by Deborah Silverthorn


Many times more than any other commandment, found in the Torah, is the mitzvah of feeding the hungry. Since 1985, Mazon, which means food in Hebrew, has provided food and hope to those in need. More than $28.5 million dollars has been raised in the past 17 years and yet the more people who are helped, the more people it seems there are waiting for assistance.

"In the United States alone," reported Barbara Bergen, associate director and general counsel of Mazon, "there are more than 31 million people who are hungry and 12 million of those are children. Since Sept. 11, the numbers of people who need our help have grown and fortunately, through the kindness of those who participate in our program, we are able to help meet the needs of many. Unfortunately, the need continues to grow and therefore, it is more important than ever that we get the word out and let the communities know about how we work." The demand in food banks across the country has increased 23 percent in the past year alone.

"In the United States alone," reported Barbara Bergen, associate director and general counsel of Mazon, "there are more than 31 million people who are hungry and 12 million of those are children. Since Sept. 11, the numbers of people who need our help have grown and fortunately, through the kindness of those who participate in our program, we are able to help meet the needs of many. Unfortunately, the need continues to grow and therefore, it is more important than ever that we get the word out and let the communities know about how we work." The demand in food banks across the country has increased 23 percent in the past year alone.

"Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger," began in 1985 when a Los Angeles member of a synagogue, celebrating at a simcha, thought about how lucky so many people are. It occurred to him that, in the course of celebrating the special times of life, there ought to be a way to help others.

That man, Leonard Fein, spoke to his rabbi, Rabbi Harold Schulweis of Valley Beth Shalom and together they built a team that, in the next 20 years, would help many. "We raise our monies by asking people to give three percent of the amount they spend on their simchas," said Bergen. "Bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and other occasions give an opportunity for those celebrating to enjoy their own time as well as giving something to those less fortunate. When one looks at the amounts spent on many of these celebrations, three percent is not very much, but collectively it allows us to help so many people."

Locally, Mazon has granted monies to the Aids Resource Center, Jewish Family Services, the North Texas Food Bank, the Wilkinson Center, the Greater Dallas Community of Churches and the Dallas Jewish Coalition under which the Vogel Alcove was brought together.

"The funds from Mazon made a huge difference for us," said Doris Budner who along with Selma Vogel started the Vogel Alcove in 1986. "They were extremely helpful to us, when we started by servicing 35 children. We have grown to where we now feed and care for more than 115 children and we would always appreciate their assistance. There is always a need for more food and more assistance."

The Dallas Jewish Coalition received more than $20,000 in grants over the years. This year has been a struggle for many agencies that rely on donations including the Wilkinson Center, which has also received financial assistance from Mazon. The Wilkinson Center was started by Pastor Clayton Harris of the Munger Place United Methodist Church 20 years ago. The pastor saw neighborhood children scouring the church trash bins. It was a compelling vision for the pastor and his congregants and thus began the multi-service facility.

"We have employment assistance, an after-school program for our children, a working wardrobe closet and a wide variety of emergency aid," said executive director Brian Burton. "The support we've received from Mazon has made a huge difference in how much we can help. We service about 16,000 people a year, half of whom are children."

"The notion that Mazon subscribes to the idea of 'tikkun olam,' or repairing the world, is lofty to hear about but so important and they are so gracious in their manner of helping. They really exude the richness of the word tzedakah, which has no equal in the English language. There are so many little lights come together through their efforts and united, a great light shines for those who need help."

Mazon doesn't differentiate the right to need by religious affiliation. "We give money to as many groups as we can based on their need, not their religion," said Bergen. "The Torah repeats over and over that it is our halachik responsibility to feed the poor. There is no notice of who those poor must be."

Locally, Temple Shalom, Temple Emanu-El, Congregation Tiferet Israel, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Congregation Beth Torah and Congregation Shearith Israel are Mazon partner synagogues. "We believe whole-heartedly in the spirit of what Mazon is accomplishing with their efforts," said Meredith Einsohn, assistant program director of CSI. "It is so important that we all participate in this collaborative effort to stamp out hunger. We try to provide our members with an ongoing awareness and our rabbis, when meeting with congregants about their simchas, tell them of Mazon and ask their participation."

"Any amount, even small amounts, matter," said Einsohn. "Social action is something we must consciously remind ourselves to participate in and this mitzvah is both an easy and important one to take part in."

While Mazon is not a disaster relief agency, they have made a number of grants to Argentinian agencies as well as giving more than $850,000 to groups in Israel focused on the helping the hungry. "Internationally, it is important that we only send monies to agencies that we can be sure will get the food where it's needed," said Bergen. "In Argentina, there are more than 200,000 Jews who woke up to find themselves with money to last a week. These people are us."