On April 9, the Wednesday before Pesach, Rabbi Besser brought the seventh grade girls to the Young Israel of the West Side and they helped assemble packages for the elderly. The packages included matzah, egg matzah, gefilte fish, grape juice, macaroons and chocolates. The packages were delivered to Seniors living in buildings run by the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing Inc. Ms. Laura Jervis, the Executive Director of the organization, was on hand to tell the volunteers a little bit about the company and its efforts to help seniors especially around the Holidays. The MDS girls were joined by some six grade boys from Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan along with their Principal Rabbi Goldberg. Mr. Fine (Mrs. Fine’s husband) spoke to the students about how much these packages mean to the elderly people that receive them. While they were there, some very important politicians stopped by including: Council speaker, Ms. Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate, Ms. Letitia James, Council Member, Mr. Mark Levine, Council Member, Ms. Helen Rosenthal and Manhattan Borough President, Ms. Gale Brewer. Rebbetzin Marmorstein and Rabbi Dovid Cohen, the Rabbi of the Young Israel of the West Side, also spoke about the mitzvot the students were fulfilling and importance of doing these mitzvot in preparation for Pesach.
COJO Pesach Packages for the Elderly
by Rebecca Roth and Avigail Deutsch, 7G