The latest branch of the Power of Giving National Assistance Center -- the twenty-second -- opened at noon today in Carmiel, in the Power of Giving Center in the Carmiel Industrial Zone, at 49 Hamagal Street

The structure was put at the disposal of the organization by the Industrial Structure Company that had donated large areas throughout the country for the benefit of the organization's activities.

The branch's dedication ceremony was held in the presence of the Welfare Minister, Mr. Zevulun Orlev, who said in his speech that eradicating poverty is not possible, but one should attempt to narrow social gaps and reduce the suffering of the poor. The mayor and chairman of the Local Government Center, Mr. Adi Eldar, related that the city of Carmiel was erected on pillars of volunteerism, that he gratefully welcomes every charity organization, and hopes that Power of Giving will succeed in its goals. He added that, for its part, the municipality will give Meir Panim the maximum assistance. He blessed the chairman and founder of Meir Panim - Power of Giving, Dudi Silbershlag, who mentioned that the goal of the organization is first and foremost to bridge and reach out between the various sectors of Israeli society. Even though the organization lacks a vision - because its dream is that there will be no need for its existence - at least the idea of joining forces is being realized on the way to fulfilling its "lack of vision." Power of Giving's general director, Mr. Amos Elad, like the other speakers, lauded the assistance of the good people who helped POG.

In addition to the blessings, the event featured the affixing of a mezuza, cutting of a ribbon, and touring around the branch's compound. Present at the event was Rabbi Zion Jerbi, who promoted the founding of the branch. He stands at the head of Amit Institutions in Carmiel, and is the father of Sar Sholom Jerbi who is an aide to Minister Orlev. Volunteers and students of the Amit school who plan to volunteer in the branch, were also present at the ceremony.

France's Chief Rabbi and World Likud representatives buoyed up the Jewish inhabitants of Kiryat Arba and Hebron, at the initiative of Meir Panim and the president of the World Likud, Mr. Jack Kupfer.

On the last Thursday, French Jewish community leaders and representatives of the World Likud toured around in Kiryat Arba, Hebron and Maarat HaMachpelah. The delegation toured around accompanied by Meir Panim's president in France, Dr. Saul Levi, Dudi Silbershlag, and Moshe Levkowitz

The visit opened in Kiryat Arba's educational institutions, where the visitors were enchanted with the light and sweetness radiating from the local children. In the Nir yeshiva headed by Rabbi Waldman, they viewed the yeshiva's kitchen where Meir Panim daily prepares meals for the children studying in the town's educational institutions.

The community leaders went to the new neighborhood in Jellis Hill where they planted olive trees. Afterwards, they entered three buses and headed for the Maarat HaMachpelah

The delegation passed through the Hebron streets while holding aloft the blue-white Israeli flag, and walked up to Maarat HaMachpelah while singing a heartfelt "Am Israel Chai". They stopped to say Kaddish for the soldier that was murdered in Gross Plaza.

Rabbi Sitruk was enthusiastically welcomed at the entrance to the Maarat HaMachpelah by children studying in the Hebron Talmud Torah. Visibly moved, France's Chief Rabbi climbed up the stairs leading to the Maarah despite his frail health. He visited in the Yitzchak Hall which had been opened in his honor and in honor of the distinguished delegation.

Afterwards, the delegation returned to Kiryat Arba for lunch, and to tour around Meir Panim's food kitchen which daily provides hot meals to the needy. They exchanged impressions of their experience-laden day and a Certificate of Friendship was given by Meir Panim to Mr. Jack Kupfer, for his exceptional help to the organization, and to the other members of the World Likud in France.

The "Adeloyada" program on Purim night on Israel TV Channel One will be completely devoted to Meir Panim. The program will be broadcast on Saturday night, March 6, 2004 at 9 in the evening, and will host Dudi Silbershlag, famous performers and clowns.

In the framework of a series of programs about volunteer organizations on Israel TV Channel One, the "Adeloyada" program on Purim night will be totally devoted to Meir Panim. The program will be broadcast on Saturday night, March 6, 2004 at 9:00 p.m. in the evening, and will host Dudi Silbershlag, famous performers and clowns.

Tefahot Bank dedicated this Sunday the Meir Panim Club for children and youth, in cooperation with the Ezra youth group. The club was founded and is run with the assistance of Tefahot Enterprises.

The activities take place in the food kitchen network of Meir Panim, the organization which supplies hot meals to over 10,000 people daily throughout Israel. The club, which is located on Hatzvi Street, cares for children from needy families during after-school hours. It offers a hot meal, help with school studies, educational activities and guidance in using computer in a warm family atmosphere. Ezra youth group volunteers coordinate and prepare the weekly activities, and they devotedly and responsibly carry out their work.

During the ceremony, the Tefahot Bank director general, Mr. Haim Freilichman, addressed the audience. He stressed the importance ascribed by the bank to becoming involved and helping the community. He also donated three new additional computers to the club. "The work of today is the success of tomorrow," he said. The chairman and founder of Meir Panim, Dudi Silbershlag, and the general director Moshe Yosef Levkowitz, spoke about the first days of the club, warming the hearts of the listeners with their stories.

The Ezra movement director general, Mr. Yehuda Freudiger, praised the Ezra members in Jerusalem who were running the club. Quoting Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch on the verse "You must lend my people money", he said that the affluent person benefits more from giving than the recipient benefits when his lack is met. This is because the giver is thereby fulfilling his spiritual mission on earth.

Mr. Moshe Malier, the head of the Jerusalem municipality welfare department, Mr. Eli Tubal, the deputy director of the Tefahot Bank, Mr. Moshe Feldmar, volunteers, the children of the club and their parents also participated in the ceremony.

In the beginning of this week, Israel's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yona Metzger, carried out the ancient custom to make a feast for the poor on the day of one's celebration. He came from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the day of his daughter's wedding in order to supervise and personally serve food to the needy. The rabbi even funded part of the cost of the meal.

During the meal, the rabbi shook the hands of the diners, and blessed them. He also asked them to bless him and the couple who were marrying that day. The needy diners were thrilled at Rav Metzger's rare gesture.

The Haifa Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eli Yaffa will perform a concert on Wednesday, 24 Adar (March 17, 2004) for Meir Panim. During the concert, a repertoire of classical Jewish and Israeli music will be played with the participation of the singer David Daor, and chazans Yitzchak Helfgut, and Israel Rand. The concert will be held in the Haifa Auditorium on 138 Hanasi Avenue at 8:00 p.m.

The concert's revenues will go to daily providing thousands of hot meals for needy children.

To purchase tickets: Itzik 056-797515 04-8229993
To purchase by credit card: 1-700-50-1617

During the Fourth World Assembly of Orthodox Leadership, a Certificate of Honor was given to Meir Panim's charity and welfare enterprise by the World Zionist Organization and the Fourth World Assembly of Orthodox Leadership. The certificate was awarded by Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman, the chairman of the Diaspora Spiritual Services Center.

Abstract - the Fourth World Assembly of World Orthodox Leadership devoted a seminar to voluntary humanitarian organizations in Israel. During the seminar, Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman, the chairman of the Diaspora Spiritual Services Center awarded a Certificate of Honor to Meir Panim's charity and welfare enterprise in the name of the World Zionist Organization and the Fourth World Assembly of Orthodox Leadership.

The signatories on the certificate include: the Rishon Letzion Rabbi Shlomo Amar; the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yona Metzger; Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman, chairman of the Diaspora Spiritual Services Center; Rabbi Dr. Samuel Diseigny, the Chief Rabbi of Rome; Rabbi David Mashash, the Chief Rabbi of Paris; Rabbi Yitzchak Chalva, the Chief Rabbi of Turkey; Atty. Harvey Blitz, the president of the OU organization in the U.S.; David Ben Noeh, the general director of Diaspora Spiritual Services Center; and Rabbi Pesach Lerner, the vice president of Young Israel in the U.S.

This second Meir Panim Benefit Concert will be a unique harmonious blend of Ashkenazic and Sephardic Cantors from all over the United States, raising their voices in a united front to help feed the hungry children in Israel. These cantors are graciously don

This second Meir Panim Benefit Concert will be a unique harmonious blend of Ashkenazic and Sephardic Cantors from all over the United States, raising their voices in a united front to help feed the hungry children in Israel. These cantors are graciously donating their time, efforts and talents towards this most vital "Meals for children" project, which is the only one of its type in Israel.

All proceeds will go to the "Meals for Children" fund, a subsidiary of Meir Panim. Enjoy an evening of musical inspiration while helping to support our organization, dedicated to give our children a better today, a brighter tomorrow, and a more secure future.

To order tickets for the concert:

Call Toll Free 1-800-423-8952
Fax (718) 437-0999
By E-mail concert@meirpanim.org

For online reservations, click here:

All proceeds will go to Meir Panim/Feed The Hungry Children in Israel.

All Contributions are Tax-deductible

Every year, the memorial service is held in a different place. This year it was held in the Meir Panim House in Netanya. At the event, Moshe Levkowitz, Meir Panim general director; the director of the local branch; Mr. Amos Elad, the director of Power of Giving; the city's chief rabbi; and Dudi Zilbershlag all spoke. A ceremony was held marking the completion of a Talmud tractate for the elevation of his soul.

A couple that was childless for several years gave birth to a sweet, healthy baby girl. The couple decided to make a meal of thanksgiving in which they would also feed needy people. After checking out several places, they chose Meir Panim's food kitchen as the setting for their thanksgiving meal. They ordered a special festive menu, and a woman's band feted the participants with its repertoire.

During the meal, the new mother asked the women participants to hold her baby and bless her with good health. The women were very touched, and some even mentioned that it was years since they had held a baby in their hands…

A fundraiser was held on Radio Kol Chai for Meir Panim and Power of Giving. The broadcast was held on Thursday, January 29, 6 Shvat, from 7 in the evening until one at night on FM 93.

The program featured Yoram Gaon; Yoav Dilon, the deputy executive director of Radio Kol Chai; Efraim Elbaz, the director of Meir Panim in Netanya; Benny Gal, the owner of Gal Advertising; Froika Itzkowitz; Sderot mayor Mr. Eli Muyal; Dr. Saul Levi; MK Inbal Gavrieli; kabbalist Rav Natan Bukobaza; Mr. Gideon of IMP company; Yossi Boronstein, of Mifal Chaim's board of directors; Yossi Koren, director of Mor Koren Advertising office which advertises Power of Giving pro bono; and Chanan bar Sela, who produced the broadcast.

The Bonds rabbinical leadership delegation from the U.S., headed by the executive director Rabbi Jacob Ron, visited Israel and volunteered in the Meir Panim food center and the Power of Giving equipment warehouse in Jerusalem. During the visit, the rabbis joined the staff of Meir Panim and Power of Giving in preparing and serving food to the needy. They also worked several hours at sorting equipment in Power of Giving's warehouse.

Afterwards, they explored ways to cooperate in the future. On the drawing board is having the Bonds leadership adopt Meir Panim and Power of Giving through the year by promoting its message to help weak groups, and allocating various resources for Meir Panim and Power of Giving.

The twentieth branch of the Power of Giving national aid center, will open in Petach Tivka on Thursday, January 15, 2004 on 25 Samson Street in the Alliance Compound (behind the large shopping mall).

The new Petach Tikvah branch was named "Simchat Michal" after Michal Goldstein, the daughter of Shlomo and Chanie Goldstein, who passed away a year ago from an illness. The branch will function as a regional aid center serving Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Givatayim, and Givat Shmuel. In addition to distributing equipment, it will operate bureaus offering legal aid, psychological assistance, medical consultation, a children's computer club, and more. Like other branches of the Power of Giving network.

Power of Giving's administration has set aside the Petach Tikva branch as a regional volunteer center, in which emphasis is placed on joint cooperation between the various sectors of the population. For example, a workshop will be opened in which the unemployed and retirees will be trained by the Labor Ministry and the Joint to operate a one-of-a-kind center which collects, fixes and distributes used computers under the guidance of professionals in the field.

The center will also operate a special project called "Community Cafe", a new enterprise of Rabbi Shai Firon who is responsible for the establishment and dynamic running of the Petach Tikva branch. The caf? will serve as a meeting point in which local volunteers will meet individuals possessing a wide range of views to discuss hot social issues in a pleasant atmosphere. Public personalities will be invited once a week to lecture and lead a discussion -- of course with musical accompaniment.

The branch's dedication was celebrated in the presence of Labor and Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev, and Petach Tikva mayor, Mr. Yitzchak Ochayan. During the hour-long ceremony, students from the Jeshurun school and the Ateres orchestra performed a musical program. During the ceremony, a short film about Michali o.b.m. was screened, as well as a film about the Jeshurun school's charity activities. The school runs the Power of Giving hotline on a regular basis.

Dudi Silbershlag, the chairman of Power of Giving, expressed his hope that the branch will be a true station of charity where the needy will be helped in a dignified manner, and where the covenant to practice kindness to one's fellow man is fulfilled.

Welfare Minister Zevulun Orlev mentioned that the State of Israel cannot help every needy individual and every person is responsible to do his part. Whoever gives, will be rewarded for his deeds. The mayor of Petach Tikva, Mr. Yitzchak Ochayan, added his blessings to the charity organization, mentioning that the charity work of the Jeshurun students is teaching them a way of life involving giving and sharing. The mayor promised continuing joint cooperation and assistance, and said the municipality would accompany the branch's activities.

At the end of the event, Jeshurun principal Rabbi Shai Firon spoke. He praised and held aloft the charity activities of the students who were running the Power of Giving national hotline. He said that the new branch in the neighborhood of Kiryat Aryeh had created new opportunities for them and others to do volunteer work.
At the end of the ceremony, a mezuza was affixed by Shlomo Goldstein, the father of Michal o.b.m.
The ceremony was attended by city councilmen, city department heads, Meir Panim - Power of Giving's administration, Petach Tikva school principals, the city's rabbis, representatives of the municipal welfare employees, representatives of local youth groups, senior officials in the Education Ministry, and others.

A fundraising evening-long is going to be held on Kol Chai Radio for Meir Panim - Power of Giving. The broadcast will be on Thursday, January 29, 6 Shvat, from 7 in the evening until one in the night on the FM 93 channel. The program will host Dudi Silbershlag, the chairman of Meir Panim - Power of Giving and renown performers. Chanan bar Sela produced the event.

In a unique "Chanukah gelt" campaign arranged by the Reading, Pennsylvania Federation, children saved their sandwich bags, decorated them, and wrote blessings on them for needy Israeli children. They then took the bags home and filled them with Chanukah gelt which they collected from family members. At the end of the campaign, they collected over ten thousand dollars for Meir Panim

Michael Fromm, the president of the local Federation, and his wife Susan, presenting a $10,000 donation from the Reading, Pennsylvania community to "Power of Giving" general director Amos Elad. It was collected in a Chanukah campaign to provide hot school meals to needy Israeli children.

The eleven-member Pipaz Band journeyed especially to Israel to hold a performance whose proceeds will go to the Meir Panim food kitchens.

The band members, most of whom are Jews, are professional artists. Not only did they forego their fee for the performance, but they paid their own travelling and lodging expenses.

This praiseworthy initiative was due to the efforts of an Ein Kerem medical student of French origin called Samuel Levi, the son of Meir Panim's president in France, Saul Levi, and his friend Lorrie Badach.

The audience numbered approximately 500 people, mostly young French and South American students studying in Israel who enjoy punk, rhythm and blues, hits from the '80's and soul music.

The performance was held on December 31, Wednesday night, in the Yellow Submarine Club in Jerusalem. It began at 11:00 p.m. in the night and lasted until the morning. The audience danced through the night to the hip-hop music, '80's oldies and the latest musical hits.

It should be noted that the club offered its premises for free, and Pizza Meter took the event under its auspices and distributed pizzas to all the guests.

Last Monday, the fourth night of Chanukah, there was light for cancer patients in the Beit Raphael - Meir Panim building in Eilat.

Dudi Silbershlag, the chairman of the Meir Panim association, opened the group's first meeting in a festive atmosphere.

Chaim from the Chayenu organization brought presents for the families, and Itzik from "Kav L'chayim" brought gifts of disks. Zili Grossman, the editor and host of the "Giving" program on Red Sea Radio, has undertaken to organize other meetings of the group.

"Giving in Eilat", in conjunction with the Beit Raphael - Meir Panim" food kitchens, has been given ongoing coverage by Zili's "Giving" radio program, which provides a real-time and complete answer for many needs. The program even received the Globes Award for Community Affairs. The program has brought in contributions and hundreds of requests by needy individuals, many of which are promptly answered.

The chain of Patel Hotels also galvanized for this important goal by agreeing to host the moderators who were guiding the group in their hotel in Eilat. The group will meet every two weeks, and it is expected that the fruitful cooperation between the hotel and the support group will continue and even expand.

The new branch opened in the Yoseftal Center in Dimona is the tenth branch of the Meir Panim food kitchen network.
In these days, the branch is organizing to prepare hundreds of food portions each day for the needy, as well as sending portions to the homes of the homebound and handicapped. In the near future, hot meals will also be sent to pupils in the framework of the "Children's Meals" project which has already been implemented in several cities throughout the country.

The chairman of the association, Dudi Silbershlag, says that the Dimona branch will continue Meir Panim's tradition of upholding the self-respect of the recipients who come through its doors. "We'll do our best to create an atmosphere of a restaurant rather than a soup kitchen. We're continuing to found additional branches and plan to expand our operation in Dimona."

Nissim Elmakeis, the director of the new branch, said that sixty people visited the place during the first week of its operation. In the second week, the number had already doubled. Elmakeis expects that the number of the needy who the new branch will serve will increase as word gets around in town. During these days, contact is being made with the Israeli Defense Forces and the local Ulpana concerning sending volunteers to help run the branch.

Local bodies are participating in assisting the new food kitchen. Moshav Ein Yahav in the Arava has contributed vegetables, and the Hiperneto supermarket in Yerucham sends baked goods and other food items.

For more information, and to volunteer at the branch, please call 065-456-534.

The Jerusalem branch of the Klalit Health Services equipped this week Meir Panim and Koach Letet branches with resuscitation and first aid kids.This was the result of a joint cooperation agreement made between Klalit Health Services and Meir Ponim which was launched a month and a half ago.

Previous achievements of the mutual cooperation agreement include Klalit employees in Jerusalem volunteering and even donating their vacation time after it was converted into money. Klalit workers also joined Meir Panim food kitchen volunteers, and participated in collecting and distributing Koach Letet's home furniture and furnishings

Maayan Dehan celebrated her bat mitzvah party in Meir Ponim's branch in Jerusalem. The unusual idea was suggested by her mother, who had participated in the opening of Meir Ponim's branch in Netanya.

Maayan invited her friends to volunteer with her in serving the 400 "recipients joining her party." Of course, the recipients blessed Maayan warmly for the hot meal she served them, and she was awarded a "Friend of Meir Ponim" certificate by the general director, Moshe Yosef Levkowitz.

Maayan celebrated the second half of the party in her house in the Makor Chaim neighborhood of Jerusalem with friends and relatives, some of which had come specially from France. She related how inspired she had been from the day's experiences. She mentioned that now she understands the meaning of the word "mitzvah" not merely in words but in practice. Maayan moved the participants with her enthusiasm about the organization, and even said she would recommend that her friends celebrate their bat mitzvah in a similar way. The Jerusalem branch of Meir Ponim is making arrangements for similar celebrations, G-d willing, to which Jerusalem's needy will be invited.

On November 17, 2003 Jewish people of conscience from all over Long Island marked an historic event at Rhona Silvers’ Huntington Townhouse. They ignored the boundaries that normally stand between the different religious branches and all came together to celebrate their commitment to Judaism and the Jewish people in a monumental showing of Jewish solidarity by attending our gala '"Feed The Hungry Children in Israel" fund-raising event.

Cantor Avi Albrecht, during a recent trip to Israel, was appalled by the desperate situation in Israel. He returned home to Baltimore determined to do something and began to enlist the aid of Cantors across the country regardless of the movements to which they belong, to create a nation wide network of fund raising events to purchase food for children in the public schools of Israel, and for the expansion of the "Children's Meals" projects to additional cities in the country.

This event, first of the concerts being held in the United States, was made possible by an incredible gift by Rhona Silver, the owner of the Huntington Townhouse, who gave the use of her entire facility including a free dinner for up to 2000 people, and her manager, the remarkable Alan Schonfeld who created miracles by the minute. Other donations of services included the Simcha Plus Orchestra, Modi Rosenthal, the MC for the evening, and the dedication and hard work of an incredible group of extremely talented Cantors, plus many other community leaders, who, with the leadership of Cantor Albrecht, organized, promoted, and sold the tickets to the event. The near capacity crowd enjoyed an eclectic, highly entertaining and professional program performed by fifteen cantors, punctuated and moved along at a pleasant pace by the very funny Modi Rosenthal and an extremely well prepared kosher dinner. The compositions were delightful and the singers deeply moved the audience with their various interpretations and styles of music. A documentary film describing the different activities of our organization was also shown.

The cantors who performed included Cantor Ofer Barnoy, of Temple Beth Sholom, in Roslyn, Cantor Moshe Bear of the South Huntington Jewish Center, Cantor Victor I. Beck of Temple B’nai Sholom of Rockville Centre, Cantor Carol Chessler of the Huntington Jewish Center, Cantor Gadi Elon of the Oceanside Jewish Center, Cantor Raffi Frieder of Temple Israel of Great Neck, Cantor Israel Goldstein of the Jericho Jewish Center Cantor Lisa Hest of Temple Beth El of Great Neck, Cantor Yossi Karavani of Old Westbury Jewish Center, Cantor Eliezer Kepecs of Temple Hillel, of North Woodmere, Cantor Israel Rand and his Wife Anat Rand, of The Hamptons Synagogue, Cantor Binyomin Schechter of Congregation Sons of Israel, of Woodmere, Cantor Abbe Sher of Temple Or Elohim, of Jericho, Cantor Tanya Tamarkin of Temple Beth Am of Merrick and Cantor Michael Trachtenberg of Temple Isaiah of Stony Brook. Joyce Rosenzweig accompanied the cantors on piano.

Our founder, Rabbi David Zilbershlag, came from Israel specifically to attend and address the group at this gathering. His message, translated from the Hebrew by Cantor Albrecht, was an inspiring message of thanks, hope and determination to not only find and create the means to feed all of those in Israel who need help, but also to build a bridge of understanding and cooperation amongst the different branches of Judaism. Rabbi Zilbershlag considers this bridge to be essential for the future of Judaism and Israel. He expressed the hope that Meir Panim will not only continue to feed more and more hungry people in Israel, but will also be a catalyst in building this bridge of understanding. By fostering camaraderie and unity in a common goal, he said, we will educate a new generation of "givers", of Jews being responsible for one another, in an experience of harmony, mutual respect and shared language.

This unique, beautiful concert on behalf of the hungry children in Israel made an important impression and will long be remembered by all participants, who each left with a stronger commitment and determination to help our brothers and sisters in Israel.

The Jerusalem district Clallit health Fund initiated a unique project to volunteer for a day at Meir Panim and POG.

The Jerusalem District director of Clallit asked if there were workers who wanted to volunteer some of their time to help Meir Panim and the response was impressive. The workers arrived dressed in their medical uniforms and in a short time joined hands with Meir Panim to help prepare and serve food to the needy diners.

Some of the workers donated one or more vacation days, some donated equipment and some came to a Health Day at Meir Panim to give out health and medical information under the framework of "Healing Care."