It was the summer of 2003 and Estee Spiegel from Far Rockaway was about to become Bat-Mitzvah. But instead of focusing on an upcoming party or presents from family and friends, this mature youth wanted to use her journey into womanhood as a tool to do chessed for her fellow Jews. At a sleep away camp that summer in Pennsylvania, Estee was introduced to a representative of the NAVAH Organization, which assists terror victims in Israel. At that time, daily terror attacks were the norm. Hundreds of Jews had already been killed and thousands were injured. Lives were irrevocably shattered and Estee decided that she was going to do something to ease their pain.
Heading back to school in the beginning of the fall, Estee along with her friend Sarah Henya Dienstag, organized a “homework-a-thon.” Together with their classmates, they secured sponsors based on the hours of homework that were completed over a given period of time. Through this innovative campaign, the girls raised $1,200 and sent it for their brethren suffering in Israel.
While Estee and Sarah were proud of their accomplishment, the story doesn't end here. The girls now knew that with a little innovation and drive, they could accomplish so much. Together with Sarah's younger sister Rivka, only ten years old at the time, they tossed around a few different ideas. At the end, the girls decided that they would organize a community-wide bake sale with all of the proceeds earmarked to support NAVAH’s programming for terror survivors.
Their two-day bake sale would be held starting on Lag Ba'omer (2004). Estee's living room would be the makeshift bakery floor where all of the baked goods would be on display for sale. The girls contacted friends and family from all over the Five-Towns area, encouraging them to bake cakes to sell at their function. They hung flyers in all the schools and Synagogues, made countless phone calls and encouraged everyone to attend the sale and buy cakes for this wonderful cause.
The day of the sale arrived and the girls, with the support of their teachers who excused them from classes, took turns manning the event. Dozens and dozens of people arrived from all over to buy cakes, while marveling at the efforts of these young incredible women.
By the end of the second day, the girls had raised over $3,000. "When I heard what the girls had accomplished all by themselves, I was overwhelmed with emotion," said NAVAH's Executive Director, Tehila Friedman. "Just knowing that young children who live half way around the world truly care about their brothers and sisters in Israel, and worked so hard to help them during the most difficult of times, was truly inspirational".
While terrorism in Israel was no longer front page news in 2005, the girls understood that the victims and their families continued to need assistance and hence decided that the bake-sale would be an annual event. Each subsequent year, the girls succeeded in raising greater amounts of money, and in 2008, the bake sale yielded $7,000.
The money raised from the bake sale is currently used to assist in funding therapeutic and rehabilitative weekend retreats for bereaved families. "NAVAH is so grateful for the hard work of these girls, which continues to make a difference in the lives of those still suffering from the pain and loss of loved ones," said Friedman.
After hosting the bake sale for the past five years, the girls, who are now in high school, took time to reflect and express hope that their efforts will serve as an inspiration for others to take action for Israel's terror victims. "We were very young when we had our first fundraiser," says Sarah, "but we learned that despite our age, we could make a meaningful contribution, that would hopefully inspire others to host similar events for those in need ." Added Rivka, "whenever I hear about an attack in Israel, I get nervous about my family who live there, and thank G-d when I find out they are okay, but then I worry about who is going to help those other families whose lives are now shattered. That's why I believe supporting NAVAH and their programs is so important."
"You're never too young to make an impact," says Estee. "We hope that through the kindness and generosity of our community, our yearly event will continue to make a difference for those in need in Israel."
This year the bake sale will take place on May 21st and 22nd. See all the details below
áñØã
Sixth Annual
Bake Sale
To Benefit
Victims of Terror in Eretz Yisrael
At the Home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Spiegel
630 Meehan Avenue, Far Rockaway
(Down the block from TAG)
Wednesday and Thursday, May 21st and 22nd
àéÎéø åëØæ ëØå
Times for both days: 12:15 -1:45 and 4:00 -10:00 P.M.
Proceeds go directly to victims of terror through The NAVAH Organization, A Non-profit Association for Volunteering and Assisting the Hurt.
For more information or to volunteer your home-baked pastries, challos, and salad dressings please contact:
Rivka Dienstag ……. (516) 569-0354
Estee Spiegel…….... (718) 327-6518
Committee: Sarah Henya Dienstag, Ariella Friedman, Devorah Klotz,
Zahava Krasnow, Nechama Krasnow, Avigail Spiegel, Avigayil Weiss
þ éáìçØè ùáúàéþ áØø éçéàì éùøàì æØì þ ìòéìåé ðùîú äøá
ìòéìåé ðùîú äúðå÷ ãðéàì áøåê òØä áØø àìéòæø ùìîä éáìçØè ý þ