Shabbat in the Shelter: Bringing a Hot Meal and a Moment of Peace to Israel’s Most Vulnerable
Mar 08, 2026
One moment, families are preparing dinner, helping children with homework, or setting the table for Shabbat. The next, a siren sounds and everyone moves quickly toward shelter.
We all feel the disruption. But for the elderly, the disabled, and families already struggling to make ends meet, these moments are more than inconvenient, they can make even basic necessities feel out of reach.
And that is exactly when compassion matters most.
A Delivery That Changed Everything
Rachel is 72 years old. She and her husband live in an older building without an elevator. When sirens sound repeatedly, navigating stairs becomes exhausting. During a previous escalation, they stayed in the shelter all day simply because going up and down was too physically demanding, hoping and waiting that someone would remember they are there.
When Yad Ezra V’Shulamit brought them a food basket, Rachel’s reaction was simple but powerful: “Now I can breathe.”
Not because the fear disappeared, but because one heavy burden had been lifted.
Preserving Shabbat No Matter What
Shabbat is a source of strength for the Jewish people. It is a weekly reminder that no matter what surrounds us, we pause, gather, and reconnect to what truly matters.
Even during times of tension, that sense of peace is possible.
Today, as we run repeatedly to and from bomb shelters, Rachel is on our minds. Who will bring her and her husband food?
This week, we purchased 2,000,000 shekels worth of ready-to-eat meals and emergency food supplies to ensure that Israel’s most vulnerable citizens will not go without. These meals are designed for real-life conditions, for seniors who cannot easily travel, for families staying close to shelters, for individuals who need nourishment that is both accessible and dignified.
Because maintaining Shabbat is not only about tradition.
It is about resilience.
It is about protecting a sense of normalcy for families who need it most.
Our Strength Has Always Been Each Other
On Purim, when the Jewish people faced uncertainty and danger, the response was prayer, unity and action. Purim is s holiday that focuses on giving to the poor and sharing food with friends and neighbors. We are a people who strengthen one another and choose generosity over fear.
That spirit continues today.
When sirens sound, Israelis move toward safety. And when families struggle, our community moves toward them.
Every emergency basket delivered is more than a package of groceries. It is a message:
We see you.
We care about you.
You are not alone.
How You Can Help
For $200, you can provide a complete emergency food basket to someone like Rachel and her husband, giving them not only meals for Shabbat, but reassurance and dignity during a challenging time.
Together, we can ensure that even if Shabbat is welcomed from a shelter, it is still welcomed with warmth.