The Lonely Shalach Manos Boy

Dear Parents שיחיו,

It was Purim morning and Sholom was in high spirits. He stood by the mirror adjusting his costume. He smiled as he remembered how excited he was to be the first one in his class to buy a purim costume. He spent his chanuka gelt and allowance and bought his purim costume as soon as they went on sale. Before purim his mother took him shopping for the nosh he wanted to pack into the shalach manos he would give to his friends, and he spent a better part of the whole last week packing them neatly and creatively into the little bags he made. A small “to: from:” tag adorned the cute packages as they stood in the dining room waiting to be delivered.

Sholom went to his Rebbi’s house, a considerable distance from his own, and was expecting to see a few shalach manos’ from his classmates when he came back. But no one came.

He went to his Bubby’s house, and came back. Still no one came. Sholom‘s spirits began to sink. He double checked with his younger sister, to see if indeed no one came yet. He was sure that at least one boy came to his house. He was a good kid, and he did have friends. Sadly, he sat there in the foyer, thinking of all the nosh he could have had by now.

Suddenly his face lit up. There was Chaim coming down his block, with a nice shalach Manos. He straightened up and went to the door. He peeked out, only to see Chaim pass right by his house. Sholom was crestfallen. Where were my friends? Why doesn’t anyone come to my house? Too discouraged to get out and give Shalach Manos himself, Sholom sat on the steps of his house, and watched the passerby, even some of his classmates pass right by his house. He was so sad.

Indeed, it was a Purim Sholom would never forget.

But we can help him not have the same experience again.

To make sure every single talmid gets to experience the pride and excitement of receiving his own shalach manos, the talmidim from grades 2 through 6 were randomly paired (by a computer generated selection process) with two other boys in their class. Please make sure your son prepares and delivers shalach manos to each of the boys on his list. This is in addition to any other shalach manos he wants to send. Ideally the shalach manos should be delivered on Purim. If you feel that it will be difficult because your son is paired with a boy who does not live in Crown Heights, please have your son bring the shalach manos to school on Monday, Ta’anis Esther, for his designated classmates.

In the Zechus of the talmidim’s participation in “project Simcha” may we merit the ultimate simcha of the Geulah Shelaimah!
Wishing you and your family a Freilichen Purim

Rabbi Y. Simpson
Principal