In case you haven’t heard, The Chazak Discount Card from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation might just be the most special and terrific way to do your shopping. For the past 10 years, shoppers have been getting instant discounts on thousands of items your family needs and loves, and all your favorite stores in Bergen County have joined in to offer you those incredible discounts as well.

For just $50 a year, or $5 a month, hundreds of stores in the tri-state area, from Bergen County to Passaic, Monsey to Lakewood and Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, are offering discounts of anywhere from 5%-25% just for using the Chazak Discount Card. The card is accepted at all kinds of businesses including grocery stores, clothing and apparel stores, restaurants, gift shops and so much more, and gives you the potential to save thousands of dollars a year just for doing the shopping that you have to do anyway. All you have to do is present the card when you check out. It really is that simple.

But what’s even more amazing is that proceeds from the Chazak Discount Card help to support the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation’s many programs to continue to provide klal Yisrael with its invaluable resources which all help encourage ahavat Yisrael.

The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation has been around for about 30 years and its philosophy is based on Shmiras Ha’loshen and ahavat Yisrael. Because the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed as a result of rampant sinat chinam, Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation Executive Director Michael Rothschild has made it his mission in life to encourage everyone to act nice to one another, speak kindly to each other and not speak lashon hora. He is doing this through programming that revolves around these ideas.

The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation has programs that have been implemented in schools all over the country, with curriculums that are uniquely tailored for each grade. The programs are either free or have a nominal cost in order to make them accessible to everyone at every level.

These programs feature a broad range of topics including anti-bullying, ahavat Yisrael and teaching children how to be kind to each other.

The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation also offers programs for teachers and sends out a weekly newsletter to educators across the country called “Impressions.” There is a women’s program, Upwards, where every month 4,000-5,000 women receive a link to a special presentation geared just for them.

The Chofetz Chaim Foundation also has a machsom l’fi campaign encouraging people to make a commitment to set aside an “hour of caring” for 40 days where they concentrate on proper use of speech and make a concerted effort to avoid all forms of lashon hora. The foundation also has resources for families to start their own Shabbos table machsom l’fi that includes special table cards imprinted with the Chofetz Chaim’s tefillah and Kabbalah, an inspirational weekly Shabbos table newsletter, and an erev Shabbos reminder text.

For those looking for more ways to hear words of Torah whenever they can, the foundation has four hotlines available. On the Chazak hotline, callers can hear chizuk and inspiration, 24 hours a day, six days a week, on a vast number of topics including better relationships, personal growth and facing life’s challenges. The T.I.C. Talk hotline is for high school girls, where they can listen to personal stories, lessons for life and so much more. “Wonder Words’’ is a hotline geared for children that, according to the Chofetz Chaim Heritage website, “puts the power of a good story to work as lessons in shmiras haloshon come to life in an entertaining and engaging way.” Then there’s the Shmiras Haloshon Shaila Hotline, which puts callers in contact with expert rabbeim weeknights from 9-10:30 p.m. to help answer pressing shailas on when it’s acceptable to say something, for instance, when it comes to a shidduch or job referral.

On the WhatsApp group “Live Life Better,” Michael Rothschild and other prominent rabbeim speak briefly a few times per week on any number of Torah related topics. The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation also sends out daily emails to 28,000 subscribers and messages 40,000 people on WhatsApp groups.

“It’s inspiration of every kind. And the whole reason for all this is to spread shimars haloshen and Ahavas Yisrael. It’s really basically that. We are here to teach Klal Yisrael to be nice to each other. And that’s the bottom line,” said Leah Ozeri, director of fundraising for the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation. “With the Chazak Discount Card, you’re not only potentially saving thousands of dollars, but you’re also giving tzedakah and spreading Ahavas Yisarel. It’s a win-win-win!”

To get your Chazak Discount Card call (845) 352-3505, ext. 113 or (718) 536-0361. For a complete list of business that accept the Chazak Discount Card visit www.chazakdiscountcard.org.