By Chanie Kozliner
It all began with my quest for oil. Oil that would ultimately be the catalyst for an outpouring of magnificent kindness.
Initially, I had plans to spend Pesach with my brother and sister-in-law, Rabbi Moshe and Rivka Leah Gurary, at their thriving campus Chabad House in Buffalo. We had grand plans to take scenic hikes along the Niagara Gorge, pet llamas in Amish country, and enjoy fun bike rides with the cousins. As the Corona crisis consumed our community like wildfire, our plans shifted.
My sister in law customarily does her pre-Pesach shopping in Crown Heights. Being that no one was traveling, I was concerned with how she would manage to cook meals for the students without having her long list of ingredients available. In particular, I was determined to obtain oil for my sister in law so that she could make her famous crispy french fries.
I began calling various stores, thinking Toronto would be my best bet because of proximity.
A friend of mine informed me of a Toronto chessed group who might be able to assist.
I promptly joined their WhatsApp group and messaged the administrator with my request. I inquired if anyone was traveling to the border, and if they could perhaps bring groceries with them. He told me he would ask around and see if this was feasible.
After contacting the administrator, I scrolled through the chat and was astounded by what I saw.
Literally every minute the phone was buzzing with notifications of requests. Anyone going to Bathurst? Can anyone take care of shopping at Savour’s? Pick up a bag at Hermes? This was a WhatsApp group that was bustling with non-stop chesed. I was intrigued.
Immediately I realized how necessary it would be to create the same group for Crown Heights. The system looked so efficient and expeditious. I proceeded to message the founder of the group, Favie Mund in Toronto. I asked if he would be able to assist in setting up the system up in Crown Heights. His enthusiastic affirmative response was heartwarming.
Faivy asked if I could recruit some more members and he would then help me format the group, and get things up and running.
Within minutes, I watched the domino effect.
I contacted Moshe Pinson of Bais Shmuel and asked if he could get involved. Moshe said that he had members of his shul who would be interested, and Moshe Feiglin had willing volunteers as well. I began making more calls involving Hatzala and Chaveirim members.
After some logistical and technical adjustments, the Crown Heights group was all set up – bright logo and all. Within a few hours a group that would become a lifeline for the quarantined was active.
The uniqueness of Ze Lozeh is the way it is managed. People are able to call a live dispatcher as many of the quarantined are elderly and not tech-savvy. The call is answered immediately and the request is dispatched to a Whatsapp volunteer group. Within minutes the request is matched with an able volunteer. To protect privacy, all requests are done through directly instant messaging the volunteer. After each task is fulfilled the volunteer is personally thanked on the group. Of course all of our volunteers take the required precautionary safety measures.
Our phones were instantly flooded with requests. The calls were coming in around the clock. Our dedicated volunteers waited patiently in all kinds of weather as the lines grew at the pharmacies, groceries, and appliance stores. Below are just a few examples of the frenzy.
One woman called at midnight, asking for a ride back from the hospital.
Many people needed prescriptions filled urgently at the pharmacies.
There were a number of massive vegetable distributions that required large vehicles. One volunteer picked up seventeen cases of apples and delivered them to all of the families in a single building.
Calls came in at the last minute asking for Seder essentials.
There were many families who needed dinners for a multitude of reasons. Within minutes there were numerous sponsors from Crown Heights and beyond willing to pay for these meals.
Some even called in need for immediate medical attention and Hatzalah was called.
One man asked for food since he hadn’t eaten in days.
People were looking for Tylenol, Gatorade, masks, gloves and vitamins as many stores were out of stock.
One elderly woman hadn’t responded to calls for many hours and her family needed someone to check and make sure she was ok
Volunteers ran from street to street filling requests. Our brave lamplighters – lightening the load of individuals, block by block illuminating Crown Heights with the flames of goodness and kindness.
I am awestruck by the outpouring of love and kindness that members of this community have shown. I would like to take this opportunity on this public forum to thank all of the people who have been spreading light during these dark times.
I am humbled and inspired by the love, kindness, and unity that this community has shown throughout this painful chaos.
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful dispatchers: Shaindel Levertov, Mordy Meyers, Rivky Raskin, Manya Sperlin and all our volunteers who gave their time, tirelessly filling requests around the clock.
A special thank you to Rickie Mund who went above and beyond in being involved from afar with each and every Crown Heights need ensuring that every caller was taken care of despite her heavy involvement in Toronto Zelozeh.
I’m forever grateful to Favie Mund for giving me the opportunity to help hundreds of people.
Special appreciation is owed to the original core volunteer group from Toronto who monitored the out-of-town chats and helped to ensure that the setups in 13 cities ran smoothly. Thank you Chaim Sachs, Mordechai Kanner, Naftuli Griffel, and Dovid Kanner who helped coordinate the effort.
Just as oil is produced from the pressing of olives, our incredible dispatchers and volunteers rose to the occasion during a time of crisis – giving their very best.
It all began with my quest for oil. Oil that would ultimately be the impetus for an outpouring of magnificent kindness.
***
If you would like to receive help from the group please call 332-217-1718.
Please comment below to show appreciation for this incredible collective effort and to thank the dedicated volunteers.
It’s amazing how you were able to juggle it all with all your kids home!
You are an inspiration.
And all those volunteers are real heroes!
Ze lozeh helped me twice when I was in urgent need of prescriptions for me and my kids. Pharmacy was closing and they needed to be picked up and no way to get them..
Within minutes, the prescriptions were by my door. It was so amazing to experience the beautiful chesed…people volunteering their time to do errands for another they dont even know..and the receiver not even knowing their name…just like that…pure chesed…
Thank you Chani Kozliner for arranging this beautiful organization. So many people’s lives have been touched and crown heights has experienced more unity than ever before, and this was one amazing channel!
Chani
Rivkie
Thanks for letting us be involved in this mitvah lots of calls and lots of shopping .so organized in such a short time unbelievable thank you
Favie is a gem in Toronto.
It is no wonder that he was so quick to help set ZeLozeh up here in Crown Heights.
A real ish chessed!
The apple doesn’t fall from the tree!
Rickie Mund has been amazing throughout.
She manages so many details in Crown Heights while she is involved with the Toronto chat at the same time.
From early in the morning until late at night,she is busy doing non stop chessed for others .
What an incredible woman.Kol hakavod.
Chanie I am amazed by your relentless energy with this org. I was on the chat for a short bit and every hour of the day and night you were on the chat directing request. Hashem should bless you thousand fold.
Chani you have a golden heart !!! Always helping everyone !!! May Hashem bless you !!! And protect you and yours !!!!
Wishing you health wealth joy happiness and nachas!!!
Dear Chani!!! You have a golden heart always helping and running for everyone !!!
May Hashem bless you with health wealth joy happiness and nachas. For all you have done !!!!
And continue doing for all the ppl in need !
You are the best !!!!
Wow! Amazing job! Thanks for empowering so many volunteers to look out for people in need. The kindness of the crown heights community is really exemplary and a beacon to other communities. Thanks for coordinating this wonderful organization!
it is very nice
Thanks for bringing out the best In the ch community! The Ch community is truly a example and beacon to other communities how people care for each other. Thanks for helping us all be part of this great mitzva and chessed! And a big thanks to all the volunteers who gave their heart and souls 24 hours to help another!
Special thanks to Chaim and Zalman Brikman for scooting around town,helping so many people so quickly!
Swift as an eagle and quick as a deer!
Thanks again,
Chanie Kozliner
Chanie Kozliner, how you quickly put ze lozeh together, undaunted by the enormous need, prepping juices for ill people in CH as well as Flatbush, encouraging others to join you in this monumental task, all while making Pesach yourself…still amazes me! May you and everyone involved be blessed many times over, to always be on the giving end!
I never heard about this. This is the first time. Sounds amazing. How do I get involved?
You can call the hotline and join the volunteer group.
Thank you!
Chanie Kozliner
332-217-1718
You can call the hotline and ask to be added to the WhatsApp group
Initially I thought my carona symptoms would last for a day or two, because many people only get a light case….2 days into it, I was hit by a wave of the most horrible symptoms and the shortness of breath followed. Ze leze saved my life, the volunteers weathered every storm to help my family,with meals, medicine,even emotional support. I was sick for over a month. May Hashem continue to bless the angels who helped and continue to help so many.
One night I needed something urgently and I wasn’t sure if they took calls that late.
Even though it was late, the dispatcher was so nice on the phone and got a volunteer to help me out.
I don’t know of any other organization that takes calls so late at night!
Thanks so much for setting this up in Crown Heights.
We got many calls for food donations before Pesach.
I called Mrs.Kahan and asked her if she would be able to help us out.
Immediately, she offered to donate some dairy products to families in need.
Our volunteers went to Kahan’s and brought the items to the families.
We have such kind people in our community.
Thanks Mrs.Kahan!
Chanie Kozliner
Chani’s cellphone lit up and dinged with calls for help 24/7. She fielded requests with enthusiasm and speed. It could be mins before shekiya erev shabbos, during erev Pesach frenzy…her commitment and love to help another Jew no matter what and where they were, was palpable. I’m grateful for her help in organizing food for me and others, through Rabbi Lieder – to NYU. She made sure food ( that patients needed and requested) reached patients – coordinating cells of nurses, patients and volunteers ( cleverly smuggling when necessary bc of protocols) .I witnessed volunteers shopping with lists for dozens… Read more »
Go Chanie! Your huge heart, Your abundance of kindness and Ahavas Yisroel is admirable! You are constantly thinking of others. So proud to know you. Wishing Ze Lozeh much success and may you be constantly busy filling requests for simchos and joyous occasions. Organisations like this help bring Moshiach!
Thanks for taking my calls with such patience and kindness.
One of the reasons this group was so efficient and successful is because it operated via whatsapp.
This allowed the dispatchers and the volunteers to connect very quickly and fulfill the requests.
Perhaps other groups can be set up like this as well to help others.
Also,people were able to speak to a live agent right away.This way the dispatcher can address each call as needed.
In addition to the delivery calls,we also received calls to sponsor different items as well as food.
One evening, a lady requested dinner for her family.Within seconds,there we were at least 10 volunteers who offered to pay for dinner for her family.
The chessed is astounding!
Chanie Kozliner
chani, incredible job!
I know some Jewish staff members that work in a pharmacy in Flatbush.
I asked a Flatbush Ze Lozeh volunteer if she had time to deliver some matzah to the pharmacy.
I connected her to Rabbi Okunov who kindly gave her a few pounds of matzah.She delivered the matzah to the staff who worked there.
I spoke to them to make sure they were all there when the matzah arrived.They were overjoyed to receive shmurah matzah.
Thanks so much!
Chanie Kozliner
Thank you chanie kozliner for your giving your whole heart and soul over to this organization! You are loving and kind . Chanie did not stop . She went out of her way to help others 24/7 . True Chesed and kindness . I am proud to know her and be her friend. It is acts like this true ahavas Yosroel that will bring moshiach !
I have always had a little bit of a tainted view on living in Crown Heights.I grew up in suburbia which always gave me a negative look on the hustle & bustle of the city life & felt lonely & lost in such a large & dense community such as Crown Heights.This terrible matziv with the virus has had a beautiful silver lining, one that has altered my view of living in this Jewish community 360°.Zeh L’Zeh is the reason my eyes have opened to the absolute beauty of living in a community.They have helped me in every which way… Read more »
Where can we find your french fry recipe and what is the secret oil you’re using? 🙂
When I was really sick. They helped in so many ways. From picking up things at the pharmacy, food or even masks for our children when they were allowed to go out.
Thank you all for amzing ahavas Yisroel may we see the geulah now and all this work will surly make it happen sooner
One Motsay Shabbos three volunteers were sent to my house.
Each volunteer brought something else that I needed.
Shaindel- you are phenomenal.
You spent hours filling shopping orders -at the earliest am hours.The first one in the store!
You tended to so many things at the same time.
At the most hectic time,you were always there to say “Yes,I’ll do it!”
Your chessed and dedication to helping others 24/7 is truly inspirational.
May G-d bless you for all of your kindness!
Chanie Kozliner
Thanks for extending(and sharing) your necks and delivering the zeroah to us on Erev Pesach,no pun intended!
There was a zeroah shortage in Crown Heights. Stores were cutting the chicken necks in half and limiting them to one purchase per family.
We didn’t have any, and you found someone who had extra necks and extra maror that we needed for the seder.
TY!
Thanks for getting me XS Tylenol when the stores were out of stock.
Thanks for the Gatorade when I was feeling nauseous.
Thank you to the volunteer who waited in line outside Kettle and Cord in the rain so I can get appliances for Pesach.
Thank you for delivering the food for Pesach from the food distribution on East New York.
Thank you for getting my prescriptions from Apple Drugs
They stood online for over for 1 hour at the pharmacy to fill my prescription.
I will never forget what you did.
May Hashem richly bless Chanie in the merit of her countless good deeds. She is a role model for chesed done with boundless love and compassion. We love you!
Thank you for getting me oat matzah for Pesach
Thanks to whoever it was that shared their Mucinex and vitamin C.
One night a call came in at 1030 requesting Rescue remedy, Tylenol and Gatorade. Instantly ,I got a private text offering to pay for it by credit card if funds were needed. The area code was from Florida.The woman who offered to sponsor lived in Florida! Apparently, she joined the volunteer chat to help from afar! She also offered to help out if we were ever stuck, and would need a sponsor for any other items. When I called her back, we connected instantly and eventually we became friends!Just from that one WhatsApp! Thank you Zelozeh for sending this amazing… Read more »
BH Its really amazing idea!
I happen to help someone, that end up being that i knew her,now we are in touch and speak over to phone,we learn abt Mashiach too.
May H see how much ahavas Isroel we r having and bring Moshiach now! c.s
The young boy who actually did the shopping in the store – was so understanding & patient- & went around the store with me on the phone- to get the stuff wanted for Yom Tov
Ur volunteers were marvelous!! So pleasant so helpful& so patient- – they made it so easy for me to get an order from empire – Tizku lamitzvos- May u go from strength to strength- & continued nachos from yourself & your children.🌹🌷🌺💐👏👍
Kol yisroel araivim Ze lozeh!
Thank you so much for the ZLZ link! I msgd them & they immediately asked what I needed. I gave them a list of basics & within 1-1/2 hrs I had a box of groceries delivered to my door! FREE!!!
THEY ARE AMAZING!!! BARUCH HASHEM!!! YASHER KO’ACH!!!
They were always friendly on the phone
As a volunteer myself I want to point out that a lot has not been written here. The phenomenon Rickie Mund (RM) and all she does behind the scenes for instance. She isn’t from CH and has absolutely no idea what goes on here. (To her dispatching a call from sunshine pharmacy to someone on kingston and Montgomery is the same as asking to pick up something from kahan’s and drop it off on ave o.) Yet she’s involved as if she has been living here her entire life and wasn’t running zl”z in her hometown and another 20 communities.… Read more »
אינטערוויו: ספעציעלע “זה לזה” הילפס ארגנאזאציע געגרינדעט לאור המצב
https://www.yiddish24.com/interviews/12/16400
Thank you Mrs.Levertov for going shopping for me.
Rickie is an absolute gem!
I am in touch with her daily and we are still dealing with some people who need help with various issues.
i cant start to tell you how they were there for me and my family.Chanie K.Rocks.She was there when i needed her most.What true Ahavas Yisroel
I’m an outsider reading all these comments and am just wowed by the chesed that is shown here.
Thank you Shimon for going to the store for me
Haven gotten sick before pesach with covid and been in quarantine for quite some weeks, you guys were just amazing. From grocery shopping to prescriptions, last minute pesach stuff, the list goes on and on.
Mi ke’amcha yisroel!!
Tizku lemitzvos
You’re seriously the definition of “action”….you mobilized an entire neighborhood and brought the pandemic isolation to its knees. Hero isn’t even big enough to describe you.
Kind of digging you right now.
❤️C