Meir Panim is working to change this, and with your help, they can lower and perhaps ultimately be rid of these alarming statistics.

Last week, a first-of-its-kind fundraiser took place in New York City when an initiative from the Meir Panim Young Leadership came to life with The Feed 5,000 Soiree.

Hundreds of young professionals from every walk of life, every political affiliation, and every religious outlook united together, joining their efforts to raise money to fight hunger in Israel.

Renatt Brodsky, Project Director of American Friends of Meir Panim, discussed the important role that young professionals are now playing in the field of Jewish philanthropy, and how barriers and differences are forgotten when working towards such a valuable cause.

"I wanted to attract people from uptown, downtown, eastside and westside to come to this event and learn about the severe poverty crisis in Israel," said Brodsky. "Feeding hungry people is a basic human need that anyone can relate to. And if you love Israel, believe in social equality and want to make a real difference in the life of another human being, then Meir Panim is an incredible organization to support. We are changing lives every single day by feeding people with dignity who have been stripped of their pride due to the hardships of poverty."

Working tirelessly to feed the hungry is nothing new for Meir Panim. A well-known non-profit organization, Meir Panim toils on a daily basis to diminish the harmful effects of poverty on thousands of families across Israel. With Passover rapidly approaching, and so many Jews without a Seder to join, or even food to eat during the holiday, they have put their good efforts into overdrive, pushing towards the goal of feeding 5000 children for Passover. Enter the soiree.

The cost to of feeding one hungry child in Israel is only $5.50. Meir Panim prepares, packages, delivers, and serves tens of thousands of free, fresh, hot meals a day to impoverished Israeli families and children. They also provide vocational training and other vital tools to help struggling families regain the dignity that comes with economic stability.

Almost all attendees at the Feed 5000 Soiree supported the campaign by either purchasing a raffle ticket or making a general donation. With dozens of Jewish companies acting as sponsors, a musical performance from Ariel Jacobson and DJ Tegan spinning his tunes, it was definitely a night to remember.

While the goal of feeding 5000 children has not yet been reached, Brodsky is hopeful that the worldwide Jewish community will not allow hungry Israeli children to be without meals this Passover. To make a donation to the Feed 5000 campaign click here.

Though we often forget, there is an undeniable intrinsic bond unifying the Jewish people.
We are a family. And more than ever, on our holy days we are to remember the poor, the destitute and those in despair. See the wonderful work Meir Panim is doing to feed children in the clip below and then please help the Meir Panim Young Leadership reach their goal this Pesach!

The important work of Meir Panim

Photos courtesy of Rufina Gilkarov and Shirley Rozman