Purim ToTally TreaTs for Troops
Over a ton of care packages bring the Jewish holiday spirit to over 400 troops
Press Release
“Thanks for being my hero.” Nine year old Rachel of the Monmouth Torah Links Hebrew School in Morganville, NJ wrote these words in a letter she sent out. Was it to some Hollywood star, basketball player or rising political star? Nope, it was to a US soldier stationed in the desserts of Iraq, fox holes in Afghanistan or a US battleship in the Pacific Ocean.
Rachel and her friends wanted to show their support and appreciation to the American soldiers who are currently serving overseas. They joined a wonderful program called “Purim TreaTs for Troops”. The idea was to assemble Purim packages, or Mishloach Manot in Hebrew, that are traditionally given to friends and family on the holiday of Purim, and then mail these packages to the soldiers stationed overseas. Purim this year falls out on Friday, March 21st and is the celebration of the Jewish victory of Queen Esther over the evil Haman who wanted to destroy the Jewish nation many years ago.
This innovative program is run by Hebrew Schools in the ToTal network throughout the United States. ToTal, the nationwide Talmud Torah Network is a project of THE AFIKIM FOUNDATION (http://www.afikimfoundation.org). In its fourth year, ToTal has grown to over 80 locations nationwide and expects to open many new sites next year. The ToTal experience provides children with a Jewish educational program that is innovative, inventive and fun.
“A ToTal school is not a regular Hebrew school experience; it’s a ToTal Experience,” said Rabbi Leibel Karmel, Director of ToTal. “This Purim program is a perfect example of the ToTal difference. Learning about Judaism is great; living it is 1000% better. ToTal is ensuring that our children will look back at their Hebrew school years as having inspired them to incorporate basic Jewish ideals into their every day lives in a practical and meaningful way.” The children didn’t only learn about our enemies who wanted to annihilate us in Persia of old, they encouraged those of our brothers and sisters fighting against our enemies in that very same region today!
The students participated in this amazing undertaking in many ways. Some schools took the children shopping for the food to include in the packages, while other students brought food from their home. Children helped raise money for the shipping. All the students wrote letters of support to the soldiers and helped decorate and put the packages together. Included in the Purim Package are ToTal’s “ToTally Dramatic” Purim poster and an ArtScroll Family Megillah.
In a letter received from Rabbi Raphael Berdugo, Chaplain in Iraq, “Please accept my deepest gratitude for the packages that you and your students send me. Your thoughtfulness to the needs of our troops and your kindness has made a big difference in day to day life for our service members. Your contribution has helped improve the morale of deployed military personnel and provided a reminder of home. Having a connection with the Jewish children in your schools helps our Jewish troops stay connected with G-d in the middle of the desert. Special thanks for all that you sent. It was nice to eat some kosher potato chips!
The Purim Treats for Troops program, with the participation of local politicians, military personnel and members of the media, has spread throughout the nation with participating ToTal sites in Denver, Colorado, Jacksonville, Florida, Calabasas, California, and many locations throughout the New York/New Jersey area.
For more information about this program or the ToTal Talmud Torah Network, please call Rabbi Karmel at 877-ToTal-613 or email at
THANK YOU LETTER FROM JEWISH CHAPLAIN:
Dear Rabbi Karmel,
Please accept my deepest gratitude for the packages that you and your students send me. Your thoughtfulness to the needs of our troops and your kindness has made a big difference in day to day life for our service members. Your contribution has helped improve the morale of deployed military personnel and provided a reminder of home. Having a connection with the Jewish children in your schools helps our Jewish troops stay connected with Hashem in the middle of the desert.
On behalf of all our Jewish troops thank you for your love and support.
Sincerely,
RAPHAEL BERDUGO, Ch, Capt, USAF
Jewish Chaplain, 379 AEW/HC
Southwest Asia