The Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin was founded in 2009 by a group of lone soldiers aware of and concerned with the many needs and struggles of the more than 6,300 lone soldiers currently serving in the IDF. It is the first and only organization solely dedicated to meeting the physical, social and emotional needs of lone soldiers. The Lone Soldier Centers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, led by the incredible leadership of Josh Flaster, a former soldier of the IDF, organize a variety of programs and sponsorship campaigns that directly assist lone soldiers before, during and after their services. These campaigns allow people both in Israel and abroad to help our lone soldiers, whether it be their Birthday Campaign, Housing for Lone Soldiers campaign, bar and bat mitzvah projects and more.
One of the newest campaigns of the Lone Soldier Center is their Meals of Love From Abroad project. Meals of Love From Abroad is a wonderful initiative where people from different communities from all over the world can sponsor meals for approximately 100 soldiers at either the Jerusalem or Tel Aviv lone soldier centers. These meals are such an integral part of the Lone Soldier Center not only because they are providing warm, delicious meals for the lone soldiers when they are not on base, but also because they are providing camaraderie and an environment of warmth and family unit. Israeli communities are already providing home-cooked meals for many of these events at the Center but need help from abroad to feed the ever-growing contingent of lone soldiers.
The Teaneck community, led by Meals of Love representative Shera Spar Dubitsky, has raised enough to be able to sponsor two meals: one on Rosh Hashanah on October 3 and the second a Shabbat meal on Friday, October 14, at the Jerusalem Center. The Englewood community, led by Meals of Love representative Tami Schneider Volodarsky, has raised enough from the community to also be able to sponsor two meals. They will be sponsoring a Rosh Hashanah meal on October 2 as well as a Sukkot meal on October 16 at the Jerusalem Center. The Bergenfield community, led by co-representatives Batya Paul and Lisa Krutz Baron, will be sponsoring a meal on Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot on October 21 and have now launched their campaign across their community.
Both Englewood and Teaneck have already met and surpassed their initial goal and the amount of sponsorship, donations and positive feedback have been incredible. The initial response to Bergenfield`s campaign has been met with growing enthusiasm. Each meal will feed approximately 100 soldiers, which is to say that currently the communities of Teaneck and Englewood have helped feed nearly 400 lone soldiers. With Bergenfield currently campaigning, that number is sure to increase.
If you would like to help sponsor a meal, whether it be through your community, synagogue, school, bar and bat mitzvah projects etc. please go to these sites:
https://www.youcaring.com/TeaneckMealsofLove
https://www.youcaring.com/EnglewoodMealsofLove
https://www.youcaring.com/BergenfieldMealsofLove
If you would like to organize a campaign to sponsor a meal from your community and become a Meals of Love From Abroad representative, please contact Esti at [email protected].
For addition information on the lone soldier center and it’s many incredible projects please visit the website lonesoldiercenter.com.
By Esti Rosen Snukal
