From Our CEO
One Box of Matzah at a Time
March 29th, 2018

Tomorrow night, we will gather with family and friends to participate in the seder — which, for many, is the high point of the Jewish calendar. Early in the seder, the Haggadah instructs us to lift the matzah and utter a phrase that stands at the core of our Jewish faith: “Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are needy, come and join us.”

Today, more than 3,000 years after the first seder was held during our exodus from Egypt, the need to care for the hungry and needy among us is no less urgent. Indeed, at a time of unprecedented wealth in our community, it’s shocking to learn that fully one-third of all Jews in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island live at or near poverty.

Which brings me to the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. Met Council is UJA-Federation’s primary partner in feeding New York’s poor and near-poor, and operates the largest kosher food network in the country. For Met Council, “Let all who are hungry come and eat” is the animating principle of all they do.

Many of you are aware that Met Council went through a very rough period nearly five years ago, after it was revealed that its then-CEO had engaged in serious wrongdoing. And it’s understandably taken time to restore public philanthropic support for Met Council. Over the intervening period, UJA has given more than $24 million to support Met Council’s operations and provided many additional forms of significant assistance, because Met Council’s work is simply too essential to the well-being of our community.

Said differently, if Met Council didn’t exist, we’d need to create it.

I’m glad today to report that although there’s still much to be done, Met Council has begun a new chapter. This past January, David Greenfield — a highly-respected and impressive former member of the New York City Council — was appointed CEO. And under the leadership of new and inspiring co-presidents, along with a number of new board members, Met Council’s board has fresh energy and vision.

Under its new leadership, Met Council has had its largest Passover food distribution ever. This year, Met Council doubled the protein — chicken, fish, and eggs — that it distributed and gave out more food to more people in more locations than ever before.

All told, Met Council distributed 1,000 tons of food, including 36,000 pounds of matzah (!), to more than 180,000 people. Almost 1,000 volunteers worked at 120 Met Council sites in preparation for the holiday, swelling from the 30 core sites they operate during the year. Met Council also distributed $500,000 in special American Express cards that only work in supermarkets so the neediest families can supplement their Passover shopping.

At its essence, our work with Met Council represents a core Jewish value — the idea that we’re all responsible for one another. In that regard, I’ve always been struck by the portion of the Haggadah describing the four sons — and, in particular, the conduct of the wicked son. What earns the wicked son his label? Does he steal? Commit adultery? Or even disobey his parents? It’s none of those. As we learn, he’s wicked because he excludes himself from the community, thereby “deny[ing] the basic principle of Judaism” (kafar baikar).

A powerful lesson, and a reminder that in the face of overwhelming need, we gather strength from one another. From feeding the hungry, to helping people facing hardship and oppression, we have a collective responsibility to do what we can to care for all those in need.

One box of matzah at a time.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous Passover.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,

Eric

P.S. In this joyful season, we must also mourn the heinous murder of Mireille Knoll, the French Holocaust survivor, who was killed because she was Jewish. It is beyond belief that a woman who endured the horrors of the Holocaust should suffer this fate.

We read in the Haggadah: “In every generation there have been those who have stood against us to wipe us out.” Against them, we stand strong and determined.

May Mireille’s memory be for a blessing.