Orthodox Family Helps Homeless on Christmas
Tova Eidex and her family drove around Atlanta in a ‘Christzmah’ mobile giving supplies to less fortunate on Christmas.
A rising sophomore at Georgetown University, Nathan plans to major in government and minor in film and media studies as well as statistics, hoping to eventually get into a career creating digital content for campaigns or covering them for the Atlanta Jewish Times and other media outlets.
Tova Eidex, 19, regularly provides needed supplies to homeless in Atlanta during the winter season. This year, she and her family drove around Atlanta in their van labeled as a “Christzmah” mobile decked out with signs wishing happy holidays.
On her birthday earlier this year, Tova Eidex gave out bags with toiletries and other necessities to those in need. For occasions like the holidays, she likes to add extra items such as a homemade cake pop. The bags help homeless know that “people are thinking of them and that someone took the time to make them something” during the holiday season, she said.
Without much else to keep them busy on Christmas, the Eidex family drove downtown to different areas where the homeless typically gather and tried to help give people a bit of holiday spirit. The van was decorated with signs such as: “When you’re Jewish on Christmas, there’s not much to do. … So we decided to bring good tidings to you! Shalom.” The idea behind the van was that Jews are supposed to be a light unto the nations, and that it would be Kiddush Hashem, sanctification of the name of God by being holy.
In addition to the signs and bags that were dispersed, the Orthodox Jewish family played Christmas music as they drove around town, particularly “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Feliz Navidad.”
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