We began unpacking the clothes and were amazed at how organized everything was. It was apparent that tremendous effort was put into sorting, and packing the boxes. The clothes were in very good condition.  The thought of how many people participated in donating, transporting, sorting, packing, organizing, overseeing, and funding the project on both sides of the ocean is a remarkable symbol of Achdut in Am Yisrael. This motivated us to work as hard as we could to make the project succeed.

     We had a lot of Siyata Dishmaya, and B"H all the sales were remarkably successful. There is a true need for these clothes in Kiryat Arba in a very wide range of the population. The customers included Kollel families, large families with many children, a needy bride, grandmothers, teenage girls, many people who cannot afford to buy new clothes at all, teachers, Rabbi's wives, American Olim and Russian immigrants. Even people who feel uncomfortable shopping at secondhand gemachim where the clothes are donated locally, were happy to come to the Bigdei Yisrael sale.

     We made a total of six sales publicized by flyers in every building. News spread by word of mouth and the people just kept coming. The plentiful amount of clothing, and the variety of sizes and styles enabled even the last shoppers to find clothes.

     The greatest reward for our efforts was seeing, with our own eyes, the joy and happiness of so many Yehudim. Let us share with you some of the anecdotes and reactions we encountered: 

         "Thank you so much for making these sales. We feel like we're rich!"

         The smile and sparkle in the eyes of a young boy who doesn't get new clothes very often.  

         A nursery school teacher asked if we could arrange clothes for a girl in the gan from a difficult family situation who hardly has any clothes.  

         A poor bride came and bought many items that she needed.  

         American olim were happy to find familiar brands and styles.

         The most popular items were of course the baby and children's clothes. Mothers and grandmothers were thrilled to be able to afford generous amounts of clothing for their growing families, bli ayin hara.

          We also want to share with you some of the "little miracles" we experienced along the way.  Yeshivat Nir in Kiryat Arba took us under their wing and gave us rooms to sort, store and sell the clothes.  During one of the sales I asked an American woman if she knew where I could buy clothes racks. Fifteen minutes later she and her husband returned with tools and a disassembled rack she had brought in her lift. They put together the rack and we happily used it for skirts and dresses.

        One night before the first sale we were hanging up signs and a woman pulled up in her car and offered to take signs to the Givat Hacharsina neighborhood, which is not in walking distance.

          Another woman pulled up in a pickup truck and took what was left from the sale to one of the gemachim in Kiryat Arba (which services over 200 families a month, including olim from Russia, Peru and the Bnei Menashe from India). Later the woman who runs the gemach called and profusely thanked me for the clothes, saying that even before she got a chance to sort and hang it up, much of it was sold. What a bracha min hashamayim.

          When we think of how much happiness Bigdei Yisrael brings, not only to Kiryat Arba, but to countless communities all over Eretz Yisrael we stand in awe. As David Hamelech said in Tehilim: "Olam Chesed Yibaneh".

          We pray that just as you open your hand to help your brothers, so should Hashem open His great treasures and bless you in all your endeavors. The mitzvah of tzedaka should be a great merit for you and your families, amen.

We would be happy to continue to participate in the Bigdei Yisrael project in the future. I can be reached by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel: 972 - 2 - 996-1916

Editor's Note: All proceeds of clothing sales in Israel are used to benefit the ongoing work of the various Gemach recipients of the Rabbi William Z. Novick Bigdei Yisrael.