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Jan 28, 2010

Bet Shemesh-wde Mishloach Manot project

I received the following by email, and it sounds like a great program...
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A cross section of Bet Shemesh's diverse populations met on Tuesday night to discuss ways to bring more unity to the city. The decision was made to move forward with a city wide Mishloach Manot project. We will arrange for chareidim and datiim to bring mishloach manot to masoratim and chilonim and vice versa. Close to 100 datiim and chareidim have already signed up and we hope that hundreds, if not thousands, will join together for this important project.

Representatives in the Russian and Old Bet Shemesh communities are working to develop lists as well.

Please e-mail me at ddlipman@gmail.com if you want to join. Please include your name, address, and cell number.

Let's remember that the redemption in the time of Purim came because of "Leich k'nos et kol hayehudim" - the Jews unifying together as one. We can certainly use redemption and we for sure need to take strides towards more unity. What better day to start that process than Purim?

10 comments:

  1. This sounds like a great idea. I think we'll 'steal' the idea.

    JOOC, how was the signing up for it instituted?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent idea. Rav Eli Mansour had a dvar Torah in Daily Halachah that mishloah manot on Purim is intended to increase unity among us, before we become divided over 'I won't eat at your house' on Pesah. We need it even more with the divisiveness in today's communities!

    I'm sure you're aware of the community mishloah manot campaigns in hutz la'aretz. People pay into a common package which bears the names of all the subscribers. We make sure to deliver even to the staff at the Reform temple, and the like.

    ReplyDelete
  3. it is becoming fairly common here too. my shul has been doing it for a number of years, and I see other shuls and organizations doing it as well...more and more each year

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well ok then maybe someone here can put this in a better frame for me:

    "We will arrange for chareidim and datiim to bring mishloach manot to masoratim and chilonim and vice versa."

    Sounds to me like: 'You're less religious, so you give to someone more religious....and vice versa.'

    Anyone?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shira, I look at it as 'benign kiruv'.

    In addition it gives people, who wouldn't normally have anything to do with one another, a chance to meet.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shira, out here if we don't make some effort, like mishloah manot to 'non-observant' homes, they won't have any Purim at all. When we delivered mishloah manot to the Reform temple last year, they were very pleasantly surprised. Turns out they had no one doing this in their congregation. That alone made it worthwhile. I didn't even think of it as kiruv; just sharing the love where it otherwise might not reach.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What happens if a charedi guy gives a mishaloch manos to a less religious who won't eat badat'z?

    ReplyDelete
  8. can charedim give to datiim?
    can chilonim give to masortiim?

    It's a cute idea, but the only people it will bring together are the ones organizing it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. "Shira, out here if we don't make some effort, like mishloah manot to 'non-observant' homes, they won't have any Purim at all."

    But this isn't one community exchanging with another (or just doing for another), this is a city-wide signup. And if people don't sign up they aren't in.

    Thanks for trying. Seems I haven't completely articulated what bugs me about it...

    ReplyDelete
  10. How about not sending Chareidim Mishlo'ach Manot, but rather -- sending Chareidim AS mishlo'ach manot.

    Back to Europe, someplace.

    ReplyDelete

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