Mental illness is a terrible thing and unfortunately Sderot is not exempt from its share of people suffering with mental illness. House of Ester is an organization that helps about forty mentally ill people here in Sderot each day with a day care program. Their day starts at
9 a.m. with arts, crafts, group, and one on one counseling. We were approached and asked if we could help provide a breakfast meal to this group five days a week. Presently House of Ester  is only able to provide toast and jelly and they hope we will be able to help provide a more substantial meal for their patients.

For about $75 a day we can feed all forty a hot nutritious breakfast. We have the ability to prepare the food; all we need is the food to cook. We told them, as we tell everyone who comes to us for help, “We can’t promise anything but we will take your request to the L-RD, His people and our supporters. If we are able to help it will only be because of His love and His grace.” So we humbly submit this request not only to the L-RD but to you as well. If you would like to help please click here.

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As graduation draws near for the Yaron Company we are still hoping that we will be able to bless these young defenders of the land. We are now only 76 bags short of being able to give each of the 120 members of the unit a bag full of warm winter clothing, not to mention the moral boost of knowing that there are people all over the world that care. That might be the bigger gift to these young men and women. Many people caring a little would help a whole lot. You can click here to help if you wish.

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Tu Bishvat (Hebrew: ט״ו בשבט‎) is a minor Jewish holiday in the Hebrew month of Shevat, usually sometime in late January or early February, that marks the “New Year of the Trees” (Hebrew: ראש השנה לאילנות Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot‎). Tu Bishvat customs include planting trees and eating dried fruits and nuts, especially figs, dates, raisins, carob, and almonds. In Israel, the flowering of the almond tree, which grows wild around the country, coincides with Tu Bishvat.

The name Tu Bishvat is derived from the Hebrew date of the holiday, which occurs on the 15th day of Shevat (שבט). “Tu” stands for the Hebrew numerals “tet vav” which is 15.

Depending on which rabbi you listen to you will get different answers as to just what Tu Bishvat is, so to simplify the matter I choose to look at what G-D said concerning Tu Bishvat, He says…

“When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten. But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the L-RD. And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the L-RD your G-D. Leviticus 19: 23-25

Tu Bishvat is the day you start counting the age of a tree you have planted. You know that the first three years of its fruit you don’t eat, the fourth year and its first eatable fruit belong to the L-RD as a praise offering to Him and from the fifth year on you can eat of its fruit to your heart content.

Life is not about instant gratification, sometimes it is about patience and perseverance, giving with nothing in return, willing to bless G-D first with your first fruits and “me” coming second. On January 28th we will be giving out Tu Bishvat baskets full of dried fruit and nuts to those we help weekly.  If you would like to bring  a gift of  your first fruits to those in need click here.

On January the 29th. At sunset enjoy some dried fruit or some nuts, maybe plant a fruit tree and see what lessons G-D will show you over the next four year. Eat of His goodness as you enjoy Tu Bishvat.