An E-mail Addict For Chessed

            Chana is an e-mail addict for almost anything religiously Jewish. She has immense fulfillment in sharing and helping others through her various email listings and postings. Her e-mails range from Torah to name lists for davening. She sends out e-mails for Torah ideas and Divrei Torah that have an impact on her.   Chana is also responsible for the efforts (and successes) of many women of all ages (from young girls to older women) who keep to a commitment of reciting daily Tehillim allotments. This undertaking happened as a result of the beginning of the Intifada on October 7, 2000 when Kever Yosef was taken from the Jews. It was during the days between Yom Kippur and Succot. Chana made phone calls amongst her friends and the females got together during Chol HaMoed Succot and recited Tehillim. Although the desire to continue meeting as a group was in everyone’s heart, the short winter days and return to school/work schedules altered the idea. Instead the individuals involved took it upon themselves to continue their commitment – but at home.   Over the years the group has grown such that the Sefer Tehillim is now recited twice a day – morning and late afternoon. According to HaRav Mordechai Twersky, each person gets credit as if they recited the entire Book of the Tehillim twice each day, even though their actual portion was only in the morning or the afternoon.      Anyone interested in starting their own group?                   

  Would You Please Daven For…?       

 A different e-mail list that gets sent out is the Name List of people who are sick and in need of special davening. It came into being as just a personal list – which means to say that in communication with people on the street or in correspondence, names of people were mentioned. These names were then sent out as lists to others to pass on the power of prayer. The lists became longer as the names and requests multiplied.        Chana became frustrated when people did not always “update” her on the status (recovered, or ch”v niftar) of the person behind the name being davened for. A decision was made for a davening list with an integrated follow-up. She still sends out names that come to her as “One Time Prayer Requests”. But there is also a Tzfat Connections Prayer List.       And the lists became an international project.

Chana decided on guidelines for this venture: 

1)      The Name List (Tzfat Connections Prayer List) e-mails are sent out in Hebrew or in English. 2)      Certain “status” information along with the name – reason of why the name is given,city, and age (infant, illness, surgery, old age).    3)  Anyone can receive a list to daven for the Names in their own time schedule. But a Sponsor has to follow the guidelines written above.  

A commitment to the Tzfat Connections Prayer List means:  

1) Having an e-mail address and preferably a printer, too. 
2) One needs to look at their e-mails daily (not on Shabbat or Yom Tov)
3) Davening for the names on the List means that the Names are read out loud  -daily-six days a week
4) A person can give a name – be a Sponsor – to the List however this entails a responsibility to also daven for all the others on this List. Once a name is given and put on the List, the Sponsor is expected to periodically update Chana so she can update the List on how the “davened” name is doing. Old names are moved to the bottom of the List (or removed when the name has recovered (or was ch”v niftar).     In Yerushalayim, at the Kotel there is a Nishmat Kol Chai Minyan at midnight. Men and women gather – each on their own side of the mechitza (the dividing wall). During this special Tefilla (prayer service), there is also a List of names that people daven for. The names are abundant; and often names are added by the many in attendance at the Minyan. Each name (including the Tzfat Connections Prayer List) is recited out loud for all to answer Amen.     

 The power of prayer with kavana (real emotional intent) can move even the simple person to tears. Prayer (davening) is awesome!  A prayer Name List is an up and coming enterprise. People throughout the world have prayer e-mail chains. Anyone interested in starting their own group should do so and decide their own guidelines to follow.       

When Helping Others Helps Yourself

      My friend, Johanna, is a “Jill of all trades” – helping others with her mind and body in a way that work together.     She is into healthy cooking and often she and her husband have guests for Shabbat.  She learned this trait while growing up in her parent’s home in England. Often there were boarders, too. And there was always enough room to feed as many as were at the table.

     Johanna also does massage and reflexology to women as part of her parnassa. That is one of the reasons I went to her – my ankle problem and her ability to assuage some of the pain I was in.     I had met Johanna in town in several places – the English library, the woman’s writing group and at mutual friends’ homes. I got to know her and found out the varied talents she has a writer and as alternative “therapist”.

     She has helped me in my early typing stints at the computer and continues to give me “freebies” for foot massages. In the beginning I paid for her services (albeit at reduced rates). But that changed and became a bonus for me. A few months ago a computer job was offered me; however I realized I was not properly qualified for the job. I recommended Johanna. As a “gift” to me when she visits she gives me a foot massage in recognition that I helped her with parnassa.   

   Johanna is also the lady people turn to when they plan a trip out of town – to collect their mail, water their plants or other small errands. 

    Johanna, in the past was instrumental in the English library being open an extra time-slot during the week – once a week in the evening– a position she held for over a year. Before then the library was open two mornings and one afternoon during the week.    And she always seems to be doing for others what they cannot quite do for themselves. Why? Because she is the type of person who steps in to assist when the need arises.  She does so simply because she can.  Nor does she care for any official recognition.

Let Us Wake Up to the World Around Us

The Earth we live in, the land we walk on and the plants and vegetation we grow – our lives and how we live. Our ENVIRONMENT. The air we breathe, the grounds and plants surrounding us, the food we prepare and eat. Pollution and its health issues, forestry and gardens, better and healthier nutrition – all are becoming a more common trend in our AWARENESS to all of these things that has been awakened – even and finally in Tzfat.
       The Center for Healthy Living in Tzfat המרכז לחיים בריאים בצפת-מרכז ל.ב.ב.   is a non-profit organization (amuta-עמותה) that was founded in 2005 with the philanthropic aid and vision of Moshe Tov Kreps.   

It all began when Moshe Tov noticed a few people around town involved in ways to better the over-all atmosphere of living in Tzfat through the education and awareness on ecology. In the early days, everything connected with The Center was in Moshe Tov’s home.  It is only recently that a place was bought in the Artist Quarter that would serve for its many functions (as well as future projects) enabling all people who are interested to meet – to do so in one place and under one roof.        The people involved and those who participate are mostly English-speakers however some Israelis and other diverse people are becoming more aware and joining. The wish is for any and all who want; to be able to join/participate can do so.     
 Two of the people who first initiated this concept were Shmuel and Allison Ofanansky. The Ofanansky couple, after making Aliya to Tzfat, was very active in the planting of Steve’s Garden (in memory of Steven Levine) in the Old City of Tzfat that was planted in 1996. Years ago when compost and recycling were considered a thing only Americans in America did (I’m an American, so I can only write about what little I know); Shmuel and Allison were enlightening the people of Tzfat to a better and healthier reality.   
   Some in the community were “struggling” financially in their professions of alternative health due to rental fees for their offices outside their homes. Moshe Tov, being the quiet philanthropist, aided with financial expertise and “seed money” at his fingertips, but even more so with the greater need for a central place for people to” meet and treat” whether it be ecology, environment, or health; classes or workshops. He was and is the catalyst behind The Center that organizes everyone.      The purposes of The Center are to improve the quality of life within the economy and the environment. To add a social dimension and sustainability that connects “the person to family and community” within a complimentary and healthy system.   
   Some activities at The Center are classes in yoga by Miriam Friedman; and Chi Gung (and martial arts activities for children) by NatanYa Gress-Levy. So far there have been workshops on building solar ovens; and the uses of native local plants for medicine, health and nutritious food.
      A lot of effort and emotional energies have been put out and into developing community service projects. One such project is environmental awareness of recycling bottles – a rather new concept for Tzfat as I personally can recall that years ago Y’lem already had special separate dumpsters for bottles and newspapers in many neighborhoods, and Tzfat had nothing until 2006.      
   One member who participates in activities at The Center is Adina Rosen, a Breslover. She was contacted by Nachal Novea Tzfat Fund about a grant given to create an environment program within the Breslov Community of Tzfat to improve and beautify the city. NNTF is a Breslov organization established to help in the restoration and beautification of the Holy city of Tzfat.  
    One of its first projects was in recycling bottles. The Center works together on the recycling project run by the environmental program of Nachal Novea Tzfat Fund. In the beginning the bottles were collected by The Center and brought down to Rosh Pina. The first recycling dumpster was not far from Moshe Tov’s home. The Center provides dumpsters in the Artist Quarter neighborhood for the recycling. The Center together with Nachal Novea now provides dumpsters in 20 locations around the city of Tzfat. It is hoped that this program will eventually be picked up by the municipality itself and expanded to cover the entire city. 
      One program of the NNTF is “To Everything There is a Process” ((לכל דבר יש תהליך. Shmuel Ofanansky was also hired by NNTF towards this purpose. The Center works together with the Breslov community as they organize activities with the Breslov Cheder that focus on the environment as well as outings.  The Center exposes people – including the children – to an environmental education of what is around us and how we benefit from it, and what can be done to improve and preserve what there is.
      This past year shortly before Chanuka, Shmuel came to the Cheder with a slide-show showing the process of the “masik”-the olive harvest from the picking to maintaining and pruning the trees, sorting and cleaning the olives and taking them to the olive-press. He explained the ecology of olives and the process of olives in a tree through to making olive oil. The Center and the Cheder had an outing during the “olive harvest”. The boys were able to see with their own eyes the abundance of Hashem as it “rained olives on their heads”- while experiencing up close and first-hand and picking the olives.
       Last year’s War made many people realize how important community really is. Eliyahu Alpern, another member of The Center and a renowned photographer (specializing of panoramic views) was phenomenal in brain-storming in fund-raising and procuring monies for several people devastated by the destruction of the War in their own homes. As a result of certain members’ connections with people in the States, funds came in and youth groups came and visited and volunteered.
      An ongoing project at the moment is the restoring of Gan Ziffer – a park in the Artist’s Quarter not far from the Rimonim Hotel. Moshe Ziffer was a sculptor who lived and worked in Tzfat from the 50’s during the heyday of the original Artists’ Quarter until his death in 1989. He bequeathed his home, studio and sculpture garden to the city municipality. His sculptures were designed to create a view of balance and harmony.  Plans include maintaining and restoring the beauty and tranquility of the garden using ecological and permaculture principles such as water cachement and composting, add plantings suited to the environment while at the same time restore and preserve the outdoor sculptures.  Plant life would include the Seven Species of the Land of Israel. The hope is that Gan Ziffer can be a haven –a  place of solace and relief.– a therapeutic park dedicated to solace and relief  from the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) of this past year’s trauma to so many and ultimately  a resource center for creative arts therapy for the children of the region.