Helping their neighbors celebrate Shabbat

Every Thursday, as the work week winds down, most people will spend their afternoons relaxing, but for some, these afternoons are an opportunity to help out fellow neighbors. These people volunteer at Tomchei Shabbos of the Five Towns and prepare, package and deliver food, drinks and other necessities for Shabbat and the Jewish holidays for those in need.

Tomchei Shabbos of the Five Towns is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1985 in memory of Yeshaya Alpert, a 19-year-old boy who died of aneurysm that year. Alpert was known for his generosity and his love of sharing with others.

The operation was originally run out of a trailer in Far Rockaway, but as word of the program spread, it outgrew the trailer and are currently located at Torah Academy for Girls High School (TAG) in Far Rockaway and Young Israel of Woodmere synagogue, where all the packaging is done.

“I feel very strongly that every family in the community should have a dignified Shabbat meal complete with meat and wine for kiddush,” said Jeanette Lamm, president of Tomchei Shabbos of the Five Towns. “No family should be hungry or have an undignified meal on Shabbat.”

A typical Shabbat package consists of challah, grape juice or wine, fish, cake, fruits, meat, potatoes and drinks, while cooked food is provided to those who cannot prepare food on their own.  These packages are delivered only to those in need of assistance, ranging from a single parent to an elderly couple. Recipients are not questioned about their current situation and anyone who asks for help is provided with it.

More than 75 volunteers help on a weekly basis, as well as a large number of TAG students who spend their Thursday evenings packaging and distributing packages to the more than 275 needy families in the community.

Volunteers meet at one of the two locations working from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., packaging Shabbat or holiday meals, which are delivered that night. All recipients are anonymous as to not embarrass them. The delivery routes are carefully planned to ensure that the recipients aren’t embarrassed as volunteers deliver to other towns, but not to the town he or she lives in.

“The Torah teaches us to help those who live the closest to us and that’s what makes Tomchei Shabbos special,” said Jenny Rosenberg, a Tomchei Shabbos committee member and organizer of delivery routes for the Irving Place Minyan. “I began volunteering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and I soon realized that some of my own friends were of those in need and I have been volunteering on a weekly basis ever since.”

Tomchei Shabbos of the Five Towns operates on an annual budget of $650,000 funded by Gourmet Glatt and Seasons, both kosher supermarket, as well as individual donations. Tomchei Shabbos also hosts events in the community and sells holiday cards to help cover costs and raise awareness for the cause.    
To volunteer or donate, call (718) 327-7283 or go to tomchei5tfr.org.

Tomchei Shabbos volunteer synagogues

Agudah of Bayswater
Agudath Israel of West Lawrence
Bais Medrash of Cedarhurst
Bais Medrash of Harborview
Bais Tefila of Inwood
Congregation Ahavas Yisroel
Congregation Beth Shalom
Congregation Kneseth Israel - The White Shul
Irving Place Minyan
Kahal Machzikei Torah
Kehilas Bais Yehuda Tzvi
Kehilas Bais Yisroel
Khal Nesiv HaTorah
Shor Yoshuv Institute
Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst
Young Israel of Woodmere

Source: Tomchei Shabbos