Kosher Food Bank Fills Plates of Those in Need

The last Tuesday of each month is circled in red on Jacov Rimerman’s calendar. That is when the Warrensville Manor resident goes downstairs to the Cleveland Heights building’s community room to receive a shopping bag overflowing with fresh fruits, vegetables, canned goods, pasta, bread and pastry distributed by the Zemach Zedek Russian Immigrant Aid Society Kosher Food Bank.

“I make sure that I am always in my building on the day the food is given out,” said Rimerman, 85, who emigrated from Belarus in 1991. “This help is much needed. The food the volunteers pack for us keeps us going until our next Social Security check comes.”

Tenants in Warrensville Manor and five other low-income housing facilities are among those the Kosher Food Bank serves. Other recipients, who live within the federal poverty limit (the government this year set those at $11,490 for an individual, $23,550 for a family of four), receive food directly to their door by volunteers or pick up bags filled with food at Congregation Zemach Zedek on Lee Road. Recipients also attend the weekly Thursday evening food distribution from 6 to 7 at the Kosher Food Bank in the former Chabad of Cleveland building at 2004 S. Green Road in South Euclid.

The Kosher Food Bank was founded in 1978 by Rabbi Zalman and Rebbetzin Shula Kazen as a humanitarian and social service program to help newly arrived Jewish Russian immigrants in need.

Five years ago, the Kazens’ daughter, Devorah Alevsky, took over as Kosher Food Bank director.

“We are carrying on my parents’ legacy of caring and sharing with the needy in our community,” said Alevsky. “As the economy and job market have become more difficult and as divorce rates rise, we are seeing people from all walks of life benefit from the extra food we provide.”

Kosher Food Bank recipients are referred by Jewish Family Service Association, First Call for Help and the Cleveland Foodbank. Last year, volunteers packed and distributed 12,000 food packages. This summer more than 300 newly qualified recipients, Jewish and non-Jewish, were added to the list.

“Much care is taken by the Kosher Food Bank to identify kosher and nutritious products, and we fully support their efforts in serving recipients in Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, University Heights, Mayfield Heights and Beachwood,” said Karen Ponza, a Cleveland Foodbank spokesperson.

Because every food item must be strictly kosher and have the appropriate heksher (kosher seal of approval), the only complaint recipients have about the Kosher Food Bank is the shortage of fresh meat, poultry and dairy products, which are not provided by the Cleveland Foodbank.

“At Rosh Hashanah, Shavuot, Chanukah and Passover, we used donated funds to buy kosher chickens for all our recipients so they will have a complete holiday,” said Alevsky.

Kosher Food Bank funding comes from individuals, family funds and foundations. A supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland has offered a potential challenge grant of $25,000 if Kosher Food Bank supporters can match that amount.