Passover Blessings: Helping Israelis Living Under the Poverty Line

As millions of Jewish people around the world prepare for Passover, Israel Relief Aid is gearing up to help Israeli families living under the poverty line to celebrate this Biblical holiday.

Passover is a time to remember how God delivered the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt and into freedom in the Promised Land.  It is also a time for all believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) to remember God’s provision, especially during uncertain times.

Passover is especially meaningful for the Jewish people in Israel who immigrated from the former Soviet Union and other countries, in order to find new freedom in the Jewish homeland.  For many, it is the first time they can freely live a Jewish lifestyle.

Yet, Passover can be a very difficult time for poverty-level families. Imagine these immigrants who are finally free to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers, but are scrambling to survive in Israel. You see, immigrants are typically relegated to living under the poverty line because they arrived in Israel with nothing but a few suitcases, without jobs, and are also unable to speak more than second-grade-level Hebrew.  That fact makes job hunting extremely difficult.

For all those living under the poverty line, the ability to purchase a week’s worth of special Passover foods is impossible. There are specific foods required to observe Passover according to both Scripture (book of Exodus) and Jewish tradition. Oftentimes, these foods cost up to 20% more than regular foods. For impoverished families in Israel, stocking their homes with a week’s worth of these “Kosher for Passover” foods is financially just not attainable.

Israel Relief Aid and our network of 30+  Israeli aid stations are working to help fix this problem and spread some joy to the weary in the Passover season. As part of our work, Israel Relief Aid supports numerous relief centers around the country — all year long. These centers provide disadvantaged families with food, clothing and all sorts of aid.

However, during the holidays, many of our network aid stations will be hosting community Seders, celebrating Passover just like Yeshua (Jesus) and his disciples did at the Last Supper.

These dinners are a wonderful tool of teaching—a Biblically ordained way for people to understand for the first time the meaning of Messiah’s story as relates to the Passover Seder.  It is a life-changing experience!  And a tradition for all households in Israel.

What is so sad at this time of year is for families not to be able to afford to celebrate with a Passover Seder.  Not to be able to celebrate like the rest of the country.  30% of Israel is living under the poverty line!  What can we do to help at this time of year, . . . and not to let them be forgotten?

This year, Israel Relief Aid will host its own Seder for new immigrants living below the poverty line. A holiday meal including matza (unleavened bread), grape juice, bitter herbs, and charoset (fruit-nut salad resembling the mortar which the children of Israel had to build with in Egypt) will be provided, the same that all Israelis will celebrate with all over the whole country of Israel.  There will be around 100 families including children present and the event will take place on April 23 in Haifa.

Most importantly, the Seder will be held in Hebrew and Ukrainian so that all present can understand the holiday celebration.  They will get to celebrate with the special holiday meal that the other 70% of the country that is not in poverty celebrates with.  It will be a special time, rewarding, as joy is brought into their lives for this night, and all are filled.

Israel Relief Aid has also brought in four shipping containers for the holiday season, of diapers, clothing, and supplies for Holocaust Survivors so that various sectors of Israel will have what they need during the holidays.

Join with Israel Relief Aid’s humanitarian aid outreach, as we and our network aid stations give support to the neediest of the needy during this season of great opportunity to reach out to the people of Israel. Let’s spread comfort and joy to the Israeli nation at Passover. Thanks to your support, these new Israelis will taste the great blessing of freedom.

Chag Sameach—Happy Holiday to each of you!!