 7, the broader Jewish community has united in incredible ways. Despite all the trauma and travails we have been subjected to, or perhaps because of them, we have emerged far stronger than we were on October 6, 2023. That is undoubtedly true militarily. But equally important, it’s true emotionally and spiritually as well. Our love and devotion to each other has traversed barriers that were previously thought to be somewhat impenetrable. There has been renewed dedication and observance of Shabbos, tefillin, tzitzis and connection with our heritage. In addition, the incredible chesed that has been displayed by the Jewish people for each other is simply mindboggling.
There are a lot of issues and formidable challenges in our communities. But sometimes we need to step back and recognize how incredible we are and how lucky we are to be part of it.
A few months ago, I went to the warehouse of an organization called Olam Chesed. At the time, I knew nothing about the organization. But I was told that they would be willing to donate a couple of products as prizes for the Chol HaMoed learning program I have been privileged to facilitate the last few years.
I was greeted at the warehouse by R’ Mutty Reznick, who was working there alone at that time. He showed me into the vast warehouse and told me to walk through it and look around; I was literally blown away. There were endless shelves and piles of quality merchandise, organized and waiting to be organized.
Olam Chesed was founded and is run by Mordechai Roizman and his wife, a wonderful family in our community whom we have met and know well. But we had no idea that they were running such an incredible organization.
Olam Chesed partners with big-name companies like Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target and La-Z-Boy. Through overstock and returned items, these businesses donate brand-new, high-quality, brand-name items.
Since its inception, Bonei Olam has disseminated millions of dollars worth of merchandise to Jewish families contending with divorce, unemployment, and tragic situations, such as fire and poverty. The organization doesn’t disseminate funds; it disseminates ready-to-use, quality household goods to families in need.
Olam Chesed is housed in a huge warehouse that was donated. The Roizmans gave up their jobs to become fully invested in unloading, stocking, and organizing the massive undertaking. During the winter it’s freezing in the warehouse, and during the summer the heat can be stifling. Yet they, and their worthy volunteers, spend their days there. Why? For the sake of chesed and helping those who need it.
It’s that sense of altruism and unity that gives us hope that we will merit to witness Mashiach.
We all know that there is a lot of divisiveness among the Jewish people. When it comes to chesed however, there are no barriers. The chesed we do for each other is incredibly unique and no other group or nation can boast anything remotely like it.
As we begin the three weeks of mourning for the Bais HaMikdash, and seek to build and foster internal unity amongst ourselves, we can gather chizuk from the chesed we perform for, and with, each other.
Although this article is not an appeal, and I was not asked to write it, if anyone would like more information, or to donate funds to the incredible work of Olam Chesed, visit worldofgiving.org.
