Since 1989, his first year as a young rabbi at Congregation Ohav Sholom on the Upper West Side, Rabbi Jay Yaacov Schwartz, now of Ramat Beit Shemesh, has devoted himself to collecting for emergency assistance for needy families (matanos l’evyonim) which will be delivered on Purim day (bo ba’yom) to families in the New York area as well as in Eretz Yisrael.

The campaign continued unabated during Rabbi Schwartz’s years as rabbi at Young Israel of Oceanside and South Nassau Communities Hospital. After making aliyah in 2012, Rabbi Schwartz has traveled to New York to keep this effort going. According to Rabbi Schwartz, “Over the years, we have been fortunate to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to help hundreds of destitute families. In today’s difficult economic climate, these funds are critically needed and serve as a lifeline to these struggling families.”

The YTC Emergency Aid Fund was founded after WWII by the late Rabbi Nesanel Quinn, zt’l. The EAF Purim campaign with Rabbi Schwartz was started with the guidance of Rav Avraham Yaakov HaCohen Pam, zt’l, rosh yeshiva, and Rabbi Meir Deitel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. Rav Pam, zt’l, was Rabbi Schwartz’s rebbe and close mentor, and this effort serves as a merit to his rebbe’s memory since his passing in 2001. The campaign is also in memory of longtime campaign honorary chairman Rav Chaim Yisroel Belsky, zt’l, from whose modest home in Flatbush tens of thousands of dollars were distributed each Purim since 2002 until his recent untimely passing.

This year, as it has been for many years, the funds are actively distributed under the direction of Rabbi Aron Pam, the son of the beloved and revered Rav Avraham Pam, zt’l, and current director of the Emergency Aid Fund. Annual donors include many esteemed rabbanim, congregation leaders, and individuals from Manhattan, Five Towns, Long Island, Baltimore, Brooklyn, and beyond.

Rabbi Aron Pam added a Birkas Kohanim: “This year, extra koach is needed as this is the 31st year of this work of Rabbi Schwartz, a close talmid of my father, zt’l, and of Rav Belsky, zt’l. In the merit of this great mitzvah, may the entire Jewish people be delivered from all perils—physical, political, or spiritual — that we as a people are confronted with at these critical moments in our history, and hear besuros tovos and yeshuos for the safety, security, and health for all the members of Klal Yisrael in Israel and throughout the world.”

The YTC Emergency Aid Fund Purim Campaign assists families that are struggling with parnassah. Here is a profile of some of our beneficiaries:

  1. A middle-aged couple: The wife has been ailing for many years and is now hospitalized. The husband is in a nursing home on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. The first question to his family when he was admitted was, “Please check with Rav Pam to see if we are on the list of families for Purim assistance.”
  2. A talmid chacham with a mental-health issue who lives alone in a small apartment and is unable to work due to his disability.
  3. An elderly man whose son-in-law passed away and carries the burden of supporting his daughter and her many children.
  4. An older divorced man who has no means of support and no permanent address.
  5. A widow with many children still at home.

These are just some of the examples of how your donation will alleviate the terrible emotional pain and financial pressure that these families experience.

To donate by credit card or PayPal, visit shomreimishmeres.org/donations.html and click Matanos L’evyonim 5780. Checks can be mailed to POB 249, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. All contributions are fully tax-deductible. For more information, call 347-707-5664 or email rjyschwartz@gmail.com.

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