Gedolei Yisroel are issuing a holy call to fulfill the
mitzvah of matonos le'evyonim through Vaad HaRabbonim
LeInyonei Tzedokoh Be'eretz Hakodesh. Many of them have
already given matonos to Vaad HaRabbonim, who will
distribute the money on Purim itself — bo
bayome— to evyonim in cities around the
country. Maranan verabonon attached a special kesav
shlichus appointing Vaad HaRabbonim to serve as
shlichim for the mitzvah of matonos
le'evyonim.
Saying this year there is a special obligation to increase
the amount of donations, matonos le'evyonim have
already been handed over the Vaad HaRabbonim by Maran HaRav
Eliashiv, HaRav Shteinman, HaRav Wosner, HaRav Lefkowitz,
HaRav Karelitz, HaRav Kanievsky, HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, the
Admor of Vizhnitz, the Admor of Belz, HaRav Weiss and HaRav
Halbershtam shlita. In light of the large number of
families currently in crisis situations the Vaad has approved
2,063 matonos around the country.
At a gathering held at the home of Maran HaRav Eliashiv
shlita, where several questions regarding
tzedokoh and charitable organizations in Eretz
Yisroel were raised, HaRav Eliashiv said giving to the
Vaad is a hiddur since it includes widows and orphans,
supporting the Torah learning of thousands of talmidei
chachomim toiling in Torah study, sick people whose lives
are endangered and other brokenhearted and destitute Jews.
The rabbonim on the Vaad, after months of carefully weighing
thousands of requests from around the country during the
course of 12 meetings, some of which lasted until early
morning, have selected 2,063 afflicted families whose homes
are cloaked in darkness and who are denied the joy of Purim
— families hoping the fundraising drive succeeds brings
some light to their lives.
Final arrangements are currently being made for the enormous
national collection system carried out through rabbonim who
receive donations and pass them onto the poor families on
Purim itself. Hundreds of kindhearted avreichim, led
by rabbonim and more horo'oh, have volunteered for the
holy task of distributing the matonos le'evyonim on
Purim Day.
Gedolei Yisroel expressed hopes the entire public will
respond to the cries for help and will make an even greater
effort this year. The Vaad has set a goal of NIS 20 million
($4.2 million) in order to distribute respectable sums to the
needy families.
The chessed hotline (1-800-22-36-36) is now operating
24 hours per day with a reinforced staff and requests will be
passed on to gedolei Yisroel, who will daven
for the donors on Purim.
