[RBS] Donations/collect used hats for refurbishing

[Jessel]

 Dear Neighbors,

I know of an organization that collects second-hand hats from anywhere in
the world, then refurbishes them and passes them on to needy Bnei Torah for
the cost of labor alone.

Located in Modiin Illit, this unique *gemach* has the enthusiastic endorsement
of Rav Meir Kessler and other prominent rebbeim.

Known as "Chesed Hats", they can use your help in a number of ways.

1) By donating hats that you aren't using.
2) By organizing a collection in your shule, community, yeshiva, etc.
3) By being a contact or site for the collection of hats that are donated.
4) Passing this email on to others whom you may know who may want to help.

I personally know Yaakov Shneider -- the dedicated American *oleh* who
initiated this project. I lived in Moshav Matityahu, and he used to run the
little shoe repair outlet in nearby Kiryat Sefer. He originally conceived
of the hat-refurbishing gemach as just a small sideline, but when he
saw howmuch need there is,
he closed the shoe repair to devote himself wholeheartedly to this project.
The media recently picked up on the story, and so now the interest -- and
the need for more donations -- has really taken off.

When I offered to send out this email to our community, Yaakov sent me a
letter with all the details, as well as a copy of a feature article about
Chesed Hats that appeared in the English-language Hamodia. Here is the
letter. If you want to see the article, I can scan it and email it to you.

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GOAL :
To provide needy b’nei Torah with quality, refurbished hats at a fraction
of the cost of a new one.

At present, a decent quality new hat costs anything from $100 to $250. We
receive donated and discarded hats, deep clean and refurbish them, and then
pass them on to the needy, covering operation costs alone, about $12 - $35.

HaRav Meir Kessler, shlita,  as well as many other rabbeim, give us their
enthusiastic haskoma and brocha, understanding how many thousands can be
helped in these financially
difficult times.

How can people help?

We would like to include you among our growing list of hat donors. That
bothersome, old forgotten hat that’s taking up space and collecting dust on
a shelf can now be exchanged for a mitzva - and it’s only a phone call away:
972 [0]8 974 1378

Of course, any donations to our organization to underwrite our costs would
be greatly appreciated, as they will enable us to reduce the price of the
refurbished hats. We are also open to any suggestions and offers of help,
at any level. We also need people who can serve as a drop-off point for
collection of the donated.

Many thanks,

Yaakov Zev Schneider



“To tell you the truth, I have to buy my son a $200 hat,
otherwise the other kids will laugh and tease him. But as for me,
Reb Yaakov, if it’s clean and cheap - I’ll take it!” (Father of ten)




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Posted by:

Shlomo Zalman Jessel
BSc MA (Clinical-Dev Psych)
Certified EMDR & NT
Jerusalem Institute of Narrative Therapy
Tel:  972 [0] 546 720 336
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