Kids and adults look forward all year to Purim, the festival of joy and celebration, but for Meir Panim patrons, that joy doesn’t come so easily. At branches across Israel, from Tzfat to Tiberias, Or Akiva, Jerusalem and Dimona, Meir Panim’s branch managers work overtime to ensure a happy holiday atmosphere with plenty of good, nourishing food for the hungry, comprised of needy families, single mothers, as well as the elderly and Holocaust survivors.
According to Mimi Rozmaryn, director of Global Development, Purim prep at Meir Panim starts long before the piles of treats appear in the stores. By the week before Purim, each branch sets up its own mini costume boutique, with racks and racks of colorful, shiny costumes available for patrons.
Another Purim tradition at Meir Panim is to present each recipient with two mishloach manot packages — one to enjoy and one to share. “This beautiful initiative encapsulates what we’re all about,” said Rozmaryn, “enabling our patrons not only to receive but to be on the giving end as well!”
On the day of Purim, all Meir Panim restaurant-style soup kitchens offer a special holiday meal in the festively decorated dining rooms.
Or Akiva branch manager Ilanit is passionate about providing hot meals and farm-fresh produce to her town’s neediest individuals and families. As Purim approaches, she broadens that mission, also delivering mishloach manot to “the unsung heroes of the community” – police officers, crossing guards, street cleaners, etc. But local children and adults with ASD also benefit from Ilanit’s sensitivity and generosity. “Purim can be difficult for the non-neurotypical,” explained Ilanit. “We’re attuned to their need for a more subdued celebration and strive to help them celebrate the holiday in a way that suits them.”
Ilanit’s everyday work brings her into regular contact with children from families who are lowest on the socio-economic scale and who have suffered from severe personal circumstances. They, too, will receive her special attention on Purim.
The past winter has seen Meir Panim branch managers busier than ever. Down in Dimona, branch manager Nissim continues, in his modest, understated way, to ensure that all patrons have hot meals, and in abundance. In addition, he works behind the scenes to better the lives of his patrons through various projects, including the women’s empowerment program, to help women escape the cycle of poverty. Recently, Nissim has turned the Meir Panim branch into a safe and inviting “third space” for young people during afternoon hours. Thank you to Bank Leumi for donating a huge screen, and to Nissim for providing cups of delicious soup to warm up the atmosphere while keeping teens off the street!
With the increasingly tense security situation in Israel, Sderot is one of the first to suffer, with intermittent rocket attacks from Gaza. The teens of this border town, where some 70% suffer from some form of PTSD, are continuing to benefit tremendously from Meir Panim’s youth programs. Of special mention are the woodworking workshops at its Sderot Community Center, where kids have the opportunity to talk out their challenges in a relaxed, fun, social atmosphere. One of Meir Panim’s most loyal supporters is the town’s mayor, Alon Davidi, whose daughter Shira, a university student, is one of the volunteer counselors at the workshop.
You, too, can be a part of Meir Panim’s life-changing work! Make your donation today online at www.mpdonate.org, through the toll-free number at (877) 7-Donate / 877.736.6283, or by mail to American Friends of Meir Panim at 88 Walton Street, Suite B1 Brooklyn, NY 11206-4479. All donations made in the US are tax-deductible under EIN# 20-1582478.
