Last Friday was something special. In a small apartment filled with warmth, laughter, and the smell of home cooked food, a team of devoted volunteers came together to prepare 100 Shabbat meals. Every dish was made by hand, with love and intention, for a group of people who needed it most.
Sixty of those meals were delivered to reservists currently serving in the Shomron. The other forty went to families in Netanya whose loved ones are away serving in milluim, or reserve duty. As the meals were delivered, the response was deeply moving. Soldiers asked if it was home made, and when we told them yes, their smiles said it all. One soldier told us how much he missed the taste and feel of Shabbat at home. To have a Shabbat like this, he said, is amazing.
These meals were more than just food. They were a reminder of home, of warmth, and of being cared for. And for the families holding the fort back home, it was a small but powerful way to say you are not alone.
If you would like to learn how to send Shabbat meals to soldiers or families with loved ones in milluim, please contact aron@smilesforthekids.com.