Spectors Donate Shmurah Matzoh to Israel for Pesach

Jan and Marsha Spector, through the Jewish National Fund-USA, donated Shmurah Matzoh to Israeli communities and IDF soldiers so they could celebrate Passover this year. The AJT recently sat down with the philanthropic couple to share their story of giving during Pesach.

Marsha Spector at the Western Wall.

AJT: How did you first hear about the situation in Halutza? And when did you decide to help?   
We went to Israel for Pesach in April 2019. Our family took a Jewish National Fund-USA tour to the Negev where we visited Be’er Sheva, Sderot, and Halutza in the Gaza Envelope. We were taken by the courage of the pioneers in Halutza and the adjoining communities. These folks were the protectors of Israel’s Gaza and Egyptian borders; a vibrant mixture composed mainly of religious Zionists of both Ashkenazim and Sephardi origin and brave Israelis on a patriotic mission.
Our initial tour of Halutza was conducted by our friend, Yedidya Harush. We wanted to become involved at that time but did not have an exact plan of how we could make a positive impact on the area.

Fast forward to the spring of 2021. We had been designating some of our contributions to Jewish National Fund-USA for Halutza but we wanted to do more. There is an important mitzvah known as Ma’ot Chitim, or “wheat money,” that is used to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters purchase matzoh and groceries for Pesach. Jan was talking to Yedidya and asked him about Shmurah Matzoh for the community. He indicated that it was expensive and maybe difficult to obtain this close to the holiday, especially with the supply chain issues caused by COVID. Jan asked him what the cost would be to provide matzah for the entire community, and we agreed to fund it.
Our donation included the following on every box of matzah:

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Marsha and Jan Spector in Israel.

In the first paragraph of the Haggadah, we say: “All who are hungry, let them come and eat.” Am Yisroel is one large family, in order to experience our liberation from slavery it is mandatory to ensure that our brothers and sisters have the means to celebrate freedom, too.

AJT: This is your third consecutive year in making this type of donation but this year you decided to double the amount. Please explain why you felt it important to do so.
That is easy. Yedidya had told us about the tremendous growth (B”H) in Halutza and because of the war in Gaza we also wanted to provide matzoh for the soldiers and first responders.

AJT: Personally speaking, what does it mean to you to make this donation and be able to help the people of Halutza as they prepare for Passover, knowing they are finally able to return home after five months?
We know that Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people. Pioneers like the residents of Halutza are living in the land to preserve it for not only themselves but those of us living in the diaspora.