Ma Nishtana - Popular Song Passover

Ma Nishtana

Chorus Ma nishtana halayla hazeh mikol haleylot? Verse 1 Sheb'chol haleylot anu ochlin chametz, u-matza, halayla hazeh, kulo matza. Verse 2 Sheb'chol haleylot anu ochlin shear yerakot, halayla hazeh, kulo maror. Verse 3 Shebachol haleylot ein anu matbilin afilu p'am echat halayla hazeh, sh'tei p'amim. Verse 4 Shebachol haleylot anu ochlin beyn yoshvin u-bein m'subin halayla hazeh, kulanu m'subin.

Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we may eat chametz and matza, but on this night, only matza. On all other nights we may eat many vegetables but on this night, only bitter herbs. On all other nights, we do not dip even once, but on this night, twice. On all other nights we may eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night, we all recline.

Mazon - A Jewish Response to Hunger

Founded in 1985, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is a national nonprofit organization that allocates donations from the Jewish community to prevent and alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Each year, MAZON grants over $4 million to more than 300 carefully screened hunger-relief agencies, including emergency food providers, food banks, multi-service organizations and advocacy groups that seek long-term solutions to the hunger problem.
MAZON (“food” in Hebrew) believes its dual purpose is to provide for those who are hungry today and to address the systemic causes of hunger and poverty, both domestically and globally. Although grants are provided to many organizations serving the Jewish poor, in keeping with the best of Jewish tradition MAZON believes it is important to respond to all who are in need.
MAZON is supported by over 100,000 donors who incorporate social justice and hunger relief as crucial components of their everyday lives.

The Importance of Friendship

The benefits of friendship are appreciated by the Jewish tradition.

The Hebrew word for hand is "yad", one of in Hebrew words that define friendship is also "Yadid", composed of two yad, or "holding hands".

With the intensity of friendship, the feeling of confidence deepens. The differences end up when there building a friendship.

Kohelet, 4:9-10 (Ecclesiastes), say:
9 - Two are better than one, since they have good reward for their toil. 10 - For if they fall, one will lift up his friend, but woe to the one who falls and has no second one to lift him up.

Friendship is clearly more than one connection in the context of Jewish culture. Friends help each other with loyalty, protection, support, unselfish love and moral guidance.

The friendship is defined as one of the primary relationships in life, sometimes more than relatives and blood ties.

The words in hebrew for Friend(s)
- Chaver, male singular,
- Chaverah, female singular,
- Chaverim, male plural,
- Chaverot, female plural.

Project Kav-Or - "Smile"

Goal :
The goal of this project is to assist sick children in hospitals through homework and peer assistance and distance learning services. It is also teaching high school students about community involvement.

Need:
Long-term diseases isolate children at a time in their lives when they thrive on inclusion and a daily routine. They endure long, boring stays in the hospital while recovering from surgery or receiving treatments; they are repeatedly separated from their families and friends; and they are absent from school, not only falling behind in their studies, but also missing out on physical and social activities they enjoy.

Based on its extensive experience in Israel, World ORT concluded that its specialty, technology, could be a key to keeping young hospital patients engaged in the midst of their isolation. The technology could function as both a learning tool to keep the children current in their studies, and a communications tool to keep them in touch with their friends.

Uniqueness:
The project benefits both -- the sick children in the hospital -- and volunteer students participating in the program. Participants per year: 120.000

Bat Mitzvah* - Cut paper collage created By Lori Peha Kezner
"A pledge to grow in mind and spirit, extending help and hope to others. To believe in one's self and uphold the ideals of Judaism. Striving each and every day to be a better person."

Would you like to help this project? Be the first to place a call!

A RACE AGAINST TIME

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Saving Lives of Jewish Cancer Patients

Goal:
For many cancer patients, the sole chance of survival is a bone marrow transplant. Genetic matching is essential for success.

Ezer Mizion's International Jewish Bone Marrow Registry aims to meet virtually each request with a postive response, thus saving Jewish lives around the world. At this time, even though Ezer Mizion is the largest Jewish registry in the world and has saved so many lives, too many requests receive the verdict; No Match Found, a virtual death sentence. It is essential that the registry be enlarged so that a match be available for each request BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Registry: An Insurance Policy for Jews Worldwide

Ezer Mizion's International Jewish Bone Marrow Registry for Cancer Patients facilitates bone marrow transplants for Jews around the globe whose only chance of survival is a transplant. Enlarging the registry is extremely vital so that each request can be met in a timely manner before it's too late. Cancer patients can't wait.

Visit the project
As an organization, Ezer Mizion has received the highest ranking for efficient use of public funds by Charity Navigator

Picture : IDF soldier rejoicing with his little 'blood brother', the leukemia patient whose life he had saved.

Help for Chile

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The Jewish Federations of North America is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide aid and relief to victims of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile. Click here for the JDC Chile mailbox for donation.

The earthquake struck about 200 miles (325 kilometers) south of Santiago, killing at least 700 people and displacing or injuring some two million others. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet opened the door to international aid yesterday, stating that the country faces "a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort to recover."

Chile is home to a vibrant and active Jewish community of approximately 16,000, of whom 90 percent are concentrated in the capital city of Santiago, particularly JDC, which is working with the umbrella body of Chilean Jewry, La Comunidad Judía de Chile. Based on information we have received from our partner, Jewish communal institutions have been spared from major earthquake damage due to Santiago's distance from the earthquake epicenter.

"We mourn the loss of those who were killed and pray for the survivors,” said Jerry Silverman, President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America. “The Jewish Federations and our partners can work together in a collective response to ensure we most effectively respond to this tragedy.”

"One day and two days ..."

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What does it mean to me
"One day and two days ..."

They taught me to understand that the happy life is made a day at a time, I think the same to make a better world.

When we improve every day, we reach the fullness of love doing everything better; We can understand better, see better and re-build what is not good.

As it is written in the Torah, God in his wisdom, has built the world in days, or in stages. This represents that "our human world" can be improved over time and with the wisdom of our experiences.

So too should we use every day to improve our personal skills and the all community to try to achieve peace and harmonious equality among all beings on earth.

Who knows one day and more two days later we meet, helping and joining hands to each other, we all without hunger, not disease and without malice? One day...

The Hebrew text on image says:
"Master of the universe, please place in our house light, happiness, peace & friendship, & shower a continual flow of blessing & holiness in all of our rooms & in every corner, & may the light of your Torah & mitzvot [commandments] continuously blossom here."

The Artist Zeesi Paltrowitz (click here to read his work)