Twenty-five years ago, Leonard Fein flew to LA to have lunch with Rabbi Harold Schulweis. While he was at Schulweis Temple Valley Beth Shalom, he noticed a BMW swing into the parking lot. Schulweis explained that the BMWs owner catered events at his and several other area congregations. Upon his return to Boston, Fein did a little research and discovered that caterers handling weddings, Bar-Bat Mitzvahs and other Jewish affairs in the US grossed $500 million annually.
The light bulb popping inside Feins head evolved into Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger.
Mazon, founded by Fein in 1985 and based in LA, humbly requested that every Jewish family celebrating a simcha donate 3% of the cost to the hungry.
In the first month, Mazon made about $2,300. A year later, Mazon was pulling in $80,000 a month. By its 25th anniversary, Mazon had raised $50 million in the war against hunger.
Bravo, Mr. Fein.
Mazon (food in Hebrew) annually donates $4 million to 300 hunger-relief agencies. Thats the standard gift. But when earthquakes and hurricanes devastate populations, Mazon reaches out again in New Orleans, in Haiti, wherever disaster strikes and people are bereft of sustenance.
Globally, hunger rips the heart and hope out of children every day. In 2009, 14.7 American households roughly 45 million million Americans fought hunger. Todays statistics have not improved. But Mazon is there, doing its best against the odds.
We add our voices to those praising Leonard Fein, who could have turned a blind eye to hunger in 1985. Because of Mazon, mouths are fed and stomachs satiated at least for a while. The Jewish community removes a stumbling block that could lead to starvation. It is hard to think of a better way to live the Jewish value of pikuah nefesh, saving a life.
While Mazon doesnt cure the problem of hunger, it never lays down tools of compassion. For that, we are very grateful.
Copyright © 2010 by the Intermountain Jewish News
