“We are so far away, but wanted to do something… anything… to help out.”
(Courtesy of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri) In the wake of the October 7 tragedies, a group of dedicated bakers in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has come together in a delicious initiative to benefit American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri and other charities in Israel supporting the war effort. True to its name, Baked B’Ahava (baked with love) was created by Avital Zeffren and Rivki Locker. The enterprise, inspired by a drive to connect with Israel, grew out of a small baking project Zeffren began in her home kitchen. She produced baked goods and donated all the proceeds of her sales to charities in Israel. When Locker, a friend, saw a promotion for the project in a local WhatsApp group, she asked if she could “copy” the idea. The two then decided to join forces, and Baked B’Ahava was born; it has now been going strong for a full year. Over the last few months the group has expanded, with a core of five to seven “regulars” and up to as many as 20 people joining the initiative.
Each week, the bakers promote their goods (Zeffren specializes in sweets while Locker’s expertise is sourdough) through WhatsApp groups and social networks, sharing simple flyers with details on items, prices and pick-up information. Buyers collect their orders directly from the bakers’ homes, and all proceeds go to war-related tzedakah. While some donors have helped cover baking costs, most of the group has been contributing out of their own pockets.
American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri is one of the group’s charity recipients. The organization holds special significance for Locker, whose family has deep ties to its founders. “My family and I always donate a good share of our tzedakah to AFYE/B’ezri, and it just occurred to me to check if they had anything related to the war. When I saw they did, it was a natural fit for Baked B’Ahava!”
The group’s generous donation is benefitting AFYE/B’ezri’s Stand With Israel campaign, an emergency program established mere hours after the tragic news of October 7 broke. The campaign has raised over $4 million and continues to grow, providing diverse forms of aid to IDF soldiers, families affected by the war, including those in the Gaza Envelope, displaced families in the north and south, as well as others who have been impacted in some way. The fund will also assist families and soldiers for the long term once the war is over.
More information about American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri’s Stand With Israel campaign is available on their website: bezri.org
