From Orange County to Israel… with Love!
Chabad of Orange County’s Women’s Circle Brings Light to 30 Israeli Families
“Thanks to the generosity of the Jewish Women’s Circle of Chabad of Orange County, and Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, children from 30 Israeli families ravaged by terror received teddy bears, toys and beautifully wrapped gifts for Chanukah,” said Rabbi Menachem Kutner, director of Chabad’s Terror Victims Project, in a letter recently sent to Chabad.
On Tuesday, December 13, 2005, over 30 women from throughout the County gathered for a “Pre-Chanukah Women’s Celebration” with Chabad’s Jewish Women’s Circle.
Participants hand-made decorative and adorable clothing for fluffy teddy bears. Each bear was packaged with dreidels (spinning tops) chocolate Chanukah coins and personal cards. Beautifully wrapped in cellophane and ribbons, the gifts were sent to Israel to be distributed to children who are victims of terror. Included in the packaging were photos of the event to be shown to the recipients so the children could see the care that went into their packages!
During Chanukah, Rabbi Menachem Kutner, personally distributed the gifts to the children. Rabbi Kutner also showed the recipients photos of the women in Orange County lovingly creating their gifts. Recently, Rabbi Kutner sent Chabad of Orange County several photos of the children holding their teddy bears. On behalf of Chabad’s Terror Victims Project, Rabbi Kutner acknowledged the generous support of Rabbi and Mrs. Burston and the community of Chabad of Orange County.
The happy recipients included nine year-old Eden Zilberman (pictured), whose 45-year-old father, Pinchas, was among 10 Israelis murdered in the double suicide attack at the port of Ashdod. Another recipient is eight-year-old Bracha Steinberg of Hadera(pictured). Bracha’s mother, Avigayil, was wounded in the suicide attack in Hadera’s open market on Oct. 26, 2005, which killed six persons and seriously wounded many.
“All people are blessed with individuality, and that’s what makes us unique,” said Chana Burston, who directs Chabad’s Women’s Circle. “But we all share an equal, common denominator – a soul deep within – which connects us to one another and gives us the status of brothers and sisters. Instead of focusing on our differences, we can focus on what we have in common. Chanukah shares this message of unity by the lighting of the menorah. There may be various ‘branches,’ but it’s all part of one menorah! This is what we have in common with all our brothers and sisters all across the globe, and with the children of Israel who are victims of terror.”
“Although I have never participated in such a project before, the aura of the mitzvah filled me with pride… pride in Chabad in general for caring and reaching out to the children and for [Rabbi Pesach & Chana Burston] in particular for organizing this most original and creative project,” commented Samira Galler of Monroe.
The event was held at the home of Rabbi Pesach & Chana Burston in Monroe, and was sponsored in part by Gladys Wenzel, Samira Galler and Anonymous.
For more information about Chabad’s Terror Victims Project, please visit www.ChabadIsrael.com. For more information about the Jewish Women’s Circle please call Chana at 782-2770 or write [email protected] or visit www.ChabadOrange.com.
For photos of Women's Circle creating gifts, please click here.
For photos of gifts beings received in Israel, please click here