Israel is under attack, all over again
2,500 years ago
Today
History repeats itself on the land we were exiled to
Today
Iran is again trying to kill as many Israelis as possible.
Iran is boiling. Millions in the streets demanding freedom. A collapsed currency that can’t buy bread. Internet cut. Phones dead. Blood in the streets.
A regime cornered, and Israel responding, because when pressure explodes there, we feel the aftershocks here.
2,500 years ago
Over two thousand years ago, the Purim story unfolded in Persia, modern-day Iran.
An evil man holding millions of souls hostage, as they waited, praying, not knowing if tomorrow would bring salvation or catastrophe.
And now, history repeats itself again.
And while the world watches the news, Israelis try to keep a sense or normalcy
War is loud. But suffering is often quiet.
What can we afford?
What will our children bring to their friends?
We can’t pay our bills, so how are we going to feed our family a nice festive meal?
Right now,
close to 3 million Israelis live in poverty
Children
“Everyone was swapping Mishloach Manot and laughing. I kept pretending I was busy so no one would notice I didn’t have anything to give. I just wanted the day to be over already.”
Amit, 9, Dimona
Nearly 1.24 million children in Israel are facing a Purim like this
“When I heard Meir Panim was hosting a Purim party, I felt like someone had remembered me. A volunteer helped me leave my home and brought me back. There was music, costumes, laughter. I wasn’t alone. For the first time in years, I felt like I had a real Purim.”
Rivka, 88, Tzfat
28,000 Holocaust survivors in Israel live below the poverty line. 20% of them are homebound and cannot leave home without help
Holocaust Survivors
IDF Soldiers
“It’s firecrackers and fireworks all day. Every bang takes my husband straight back to the battlefields of Gaza. People are celebrating in the streets, and I’m counting breaths, trying to keep him grounded. He can’t work. The fridge is empty. I don’t know how we’re supposed to celebrate Purim like this.”
Yael, 34, wife of an IDF reservist, Jerusalem
Over 11,000 IDF soldiers are living with PTSD, and their families carry it with them into holidays like Purim
Help us create Purim joy
This Purim, Meir-Panim is distributing:
10,000
Mishloach Manot
and every person receives two! One to enjoy, and one to give someone else, as traditionally done on Purim.
AND
Five festive meals in our Restaraunt-Style Soup Kitchens
Music turned up. Decorations, laughter, dancing.
Because Purim is not meant to be watched. It’s meant to be lived.
Alongside the holiday, our daily work continues:
2,200 Holocaust survivors
fed, checked in on, and cared for daily
Thousands of families
IDF Soldiers and reservists
Families connected
American Friends of Meir Panim is a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, registered under EIN Number 20-1582478 Donations to American Friends of Meir Panim are Tax Deductible in the USA.