Young, Old Share Good Time

The generous hosts were Yossi and Bella Rubashkin and Rabbi Michoel Seligson delivered a Dvar Torah.

Here is a public letter sent to COLlive.com about the charitable work of Mrs. Scheiner:

Dear Mrs. Scheiner,

I want to thank you for the wonderful way you give Tzedukah. Over the years you have helped my family over and over again by providing much needed food: cases of chicken, chopmeat, schnitzel, gefilte fish, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Before Yom Tov we even receive shoes and clothing for the children.

The thing that is so nice about what you give isn’t just WHAT you give, but HOW you give it. You call me up during the year to ask me if I need groceries, clothing, or shoes for my family. When you have clothing we aren’t given a trash bag to go through and shown the door, instead you great the child who came to pick it up warmly. You ask how they are doing in school and give them beautiful clothes that don’t look like someone’s throwaways. Then you don’t send them away empty-handed- no not you- you fill their hands with snacks…ices…ice cream…water bottles… When you are poor there sometimes just isn’t money for those extras.

Before Yom Tov when you have your large deliveries of food you make sure each person is treated with dignity. There is no pushing and shoving to get the food. Instead each person waits calmly in line like they do in the grocery store. No one is belittled or shamed. The deliveries are usually early in the morning between 9 and 9:30. Nosy people are at work at that time and nosy kids are at school. You even provide a breakfast fit for a king on the porch: bagels, rolls, cheeses, piping hot Danishes, juices, water bottles, and even snacks for the kids fill hungry bellies. Paper bags are provided so that the leftovers can be shared at home.

You only give out the finest merchandise. There is no waste. I don’t have to sift through bags of rotting produce or smelly meat to find a few barely usable pieces for my family. I can barely carry all the fine food. But you think of everything… You ask people with cars to show ahavas yisroel and help others get their goodies home. Some people are so shy I think they would even drag their stuff home on their back (breaking it in the process) just so that they shouldn’t have to ask people for help. There goes Mrs. Scheiner to the rescue again. She makes sure they also get rides but in a kind and graceful manner where they think they are helping someone else.

When my children answer the phone and hear your voice they are so excited. Their faces break out with large smiles, because they know that their prayers have been answered. You have a beautiful Shabbas dress or shoes or a toy for them. (…and more food for me- somehow chicken just doesn’t always excite kids…I wonder why…) They beg me to be the one to pick it up because you fill their ears with kind words and their stomachs with snacks like the Bubby I wish they had.

Now my children don’t always have it easy. They have “special” needs. You know what that means. They aren’t always welcome at events. People are afraid of people that look or act…well…different. You are different. You welcome them to your events. I don’t know how you do it, but somehow you get the most amazing performers to sing, play, tell jokes, and say words of Torah. The food is delicious. The atmosphere cheers us up and makes us forget what we are going through….

Every Shabbas when I light Shabbas Candles I daaven that H-shem should give you good health and plenty of money to continue and even expand your good works. I daaven that your supporters should have unprecedented business (and ruchnius!) success beyond their wildest imagination. If, G-d Forbid, you were not able to do all that you do there would be a huge hole in our community. You are an asset to us all!

Thank you so very much!!!
C.S.