Charity Gives $175,000 for Pesach

By COLlive reporter

There are limits to what one can eat during the holiday of Pesach, but that does not help to lower the pricey costs of the seder, Shmura Matzah and Kosher for Pesach food.

In fact, many Jewish families in New York could not afford to cover Pesach without financial assistance, reports the New York Daily News.

“It’s hard. We don’t qualify for Medicaid or food stamps,” said Esti Rosenblatt, 30, using a $200 card to shop near her Crown Heights home. “We just had to sell our car.”

A Jewish family of four can easily drop $1,000 on groceries and fresh pots and pans in preparation for the eight-day holiday, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty said.

Chevra Simchas Shabbos V’yom Tov (CSSY), a Crown Heights charity initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, has been most active this past month, helping locals.

“To date we have distributed approximately $175,000 in cash grants, over 1100 pounds of Matzah and over $30,000 in food vouchers for Pesach,” CSSY director Rabbi Benjy Stock told COLlive.com.

“We are proud to say that over 200 families were helped this Pesach in the most respectful and dignified matter,” he said. “In some cases, food bills for meat and fish for example, were paid anonymously.”

He said more have been calling for help and encouraged contributions at the website CSSY.org. “Please donate generously. We rely on you in order to fulfill the needs of our community,” Stock said.

Stock also urges residents to look out for friends, family and neighbors who might need financial assistance for Pesach. Names for assistance can be given confidentially to 718-774-5270 or C.S.S.Y.593@gmail.com.