Mishkan Israel to Hold Food Drive for Jewish Holidays

Trumbull, CT - Congregation Mishkan Israel of Trumbull (77 Mount Pleasant Drive) is calling for volunteers to assemble food packages for distribution to the needy for the Jewish holidays of Purim Feb. 25-26 and Passover March 27-April 4.

In a year corresponding to 5781 on the Hebrew calendar, the holidays celebrate the freedom of the ancient Israelites from bondage and also commemorate Jewish deliverance. Anyone who would like to volunteer can contact the congregation at mishkanisrael@aol.com.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Joseph Torenheim for more than three decades, Mishkan Israel serves the communities of Trumbull, Easton, Fairfield and Monroe, providing spiritual services, youth activities and a summer day camp for children.

The rabbi noted the Hebrew word for philanthropy and charity is “tzedakah,” a form of social justice where “donors benefit from volunteering and giving even more than the recipients.”

“As in the case of justice,” said Rabbi Torenheim, “the critical social responsibility is done ‘with’ someone not ‘to’ someone. In Hebrew, the word meaning ‘to give’ is ‘natan’ which can be read forward or backward. So when we think about volunteering and philanthropy ‘to give’ is also ‘to receive’ and at the same time to build a trusting relationship.”

“Of the 613 commandments Jews are obligated to observe, a ‘mitzvah’ refers to any good deed and the ‘mitzvah’ of ‘tzedakah is regarded as one of the most important.”