Without help, many Jewish families in New York could not afford to properly observe Passover. With that in mind, about 15,000 homes will be issued pre-paid debit cards — worth $50 to $300 depending on family size — to defray the cost of special holiday preparations that center around avoiding leavened foods.
Debit Cards Will Help Thousands of Jewish Families
Without help, many Jewish families in New York could not afford to properly observe Passover. With that in mind, about 15,000 homes will be issued pre-paid debit cards — worth $50 to $300 depending on family size — to defray the cost of special holiday preparations that center around avoiding leavened foods.
It’s the first time the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty is issuing the American Express cards, asking 60 sites — including their 25 satellite neighborhood Jewish Community Councils — to spread the word among local families.
“There is a sense that Jewish poverty is an oxymoron, people don’t think that there are poor Jews out there,” said Met Council CEO Willie Rapfogel. “Passover is a time of year when people ask for help. Everything in the ‘fridge and pantry can’t be used. They need everything.”
Religious law requires that people scrub their homes clean before Passover – removing any signs of starchy foods and then replacing normal kitchen supplies with sets that have never touched banned food and provisions.
A family of four can easily drop $1,000 on groceries and fresh pots and pans in preparation for the eight-day holiday, Rapfogel said.
“It’s hard. We don’t qualify for Medicaid or food stamps,” said Esti Rosenblatt, 30, using a $200 card to shop near her Crown Heights home. “We just had to sell our car.”
Rosenblatt, 30, a part-time nonprofit coordinator, and her husband Itamar, 33, a social worker, were already struggling to pay the mortgage on their three-bedroom condo and cover treatments for their 5-year-old son Shmuel, who suffers from eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID).
“Any help this time of year helps,” Rosenblatt said.
Washington Heights resident Michael Vaystub, 70, said he and his 69-year-old wife just do get by on Social Security. He said they’ll use their $100 card to purchase enough matzoh ball soup and gefilte fish to get them through the holiday.
“The price in stores are up. And the money is down,” Vaystub. “That’s why having this card is very important.”
Before the cards, Met Council allowed people to use paper vouchers at kosher grocery shops across the city.
“The voucher was too complicated. Our customers speak Russian and they didn’t understand what items they could get,” said Michael Jaffe, owner of Kosher Palace in Sheepshead Bay, one of 60 stores and shops that will honor the special debit cards.
Question
It would be beneficial to know how one can apply for assistance and if the program still available this year….. Glad some ppl could benefit from it
CHLEAKS.COM
“It’s the first time the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty is issuing the American Express cards, asking 60 sites — including their 25 satellite neighborhood Jewish Community Councils — to spread the word among local families.”
If the Met Council hands this money/cards to the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council,inc. (CHJCC) with the intent that they issue them to the needy families of the Crown Heights Jewish Community, chances are, based on all the corruption and fraud we’ve seen thus far, the money will not be going towards the needy of Crown Heights but rather to the greedy of Crown Heights.
In other words: based on the history of the CHJCC, the money is most likely to be pocketed by the corrupt cabal who have been stealing millions of dollars meant to help the needy of our community.
I would suggest that the Net Council find the active organizations in CH that actuality help people and have them issue the money to those who truly need it.
Shliach providing social services.
Totally irresponsible to use real names and pictures, besides the individuals there are the kids.
Having said that, it’s a great program and we need many more.
ask
this is amazing and bringing the rebbe nachas and moshiach closer but did anyone ask them if they want their name and picture online
rivky h
go esti and family u deserve every penny may u use it in good health
CH Resident
Agree with #2. I would trust Stock from CSSY (Chevar simchas shabbos v’yom tov), so much more.
Ch
To # 2 the cards are mailed directly to the people with there nemes on it and not to the chjcc it looks like a credit card
Andrea Schonberger
Pesach is expensive and those debit cards are a blessing. I managed to keep costs down by buying only what is absolutely necessary and passing on the prepared and frozen items. The only non-essentials I bought were Coke and potato chips for my husband’s lunches.
Got it
The cards were mailed directly to the families with their name on it and amount available.
Zonie
yay esti!!!
E.Rosenblatt.
Wow. So I thought the story would be more about the high costs of raising a kid with serious medical issues and how this card helped lift a bit of pressurer off since we are making for the first time and it can be $$$. I am grateful for the help, since Shmuel’s ONLY protien source is veal, aside from formula that he is tube fed, it can get pricey at $18 a pound.
E.Rosenblatt
# the paper asked. Did not know it would be here… But now it is. TGVZG! Vosiznaise did not use our pic, BH.
Aaron-Zalman Leib Lubavicther
BS“D
RE: Comment #2
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning 12:37. My children are with my ex-wife and I have a Spanish girl here {the door IS open}-helping clean my 1-bedroom apartment. I work full-time–so cannot clean during the week. C.S.S.Y. on the phone, said I was on the ”list“ from the Yomim No’Orim, and to ”sit-tight,“ I will get a check, ”for sure“ but to date, have received none. Nyet.
I received not one(1) invitation to either a Seder or a day meal or a Chol ha-Moed meal. Zero. Zip. I have been B.T./Shommer Shabbos for over 22 years
I have no Pesach food. I still need food. (I owe Kahan’s Supprertte $368.00–H.O.G., about the same) I have a 50 pound bag of onions, a 50 pound of red potatoes, and 2 small bottles of grape juice from the great C.H.J.C.C.”Food Give-a-Way.“ at Oholei Torah, B”H.
I make too much money on-the-books for qualify for Food Stamps. I have some fruits (25 oranges 6 lemons a 5 lb. bag of sugar, 4 Gefilte Fish 1 horseradish root from the C.H.J.C.C. Food Bank, B”H.
My co-workers work, at one of those Jewish- Manhattan electronics company, and we have received no bonus this year.
As usual.
F.Y.I., we have not received even a C.O.L.A. raise for 3 years.
For many, living in Willy-burg, they received, without a bloody MET Council Voucher, or waiting at the C.H.J.C.C, 6 pounds of shmurah matzo as well as cases of apples, pears, lemons, oranges, beets, 50 pounds each bag of BOTH red and brown potatoes, and cases of chicken bottoms and bones and skin as well as cholent/stew meat as well as 1/2 a case of gefilte fish.
Leaks. And Others. Smoke on that.
dinis neighbor
hey dinis freind and kids
Chana
to #13, know how you feel from A – Z, our doors are open to you, albeit we are in Jerusalem-you are not alone. The only thing I can say try not to be hesitant to call people up to remind them that you are there and need help,a invitation during the chag,etc. Most likely they will be happy to have you realizing that you are doing them a tovah as well.sometimes in all fairness people just plain forget. I do not think that there is a davka here..someitmes it is simply out of sight, out of mind, but nevertheless I feel you pain and frustration…see if you can fanagle EL AL to send you and come on over for an invite…hatzlacha!…
Mordechai Roth
Itamar and esti you have a wonderful family and the Roths wish you alot of happiness and nachas from your two beautiful children. May we all celebrate this pesach. You both our an inspiration to us all in the crown heights community.You should only hear good news in your long and healthy lives. Its a pleasure to have your family as close friends. Your neighbour and a family that respects yours…the Roths. Chag Sameach and have a Kosher and Happy pesach.