On motzei Shabbos parshas Bo, hundreds of Yad Eliezer
nationwide volunteer coordinators assembled in the Tamir
Hall in Jerusalem for a melave malka. Despite the
stormy weather volunteers came from all over the country:
from Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Ofakim, Zichron Yaakov, Tzfas and
other places to participate in this heartening event.
The meeting was opened by HaRav Menachem Stein of Petach
Tikvah, who strengthened the volunteers involved in this
meleches hakodesh. He stressed the importance of
sharing the burden of the needy, yet respecting their
feelings.
Area representatives of the coordinators went up to the
stage in turn to convey the greetings of their respective
branches to the audience and to describe their
activities.
Moderator Chaya Hertzberg gave an overall picture of Yad
Eliezer activities. Founded for the purpose of helping
families in need, Yad Eliezer has been operating for more
than twenty years. Among its many projects are the
distribution of monthly food baskets, weekly cooked food and
infant formula. It also caters simchas, maintains a
hotline for people in distress, distributes fruits and
vegetables, helps sick people, offers tutorial help and
helps move furniture. Today, Yad Eliezer supports about 6000
families each month. This, of course, entails a tremendous
financial burden, Mrs. Hertzberg noted.
The branch representatives thanked Rabbi Yaakov Weisel and
his wife, the organization founders, who continue to guide
this sacred enterprise, which is truly based on their
mesiras nefesh and that of all the volunteers. They
also thanked Rabbi Dov Weisel, director of Yad Eliezer, who
works tirelessly, heart and soul, to help anyone in need,
offering an attentive ear and a sympathetic heart.
Coordinator of the Jerusalem branch, Mrs. Malka Benjamin
expressed her gratitude for the cooperation of the
volunteers from the standpoint of ish es rei'eihu
ya'azoru. . . ." In warm words of greeting, she said
that the organization is like one big family and is very
careful in its expenditures of tzedokoh funds.
Each Yad Eliezer project is administered by an able,
experienced director. The monumental project of weekly
distribution of fruits and vegetables is administered by
Rabbi Mordechai Bernzweig, Rabbi Weisel's personal
secretary. Rabbi Yitzchok Weingut, director of the unit for
helping patients in the Hadassah Ein Karem Sharett
Institute, attends to hundreds of sick people, granting them
encouragement and aid. Rabbi Refael Kugler is responsible
for the tutorial project throughout the country, guiding
tutors and handling the problems of youngsters from one-
parent families. HaRav Mendel Averbuch is responsible for
the branches. Rabbi Menachem Scheinberg is responsible for
drivers and their jobs such as moving furniture,
distributing food and organization of simchas.
At the conclusion of this inspiring evening, the coordinator
thanked all of those who help collect food and money, and
those who cook and bake for the organization. The volunteers
left the gathering strengthened by the knowledge that their
activities increase kvod Shomayim.
