A few weeks ago, a friend’s house caught on fire and there was much damage.  The family had to move out, find a new place to live temporarily, and still manage to work and raise their family.  All this while planning a Bat Mitzvah!  I was wracking my brain about how I could help, and as I saw all of the generosity from our community pouring in, I realized that I could use my organizational skills to help them!  I offered to keep track of all of the donations that they have received – gift cards to stores, restaurants, clothing, food, etc.  For me, it’s nothing to keep an excel spreadsheet for when they are ready to thank their supporters.  For them, it’s one less thing they  have to worry about.  A win win all around!

Today, Jordan and I performed one of my favorite mitzvot of delivering food to the needy in our community.  14,700 volunteers yearly help JRA deliver food every month to over 3200 families in the Greater Philadelphia region who are food insecure.  Once again, the Jewish Federation is one of the organizations that financially supports them.

We spent the morning at the JRA warehouse packing boxes of food.  The boxes were filled to the brim, with fresh apples, hamentashen, cereal, soup, canned veggies and fruit, tea and coffee, etc.  Then we loaded our car with 13 boxes and delivered them to the Brith Shalom House on Conshohocken Ave in Philly.   Our recipients were every shape, color and religion and they were all elderly.  A few were clearly lonely and just wanted someone to talk to.  All were appreciative of the food.  It was great to do this mitzvah as a team with Jordan and we both felt great when we finished our route.

On Purim, it is a mitzvah to deliver two items of food to at least one person.  There are two reasons for this.  First, Mishloach Manot is translated as “sending of portions.” You want to make sure that everyone has their “fair share/portion” for the Purim feast.  Second, it is meant to increase love and friendship between Jews, thereby dismissing Haman’s accusations that there is strife and dissention among Jews. Unlike other gifts, this should NOT be anonymous, because that does not increase love and friendship between two individuals.

Today I did my traditional Purim mitzvah.  I went to Beth Am and organized items for the kids to pack the community Mishloach Manot bags:  I packed up hamantashen, opened boxes and labeled bags.  Then I packed the bags that I was giving to friends and delivering in the community.  Finally, I delivered my bags.  It was such a satisfying mitzvah, knowing that the recipients would enjoy their treats!