Mesamche Lev was founded by the legendary master of tzedakah, Reb Zalmen Ashkenazi, zatzal. It began as a one-man effort to put food on his chavrusah’s Shabbos table, and quickly expanded to feed widows and orphans suffering in silence. Reb Zalmen dedicated himself entirely to the cause. He banged on bimahs, knocked on doors, and visited magnates and philanthropists on behalf of the poor. He named his organization Mesamche Lev, to reflect his mission: to bring joy to the broken hearted. And bring joy he did, through innovative programs that recognized needs and acted upon them. He noticed children wearing torn shoes, and established the shoe program.

Today Mesamche Lev distributes forty two thousand pairs a year. He saw widows struggling to marry off their children, and established the orphan bride program. Today Mesamche Lev marries off an average of three orphans each week. He recognized that the poor had pride, and devised creative, dignified ways of giving. Today eleven thousand families swipe the Mesamche Lev “credit card” to “pay” for purchases.

Reb Zalmen, zatzal, lived and breathed Mesamche Lev until his final day. With his last bit of energy, he ensured that widows would have money for Pesach. Today his legacy lives on. It is a force of good that will be powered by you. Yes, you.