Tomchei Shabbos Dinner Goes Virtual
Most non-profit organizations hold an annual dinner, their major fund-raising event, at a fancy hall that features lengthy, and often tedious, speeches. For its first dinner, Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County is keeping the most important part of an honorary dinner – the delicious food – and hosting a virtual dinner, bypassing the need for a physical hall and hours away from responsibilities at home. Supporters who contribute to the “dinner” will instead receive a gift certificate to one of the following Bergen County fine dining establishments: Noah’s Ark, Shelly’s, and ETC. Steakhouse.
The idea for the “Give a Dinner, Get a Dinner” online event came from long discussions by the event committee. Those who contribute from $180-$499 will receive a $36 gift certificate for Noah’s Ark or Shelly’s, and those who donate $500 and above receive a $100 gift certificate to ETC., Steakhouse. The virtual dinner and accompanying gift certificate offer is through April 15th, though of course Tomchei Shabbos gratefully accepts donations any time.
Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County was founded in 1990 by Chani Schmutter, Chaye Feigenbaum, Lori Frank, and Claire Strauss. Since then, it has quietly distributed nearly 700,000 Shabbos and yom tov meals, including vegetables, fruit, chicken, and challah, to Jewish families throughout the Bergen County area in a way that allows the recipients to remain anonymous. Each week, volunteers pack and distribute the meals, and because of these unpaid efforts almost 100 percent of the operating expenses of the organization go directly toward the purchase of food.
Typically, 200 families receive meals from Tomchei Shabbos during the year. Each Pesach, efforts are ramped up as families that may not normally need assistance require extra help for the eight-day holiday and its many associated meals. Over 1,000 pounds of matzah and one and a half tons of chicken are delivered to families in the week preceding Pesach.
Sara Walzman, a mother of five children who lives in Bergenfield, has been an active volunteer for Tomchei Shabbos for the past three years and serves as the chairwoman of the dinner. “We’re grateful to the three restaurants for going along with this idea for a virtual dinner,” she said. “Noam and Shelly Sokolow, who are among the dinner honorees, continue to exemplify generosity since they began donating cooked food from their restaurants to our organization some 20 years ago.”
Walzman explains that though Tomchei Shabbos meals typically include raw chicken, eggs, and other items for recipients to cook themselves, some clients are not able to cook, and thus, receive ready-to-eat meals that have been provided by the Sokolows.
The Sokolows, who live in Englewood with their daughter Darbie, have made community involvement a hallmark trait of both their family and their businesses. Their recent response to Hurricane Sandy, where they collected and stored perishable food for those without power, is just one example of their dedication to community outreach. Their tireless efforts to collect leftover food from catered simchas and distribute it to those in need, is another example.
Other honorees of the dinner include Carol and Danny Metzger; Debbie and Bernie Thau; and Ari Krischer and Yitzi Rothschild with youth leadership awards.
The Metzgers have lived in Teaneck for nearly 40 years and are longtime supporters of Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County. Danny and Carol have often brought their three daughters with them on Tomchei Shabbos food delivery runs, instilling the midah of chesed in them at young ages. Today, they continue the tradition by bringing their grandchildren on their delivery trips each week. They also provide for Tomchei Shabbos’s printing needs through their business, Cadett Marketing.
Said Carol Metzger, “When I first started they were looking for volunteers. It was a great opportunity to show my kids chesed; that it’s not all about giving money but making it a more personal thing. I think my kids got a lot of it, and now my grandkids do. I didn’t want to be honored, but I figured it was for the good of the organization and so I’m happy to attach my name to it.”
The Thaus live in Fair Lawn and have been closely involved with Tomchei Shabbos for over a decade. Bernie leads a team of dedicated volunteers who distribute food to a growing number of families in Fair Lawn and its surrounding areas. He and his wife have three children, and their grandchildren, Eliana and Yonaton Sokol and Azariah Chill, are carrying on the Tomchei Shabbos giving and involvement to the next generation.
By Tova Ross
