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History & Timeline
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 1971
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Beginnings
Reb Zalman Ashkenazi, a young talmid chochom, moves to Eretz Yisroel from New York. He settles in Meah Shearim and plumbs the depths of the Talmud together with his chavrusah – his study partner. But the chavrusah is troubled. There is no food in his home; no money for Shabbos. Reb Zalman’s heart is ignited. He goes from shul to shul to raise money. Then, in the stealth of night, he slips envelopes under two doors - one for his chavrusah; another for a widowed neighbor. By year’s end, he is sending weekly envelopes to close to forty families. The families, including many widows, depend on him.
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1973
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Greatness transplanted
The Yom Kippur War. At the insistence of his parents, Reb Zalman moves back to New York. The very first Thursday, he faces a dilemma. What to do about the families; the widows; the orphans who depend on him? His rebbe, the famed Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, zatzal, gives a clear psak: Reb Zalman cannot forget them. He wires funds to each family. They will have food. They have not been abandoned.
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1974
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Mesamche Lev
Reb Zalman is wiring funds to hundreds of families each week. His project needs a name that reflects his mission of bringing joy to broken hearts. Mesamche Lev. There are so many in need; so many broken hearts to salve. Mesamche Lev needs so much money. Before Pesach, Reb Zalman sets a goal. He will raise $10,000 for the poor by next Pesach. The poor must have food! They must be able to celebrate the holiday properly! Amazingly, he reaches double his goal.
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1975 - 1990
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For the love of his fellow Jew
Mesamche Lev is growing, expanding. Reb Zalman is the singlehanded force behind the organization’s growth. His office is extremely compact. It’s all in his bulging black briefcase – and in his giant heart. He approaches donors, equipped with unparalleled passion and ahavas Yisroel. They can’t tell him no! He raises astronomical sums and sends every dollar to Eretz Yisroel.
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| 1990 |
Fighting Hunger
Reb Zalman fine tunes his tzedakah. Instead of cash and checks for Pesach, he gives meat, poultry, fish, matzah, and grocery coupons. Unlike cash, the coupons won’t be spent on rent or medical expenses, leaving families hungry. They will only buy food. There will be matzah and meat at the Seder. The children will rejoice!
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1995
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It’s a wedding.
A young widow calls Reb Zalman. He has been her sole source of support for years; and now her daughter is a kallah - so she turns to him again. She has no one else to ask. The orphan needs a wedding. She needs linen. She needs clothing. Will Reb Zalman help? How can he not? Mesamche Lev’s Orphan Wedding Program is born. From the first wedding, it grows. Today the program provides weddings, appliances, clothing and house wares to hundreds of orphans each year; and has a budget of $1,039,000.
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2001
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Heart and Soles
Reb Zalman visits homes and meets orphans. He notices something afoot. The shoes. Some have flapping soles. Others are terribly worn. There’s even a child wearing his deceased father’s shoes, stuffed with newspaper so they don’t fall off. Others see and shrug. Reb Zalman sees and acts. Mesamche Lev begins its shoe distribution. Like all things Mesamche Lev, the shoes are the best – top quality, good brands, current styles. For children who never got new shoes before, the program is thrilling. It is also very popular. As many as forty two thousand children will receive new shoes this year.
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2002
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A Chessed Store!
Ofos Basar Vedagim opens its doors, serving Mesamche Lev “customers” with meat, poultry, and fish. Until now, the poor used their coupons in regular butcher stores. But a widow had a bad experience; where the butcher made her wait until after his regular customers were served. That was unacceptable to Reb Zalman. He established a real store, where widows, Torah scholars, and poor families “buy” meat and fish. The currency? Mesamche Lev coupons, sponsored by generous donors.
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| 2004 |
The Tent.
Mesamche Lev has outgrown its facilities. With tens of thousands of Jews receiving meat, poultry, shoes, grocery coupons, and more for Pesach, the venue must change. Mesamche Lev erects a giant tent, where Jews stream from across the country. It is a massive undertaking. In less than a week, the organization distributes first shoes, then matzah and wine, then meat and poultry. There is a similar distribution before Sukkos. The current budget for the holiday distributions is $1,300,000.
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Feb. 2011
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Twilight.
Reb Zalman is very sick – but his holy soul is still afire. From his hospital bed, he speaks to donors, makes lists of orphans, arranges logistics for the upcoming Pesach distribution. They must have food for Yom Tov, regardless of his pain. And so they do.
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| ר"ח אדר א' תשע |
The tzaddik is gone - but his legacy will live on! The widows and orphans, the Torah scholars, the tens of thousands whose lives he touched, are quickly assured that they will not be forgotten. Reb Zalman’s Rebbetzin and children have learned well. Mesamche Lev will persevere. The Pesach distribution takes place as scheduled.
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Today
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The Future
Mesamche Lev forges ahead in its efforts. The poor must be fed. The orphans must get married. The children must get new shoes. And they do. And they do. From the very heavens, Reb Zalman must look down and take pride in the simcha that comes to life in the hearts of the poor, thanks to the efforts of his family, and thanks to you. Yes, you.
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Mission
