It’s one of the largest Pesach distributions in the world. And if Rabbi Ephraim Stern had his way, no one would know the story of the man who makes it happen year after year,All Who Are Hungry,It’s one of the largest Pesach distributions in the world. And if Rabbi Ephraim Stern had his way, no one would know the story of the man who makes it happen year after year
FULL SUPPORT Rav Yaakov Meir Schechter and Rav Yitzchok Tovia Weiss accompany Rabbi Stern every Chol Hamoed on his fundraising mission. With an annual budget of $5 million thousands of families rely on his distribution to get through Pesach (Photos: Shuki Lehrer)
Erev Pesach in Yerushalayim. The smell of bleach rises from puddles in the sidewalks while men of all ages carefully navigate the little streams of sudsy water their boxes of shemurah matzos held high.
A roadblock up ahead signals you’ve reached a segment of street that runs from the bustling Zvhil Square to Haneviim Street. Here no vehicular traffic is allowed. Instead it’s filled with thousands of men and women. They wander through what looks like a gigantic wholesale market filled with fruits and vegetables meat and wine eggs and matzos — all in commercial quantities — and load up their carts.
No the Machaneh Yehudah market hasn’t changed locations. This is the Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov pre-Pesach distribution operation. Over the course of two days some 15000 families stock up here on everything their family will need for all seven days of Yom Tov — and every last onion is free of charge.
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