Shirley and Al’s Passover Pantry Endowment
Unbeknownst to their children, Shirley and Al prepared for Passover each year by quietly visiting rabbis in the community, distributing funds, so that Jews in need would be able to celebrate the holiday. This was first on the priority list. This was done before the cleaning, before the cooking, and before the setting of the table, which would seat the family, friends and strangers, that Al would invite to join the family. Passover was a very special holiday for Shirley and Al. When Shirley passed away, Al decided to share this story with their children. He was afraid that if someone didn’t know what to do the needy would go without. Now, Al has passed away, leaving this mitzvah to their children. Shirley and Al would not approve of this public acknowledgement, as they lived very private lives. However, their children want to share this in the hopes of attaining a greater good. The family has established Shirley and Al’s Passover Pantry
While it is housed within the Temple Chai Endowment Fund, the funds will provide for families on a community-wide basis. The children, and any other interested patrons can add to the fund through the years, further increasing the amounts available for distribution. The endowment will continue to provide for those in need, forever. In order to honor their parents’ wishes for anonymity, the children have decided to leave the family name out of the endowment name. They are sure that Shirley and Al would be pleased that the children have found a way to continue their parents’ life-long work.
