Rosh Hashanah is viewed as a time of renewal, a fresh start with high hopes for a year of good health and prosperity. Anticipation and excitement accompany new clothes for the holiday and festive meals with family and friends. But for thousands of Israeli families, the holiday brings extra worry and doubt over how they will be able to feed their children. One out of every five families in Israel lives under the poverty line. That number includes 932,000 children. A relatively large percentage of Israeli society (30%) are members of the "working poor" -- families in which one or both parents are employed but do not earn enough to cover basic expenses. Enter Colel Chabad, Israel's longest continuously running social services organization, founded by the first head of the Lubavitch hassidic movement, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, in 1788. For Colel Chabad, the Jewish month of Tishrei, filled to the brim with holidays, is one of the busiest times of year, second only to Passover. "Getting ready for the days of introspection and repentance should not be marred by worrying if you will be able to purchase food for the table," says Rabbi Menachem Traxler, director of volunteering for Colel Chabad. "Every family deserves to celebrate the holidays as they should be celebrated." Over 18,000 families, including 2,500 single-parent families, will receive boxes of dry goods, vegetables and vouchers for chicken, delivered to their doors. "Thank God, we are blessed with good health, but this past winter my husband lost his job and hasn't yet found a proper job," said Ilanit from Beit Shean. "We were fortunate to receive assistance last Passover from Colel Chabad and we look forward to this Rosh Hashanah to once again get the help for us to celebrate the holiday in a respectable way." In addition to the boxes and vouchers, 81,000 hot, freshly cooked meals will be served to the elderly and people with nowhere to spend the holiday in the 20 Colel Chabad soup kitchens around the country. "Meals on Rosh Hashanah are always special in the soup kitchen," says Yisrael, manager of the Eshel Binyamin soup kitchen in the northern Israeli town of Safed. "During the year, people often come in with stress and worry. But there is something very special about Rosh Hashanah. With the addition of all the special holiday foods -- the round challah, the honey and apples, the pomegranate -- the atmosphere at the soup kitchen is very upbeat and hopeful for a new year blessed with health and happiness." Partnering with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Colel Chabad will deliver food to a further 5,000 elderly Israelis. "Food isn't the only thing that is needed for the poor. And some families are too proud to take monetary handouts," says Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Colel Chabad's international director. "We try to find additional ways to help those who truly need it, whether it be selling the food to them at or below cost, or vouchers specifically for housewares or clothes for children. A new outfit can do wonderful things for a child's self esteem and outlook."
