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Rising from the dark clouds for the Jewish people of the former Soviet Union, the fate of three million Jews was being weighed. The hatred of the Jews was intensifying, and it was clear the goal was the extermination of three million Jewish people in the Soviet Union. During these desperate and tragic times in Jewish history, Chamah “Chavurat M’zakei Ha-rabim” was established. Rabbi Moshe Nissilevitch, a young man in his 20’s, gathered a few young adults and swore them to secrecy. Actions were taken to uplift the morale of the Jewish people, help the poor and educate the young. Rabbi Nissilevitch, the founder of Chamah, was the source of inspiration for all the programs. A network of underground classes had been founded, eventually to include 1,500 children. A charity fund was established to help the needy. Thousands of tons of coal were delivered to the poor for the wintertime and food staple packages were distributed before the holidays. Matzah for Passover was baked underground and distributed to the Jews. Wedding ceremonies, circumcisions, Bar Mitzvahs, holiday celebrations and Jewish funerals were arranged. Distribution of Siddurim (prayer books) published in Moscow in 1957 and 1966 were distributed throughout the country.
When the small group of activists finally escaped the FSU, they replanted Chamah on American soil. Their mission today remains the same: to feed the hungry and to keep the flame of Judaism alive. Chamah provides food, clothing, education and more to hundreds of thousands of elderly, poor and vulnerable families in Israel, Russia and New York. Against all odds and with much hard work they built Chamah into an international organization, with a community center housing a soup kitchen in Kityat Malachi, Israel, day center, senior citizens center, veteran’s center and library. Chamah provides breakfast and subsidizes lunch for school children from needy homes. In Moscow, the Chamah Complex includes a soup kitchen, a meals on wheels program, a medical and rehabilitation center, and a therapy center for special children.
Executive Vice President Moshiach Chudaitov announced to fellow members of the Aventura Marketing Council/Chamber of Commerce that construction has begun on their new daycare center in Kiryat Malachi, Israel. Their current daycare center, the Chamah Maon, which has been serving the community for two decades, is full to capacity. There is a great demand for high quality, affordable daycare in Israel, as both parents usually work. In recognition of the high standards of their center, the municipality of Kiryat Malachi granted them the land, and the construction is with the support of the Israeli government.
For more information, contact Rabbi Moshaich Chudaitov, moshiach@chamah.org
