On Friday, April 16th, 50 soldiers from the paratrooper training base volunteered in the Kiryat Gat branch of the "Power of Giving" organization. The soldiers, who enlisted just recently, are currently undergoing basic training in the paratrooper training base. After a period of about half a year, the soldiers will continue along the track preparing them to fight in the Miglan and Duvdevan units.

The paratrooper training base is located near Kibbutz Shomriya, not far from Kiryat Gat. The soldiers and officers of Division 5 - the new recruits division of Maglan and Duvdevan, recruited in March 2005 - therefore decided to volunteer to help in the Kiryat Gat branch as part of the general vision that guides this division - namely, that they must contribute to society wherever they find themselves. The recruits assisted in arranging and cleaning the storehouses in preparation for the equipment's distribution to the needy during the Passover holiday. In addition to the contribution made by the soldiers, they also very much enjoyed the work and came away with a profound feeling of satisfaction. Division 5 plans to return and offer assistance as often as possible.

On behalf of the POG branch, we express our gratitude to the soldiers, who dazzled the branch's management with the work performed by this team of 50 soldiers, who came to help with immense love and admiration for POG's activities on behalf of the community. We wish you that the energy you brought to this branch should accompany you throughout your military service.
Thank you, and congratulations on your work!

100 people, including Jews and Arabs alike, celebrated together at a unique, festive Purim party held in the Meir Panim branch in Acco. The party was accompanied by the tunes of the accordion and clashing of cymbals.

The festive atmosphere at the event was made possible by the devoted volunteers who tastefully decorated and set the tables. Once again this year, Mr. Avraham Benizri helped ensure the party's success by donating 150 delicious trout.

The event was graced by the presence of Department of Welfare representatives Mr. Ami Malka and Mr. Binyamin.

Many valuable items from the "Schruber House" have been donated to the "Meir Panim" organization. The items will be given to the needy by "Meir Panim" volunteers on the basis of references from the welfare services.

Congratulations to the publicity office of "Shalmor Ivnun Amichai" who won first place in the contest for the year's best "social advertisement," and second place in the category of communal campaign in this year's "Gold Cactus" prize, for the campaign it ran on behalf of the "Meir Panim" organization.

For two years now, the offices of "Shalmor Ivnun Amichai" have worked for the "Meir Panim" organization without remuneration. This office is unique in its keen understanding of the societal messages that the "Meir Panim" charity and kindness organization conveys both outwardly and within its ranks.

For "Meir Panim" and its director, Dudi Zilbershlag, what is most important is affording respect to the needy beneficiaries, who receive from the organization both physical and emotion support all year round.

The campaign highlighted the respect, warmth, and unlimited assistance that "Meir Panim" provides to every individual in need of its services.

• To see an advertisement video clip, click here
• To see the publicity ad, click here
• To see the announcement of the first place winner for best "social advertisement" click here
• To see the announcement of the second place winner for best communal campaign, click here

The "Teva" company has teamed up with Meir Panim - Power of Giving in preparation for Passover, for the purpose of distributing beautiful sets of utensils and food packages for soldiers without family in Israel, serving in the Paratroopers and Golani brigades.

The soldiers, who arrived directly from areas of fighting in our borders, took part in a special event held at the Petach-Tikva branch of POG, together with a group of employees of the Teva and Asya companies.

This event is but a part of the joint project of Teva and Meir Panim - POG that began before Purim, during which toys were collected on behalf of needy children, and household utensils on behalf of the soldiers. In addition, Teva employees volunteered in POG branches throughout the year.

Once again this year the Meir Panim restaurant network held 18 Passover seders for approximately 6,000 needy families who had nowhere to celebrate the seder.

The Sheraton Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem and chef Shalom Kadosh decided to join this important effort and prepare gourmet meals for the guests participating in the seder held at the Caesar Hotel in Jerusalem. The needy of Jerusalem were treated to the chef's delicacies and luxurious food, the likes of which they had never tasted.Chef Shalom Kadosh: "It was a privilege for us to help needy families on the Passover festival, and we are glad that they enjoyed the food we prepared for them. We invested great effort into their food, because they are among our most important guests."

A very special, emotional Purim party was held in Meir Panim's Dimona branch. The tables, which were set and decorated ahead of time by volunteers, could not contain the dozens of guests who came to the meal. The volunteers improvised additional tables and quickly set them to accommodate the influx of participants.

Over the course of the meal, clowns and dancers came and entertained the guests, accompanied by organ music. After the party, each participant received a generous mishloach manot package wrapped and decorated by volunteers.

12,000 dry food packages were collected before Passover as part of the "Satiating Holiday" project, whose goal was to collect dry food products and receive donations from the public for the festival meals to be held at the various branches of Meir Panim.

The project was run in conjunction with the Israel Attorneys' Association, which called upon its members to take part in the project; Army Radio, which called upon the public to donate; as well as Klalit Health Services, Asuta, Paz, Amodex and Magen David Adom.

The public donated thousands of food products from which packages were prepared for distribution to the regular guests at Meir Panim restaurants.

Considerable monetary donations were also received from the public, enabling Meir Panim to host 18 beautiful Passover seders in its various branches, which were attended by approximately 6,000 people.

Seven girls from the Old Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem, led by Naomi Grumet and Tamara Kaplan, arranged a fundraising event for Meir Panim - an evening of fun and "getting to know you." New immigrants were invited to the evening. Participants were required to purchase tickets.

The evening consisted of two parts: Part 1: A "getting to know you" session where the participants were introduced to one another, which featured raffles, bingo, and other games. Part 2: A public auction of products, art, jeep rides, and Passover Haggadahs that were donated by businesses throughout Jerusalem.

Dudi Zilbershlag, the organization's chairman, graced those in attendance by his participation and spoke to them about the organization's work.Over the course of the evening, the girls raised NIS 18,000, which was of course donated to the work of Meir Panim.

Meir Panim thanked and paid tribute to their work and handed them certificates commending their efforts on the organization's behalf.

25,000 used and new toys were collected on behalf of needy children as part of the "From the Heart" project arranged by the Toys R' Us toy store chain together with Meir Panim. In this special "trade-in" program for the Passover holiday, thousands of toys were collected once again this year for distribution to the needy throughout Israel.

The public was called upon to bring old toys and receive in exchange discounts on the purchase of new toys. Thousands of consumers responded and donated toys. These toys will be distributed to children in afternoon clubs and in the framework of special programs for underprivileged children.

To see an advertisement video clip, click here

A Torah scroll written in memory of terror victims killed during the Intifada in the State of Israel was presented to a synagogue in Marseilles in the presence of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron shlit"a. This special, emotion-filled event was made possible by a donation from Michael Levy and his family from Marseilles, and with the help of the nearby communities in southern France.

The event was attended by the Chief Rabbi of Marseilles, Rabbi Ochanah shlit"a; Rabbi Amram shlit"a - rabbi of the Etz Chaim community; Rabbi Daniel Bismoth shlit"a; the community's president Mr. Jaques Amram, and other prominent guests.

The ceremony lasted for several hours and was attended by 1,500 people. During the event, donations were collected on behalf of Meir Panim's activities. News of the event resonated throughout the leading newspapers in France - La Figaro and La Provence.

The ceremony left quite an impression on the French community, which is a loyal partner in strengthening and supporting the chesed work of Meir Panim and POG.

The Torah scroll ceremony marked a highlight of Rabbi Bakshi-Doron's visit to France, who has joined the effort to help Meir Panim's successful work in Israel, and as a tribute to French Jewry, which ranks among the foremost supporters of the organization's activities.

The trip to France was joined by the organization's chairman, Dudi Zilbershlag; its director, Mr. Moshe Levkovitz; Dr. Saul Levy - president of Meir Panim in France; and a large entourage of Meir Panim's friends and French devotees of Rabbi Bakshi-Doron.

The rabbi's visit began in Paris, where he participated in the Shabbat prayers in the "Bufo" synagogue in Munmarter.

Many hundreds of people filled the synagogue to hear the rabbi's address on the subject of kindness and the strengthening of French Jewry. Likewise, hundreds signed up for and participated in the Shabbat meals that were held adjacent to the synagogue.

The prayers and meals were joined by the former Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Shmuel Sirt shlit"a, and by Rabbi Malkah, one of the rabbis of Paris.

After Shabbat, the rabbi and his entourage drove to the city of Sarsil, near Paris, where the community, accompanied by the local rabbis, hosted a Melaveh Malkah and dinner on behalf of Meir Panim in the central synagogue.

Meir Panim will be hosting 18 seders this year throughout the country, from Chatzor Haglilit in the north until Eilat in the south.

Meir Panim will be hosting 18 seders this year throughout the country, from Chatzor Haglilit in the north until Eilat in the south.

The seders will be attended by 6,000 guests who are unable to conduct the holiday ceremony at home. The seders will take place at Meir Panim branches, and, in some places, in banquet halls and hotels. Professional chefs have volunteered to prepare the festive holiday meals with a scrumptious menu.

This year, since the seder night occurs on Motza'ei Shabbat (Saturday night), seder preparation is more difficult than usual. Nevertheless, with immense effort and lots of love and devotion, the Meir Panim staffs have managed to fulfill the traditional Passover mitzva of "whoever is hungry - let him come and eat!"

Likewise, in the "Whoever is Hungry" project together with Magen David Adom representatives and Klalit Health Services, approximately 12,000 food packages were distributed in 20 distribution centers throughout Israel.

Nachshon Roth, a nine-year-old boy from Jerusalem, heard of Meir Panim, read the brochure, saw the video clip on a CD player, and decided to donate from his pocket money on behalf of the needy. He did not forget to include a reminder to send him a receipt…

Every shabbaton in Long Island Junior NCSY has a theme that the NCSYers focus on and learn about throughout the weekend. The theme of this years Winter Regional Convention was Tzedakah. On Friday night the participants were broken up into groups of ten, and asked to split up a theoretical $1000 and create a "foundation". They were asked to split the money amongst three different charities according to their preference. Each group then gave a presentation about why they allocated the amount of money they gave to each charity.

Over shabbas, the NCSYers learned about what Tzedakah is, why they must give Tzedakah, and how they should give it. They also watched a skit about Ma'aser based on the TV Show, "The Apprecentice". After learning the session material and watching the skit, the NCSYers were very motivated to do something real with what they had just learned.

On Sunday morning, the NCSYers watched two inspirational videos about Meir Panim. They also heard from Ben Stern, Director of Junir NCSY and Yisrael M. Schwartz, Assistant Director of Junior NCSY who are spearheading the program. The NCSYers were then broken up into their theoretical "foundations" and designed an actual plan to raise money to support Meir Panim. Each group then presented their plan for raising the most money to support Meir Panim.
Long Island Junior NCSY and Meir Panim have teamed up in the hope of allowing the NCSYers a first hand experience in contributing to Tzedakah. G-d willing, this will be only the beginning of a wonderful relationship that will get Long Island's 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to actively participate in helping their fellow Jews in need of aid.

Today, Wednesday, a special marathon broadcast on behalf of Meir Panim will be held on Kol Chai Radio - 93 FM in most parts of the country; 92.8 FM in Jerusalem. The broadcast will be devoted to the 18 central Passover seders that Meir Panim will be hosting throughout the country, and the distribution of tens of thousands of food packages to the needy for Passover.

The broadcast will begin at 5 PM and continue until 1 AM. Featured guests will include former Chief Rabbi Lau, former Prime Ministers Mr. Ehud Barak and Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Minister Matan Vilnai, MK Yitzchak Buzi Herzog, former minister Zevulun Orlev, Rabbi Shai Piron, rabbi of holy sites, Rabbi Rabinowitz, as well as other important personalities, artists, singers, cantors, members of Meir Panim's administration, and others.

The special series of broadcasts will be produced by Chanan Bar Sela, and will be hooked up with Jewish radio stations in Marseilles, Brussels, and Canada.

Telephone number for donations: 03-570-9989

• Click here for the site of Kol Chai Radio
• Click here to listen to Kol Chai Radio

A unique venture was started three years ago by Debra Offenhartz, President of Savta's Pesach Granola, dedicated to the memory of her late mother-in-law, Ruth Eulau, who was affectionately called Savta (grandmother in Hebrew).
It is a pareve cereal made from all kosher ingredients and includes matzah farfel from Israel, almonds, coconut, honey, margarine, cottonseed or olive oil and brown sugar. The granola is freshly baked by hand in small batches, it is healthier than other products and it is also something new. It is manufactured and packaged by Hirsch Brothers Bakery in Brooklyn under strict Orthodox supervision (OK certified kosher and Kosher For Passover).

Savta's has made Tzedakah an important component of her mission. She donates one percent of proceeds to www.worldmanna.org to help feed the hungry. Each pound purchased helps end world hunger.(Look for the WorldManna.org wheat symbol on package.) The money is earmarked for Meir Panim Soup Kitchens throughout Israel. Offenhartz also sends free granola to US military personnel in Iraq, and donates packages to local food pantries and shelters. She also sells Savta's granola at a discount to local schools and organizations, which can then use it as a fundraiser. The product makes a great Seder Hostess Gift, hungry college kids love it, and it also adds flavor to your Pesach baking. Savta's Pesach Granola can also be ordered online at www.savtas.com.

Help organizations distributed to approximately 250 needy families a magnetic card, resembling a credit card, which enables them to purchase 250 NIS worth of groceries monthly in the major grocery chains: "The card has restored our dignity"; the help organizations estimate that over a million needy people will request assistance for the Passover holiday

The scenes have already become routine here: long lines of needy people and their family members waiting on Passover eve at the entrance of the warehouses of charitable food organizations, fighting over another package of food. They have already overcome the sense of humiliation long ago; as far as they're concerned, this is simply a battle for survival. Thanks to a new experiment launched by help organizations, there is a good chance that this year on Erev Pesach we will see much fewer lines such as these.

For several weeks now, approximately 250 people in need across the country carry in their wallets a magnetic card resembling a credit card. The card is loaded each month with 250 NIS, and the cardholders can use it to do their shopping in the grocery chains as they wish. They are entitled to purchase everything - except for tobacco and alcoholic products. "It has restored our dignity," one cardholder remarked. "I feel like any other citizen, and I don't have to feel humiliated in order to receive food."

According to the help organizations' assessments, the number of needy people who will appeal for assistance for the upcoming Passover holiday will surpass one million. Over the last several years, the heartbreaking scenes of lines of people waiting at food distribution centers have become increasingly worse. In an attempt to prevent these scenes and the degradation suffered by those in need, three help organizations - "La'sova," "Meir Panim" and "Bank Mazon" - have decided to take action.

"The idea is to help people who work but can't manage to survive, and those who wish to work," explains attorney Gilad Charish, founder of the "La'sova" help organization. Charish brought in his friend Dudi Zilbershlag, founder of the "Meir Panim" organization, and Shalom Glitzenstein, founder of the "Bank Mazon" organization, and together, the three steered the food card project, which earned the title, "Tzalachat Melei'a" - "Full Plate."

After securing the initial funding and contacting a company that agreed to issue the cards as a donation, the three turned to the major grocery chains, including "Mega," "Super Center" and "Shefa Shuk," and asked them to honor the cards. They then received a list of people in need from the welfare departments of the local municipalities, and, finally, sent letters to 250 families, to which the magnetic card was attached.

"We have received excellent feedback from the people who received the card," says Zilbershlag. "On the one hand, they do not feel humiliated, yet on the other hand, they learn to manage their family expenses independently and make do with this amount."

At present, the project's initiators are soliciting donations so that they can continue loading the cards and distribute similar cards to other people in need. "Everyone can donate to the best of his ability, and the collected money will be converted into cards. The more money available, the more cards there will be. Donors who know people in need can request that the money they donate be earmarked for those people, and we will prepare the cards for them once we ascertain that they are truly in need," the initiators say.

On Thursday night, Purim Eve, a special event was held on behalf of "lonely soldiers" - soldiers without family in Israel. Power of Giving and Army Radio joined together in cooperation with the Sheraton Moriah Hotel in Tel-Aviv to provide several hours of fun and celebration to soldiers who work day and night to defend us and the State of Israel.

In attendance were approximately 250 male and female soldiers, representing all the military units throughout the country, Army Radio chief Mr. Avi Benayahu, and Mr. Dudi Zilbershlag, chairman of Meir Panim-Power of Giving. The evening was broadcast on Army Radio as part of the station's program, "Shetach Shesh."The soldiers danced and partook of the chef's delicacies, and, at the end of the evening, they received a gift worth 150 NIS, donated by the Ricochet company.

The evening was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Paz company, the Sheraton Moriah, Hands on Zdakah, and Penina Rosenblum.

Below is the text of the emotional invitation written by Aviya Piron to his guests ahead of his bar-mitzva celebration, which will be held towards the end of Adar II:

"On the day I enter the yoke of mitzva observance, I ask you to help me fulfill the mitzva of tzedaka (charity). In Petach-Tikva there is a "Power of Giving" warehouse which offers assistance to needy families. The warehouse contains lots of equipment capable of enabling every family to receive the household items they are missing. The people involved collect used items, and students renovate them and make them suitable for people in need.

Click here to see the full invitation

Do you have hands of gold and a warm heart? Ynet surfers, together with the "Ru'ach Tova" and "Power of Giving" organizations, and with the support of "Home Center" and "Tambor," are working to ensure that the festival atmosphere won't be kept outside the homes of those who cannot afford to allow themselves to celebrate. If you are a professional or renovation hobbyist, and you are prepared to invest some time on behalf of people for whom life has not been so kind - you are invited to give of your professional skills and free time. Come to read, get involved, and help make the festival for them - their home needs our hands!

We can change the situation

As Passover approaches, ynet has joined together with the "Ru'ach Tova" and "Power of Giving" organizations, and invites you, as well, to come take part in this new initiative - to apply the time-honored tradition of "Kimcha De'pischa" ("Passover flour" for the needy) to the minimum living conditions that each of us expects. We have done it together in the past, and we ask for your help once again, this time to assist those who cannot afford to celebrate the Festival of Freedom with the honor it deserves.

Who is invited to join?

Each and every one of you can join: professionals and experts in their field, or renovation hobbyists, whoever can devote several free hours to the project, or those who can set aside full workdays. All that is needed is hands of gold - and a warm heart.

Dozens of homes and families throughout Israel suffering from harsh neglect are waiting for your magic touch, for several hours of volunteering and work, that can bring about a small miracle in their conditions and lives: sealing cracks in the walls, fixing shaky floors, repairing electrical appliances that no longer work and leaky faucets, and bringing back to life the colors of the walls.

How does one take part?

All you need to do is fill out this registration form - and you are already part of the project. The "Ru'ach Tova" organizations will run a special hotline for the purpose of this project, to where all your details will be transferred. Its personnel will then contact you in order to find families and homes in need of help and talents that correspond to your interests and skills.

The renovation project itself will take place several days before the night of the seder, between April 17th-19th. During this period, you, the volunteers for this project, will go to the homes of needy families throughout the country, supported by the personnel of the participating organizations, and with equipment and materials donated by "Home Center" and "Tambor." At the end of the renovation process, the "Power of Giving" organization will deliver furniture, appliances and household items from its warehouses to the homes that you will help in renovating.

How many houses will be renovated?

This depends solely on you. The more people who open their hearts and volunteer to help, the more families and homes we will be able to infuse with the holiday spirit and aura. The organizations' personnel is deployed throughout Israel - in Kiryat Gat, Dimona, Bnei-Brak, Natzeret, Jaljulia, Tira, Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Karmiel, and other cities. They will make the connections between you and hundreds of homes, daycare centers, playgroups and hostels crying out for some maintenance work. Let us make Passover for them!

• Click here to make a credit card donation

• To register for participation in the project, click here

•· To contact the "Power of Giving" donations hotline, call 1-700-501-617.

•· To contact the "Ru'ach Tova" organization, call 1-700-505-202.

150 young customers of POG took part in a particularly moving Purim festival held in the POG center in Kiryat Gat. Clowns on stilts, Purim makeup booths, costume competitions with prizes, dozens of booths with games and food that children love - all combined to make this party a most successful event. A special attraction at the carnival was a booth set up by children from the Ethiopian community of Merkaz Shoshana, who made pigtails and braids for the children.

The city's mayor, Mr. Aviram Dahari, greeted the guests and remarked that POG's activities on behalf of the town's children - and parents - have already become a tradition in the city. The mayor thanked the POG staff and all those involved in this event

As the Purim festival approaches, the "Meir Panim" chain is currently preparing to host approximately 8,000 people in its twelve branches scattered throughout the country. The meals will be conducted with traditional honor and cheerfully decorated by volunteers. The menu will feature the traditional holiday foods, and volunteers in clown costumes will come to add to the joyous spirit of the guests.

Meir Panim had the privilege of hosting the Maimonide School of Brussels for three consecutive days. March 8th, 9th and 10th were spent in the wonderful company of the students. The first group was accompanied by their teachers, Mrs Vivianne Sztybel and Mrs.Irit Aharonovits.

The group spent some time in the kitchen cutting and peeling vegetables and serving our patrons. At the end of their visit, Mrs. Aharonovits, who was truly the driving force behind these visits, was presented with a beautiful plaque, thanking her for her tireless efforts on our behalf. .

The next morning was spent with another group of youngsters, aged 15-17, accompanied by their principal, Harav Benizri. Part of the group stayed in the kitchens, while the other half continued to the Koach Latet warehouse, in order to pack up food parcels for the elderly. Rabbi Benizri did a wonderful job appointing the children to their posts, while he himself actively participated in the work.

On March 10th, we welcomed yet another group. This time the venue was Kiryat Malachi.
Wonderful sixth graders, all very eager to help, were given aprons and got to work in the kitchen. Part of them sat down for lunch, while their friends served them and tended to their needs. The children seemed very taken by the fact that there are children of their age in Israel who go to sleep hungry and wake up to another day without food.

We wish to thank all the people responsible for taking their time off their busy schedules, to come to Meir Panim expressing their solidarity and warmth towards their needy brothers and sisters in the holy Land.