Gabriel Boxer known to the Jewish world as the Kosher Guru is no stranger to Queens. Gabriel, a prodigy of the former Yeshiva Dov Revel of Forest Hills, now home to a division of Touro College and Bnos Malka Academy, grew up in Hillcrest, where his wonderful parents Nina and Tim Boxer, members of the Young Israel of Hillcrest and Rabbi Binyomin Ruttner’s Adas Yeraim, reside.
“They are both very warm, friendly, and very genuine; always smiling,” related Rabbi Dr. Richard Weiss, rav of the Young Israel of Hillcrest. The couple is low key and are known to act quietly with much dignity. “Tim is a very religious person who loves going to shul, despite life’s struggles. Nina shares the credit for this as her devotion to Tim in making sure he gets to shul is remarkable.”
Kosher Response began when the Gabriel, its founder, was at his desk at the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic and work came to a screeching halt. Gabriel is not one relax and quickly desired to give back and say thank you to those on the frontlines in a big way. Steve Weinrib, a close friend of Gabriel’s reached out with a request Gabriel could not refuse. A good friend, Dr. Dan Haller was on staff at South Nassau Communities Hospital, a local facility, working around the clock and needed a nourishing meal. Gabriel jumped into action and found out how many people were in his unit, arranging for a beautiful order compiled from a few restaurants. Soon, more orders followed, and new eateries were added to the growing list – from a pizza parlor, to a Chinese take-out to a café and a kosher deli. Word spread throughout Jewish communities and many joined the cause to assist in the endeavor. Gabriel then ensured a website was hastily built for the growing venture. Today there are over 100 volunteers delivering hundreds of meals a day.
This past Thursday evening Kosher Response teamed up with Queens Hatzalah to distribute cholent and kugel from Main House BBQ of Mill Basin, Brooklyn to our local 150 dedicated members. The members drove by the Hatzolah lot, located on 70th Road in Kew Gardens Hills alongside Yeshiva of Central Queens, to pick up their special meal. YCQ holds significance to Gabriel as he fondly recalls his brother attending the yeshiva.
Queens Hatzolah coordinators Sruly Lowy and Shiu Reichmann were on hand to salute their members. “It is exciting to be able to show a small token of appreciation to our dedicated membership in partnership with Kosher Response,” noted Lowy.
Cantor Aron Gerstel, the resident chazzan for the Brooklyn Jewish Xperience, has taken upon himself during the pandemic to go to various hospital and locations throughout New York and serenade the staff and onlookers with renditions of patriotic songs in hopes of lifting the spirits of healthcare workers and first responders. Aron joined the Kosher Response at YCQ with pre-Shabbat melodies and his famed Star Spangled Banner presentation.
“I wanted to commemorate the absolutely heroic and altruistic efforts of our Queens Hatzalah volunteers,” said Aron.
This projected followed similar Kosher Response programs for the 150 Hatzalah members in the 5 Towns Far Rockaway area organized by Mark Gross of Sharmel Caterers and for the Hatzalah of South Florida members in conjunction with Zalmy Cohen where over 50 food packages were arranged from Levy’s Shawarma in Aventura, Florida.
The project has evolved to include destinations in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, among many others. As donations arrive, more areas are tackled across the nation. The notion of supporting local establishments was never lost on the team and they strive to support the mom and pop kosher restaurants in our neighborhoods. Breakfast of bagels and spreads to lunches of assorted wraps are common to pizza, pasta and salads as well. Dinner might include sandwiches or a Chinese menu to other eatery menus.
The concept of chesed; kindness and making a Kiddush Hashem; sanctifying our Creator’s name, has prevailed throughout the initiative. The Kosher Guru continues the Kosher Response everyday dedicating his time to keep those in need prepared to tackle the days ahead.
Kosher Response has progressed to arrange for the purchase of give cards from local food shops for families in need of support. The program also launched Shabbos in a Box where families bought a Shabbos box for themselves and in turn helped send an additional box to either a healthcare hero or family in need, at the choice of the donor. Shabbos in a Box is sent to between 50 and 200 healthcare heroes like doctors, nurses and residents working in the hospital over Shabbos and to families in need, based on how much funds were raised over the week. The box includes pretty much what its name suggests, all that one would need to lead a proper Shabbos meal. It includes full catered Shabbos staples like grape juice, challah rolls, gefilte fish, salads, assorted chicken dishes, cold cuts and various kugels.
“We wanted to give a nice meal to those working too hard to save and protect our families and friends,” explained Gabriel referencing the program.
A few weeks ago, on erev Shabbat as the Shabbat in a Box team was loading up volunteers’ cars to depart for families and hospitals, Gabriel made a choice that really saved the day. As David Ambalo, a Woodmere resident, was preparing to head to NYU Langone Hospital, Gabriel called for a volunteer to put an extra Shabbos box into Ambalo’s vehicle. “I do not know why I made the decision to add the extra box, but it turned out to have some divine intervention,” stated Gabriel.
Once David arrived and phoned the recipient, he overheard a conversation over the phone between the doctors and nurses about how to get the new parents Shabbos food and he knew exactly how to respond. A religious Jewish mother had just given birth and through Governor Cuomo’s executive order, the baby’s father was allowed at the mother’s side. David reached out to Gabriel who could not believe the hashgacha pratis and was overjoyed to have this special Shabbos in a Box feed the new mom and dad. Afterwards, the family sent many thank you notes and took to social media to share their appreciation with Kosher Response. “The wife had been discussing with her husband how she would give him some of her hospital food and they would make it through the Shabbos,” commented one family member.
Tanya and Ronen Nissani are respected throughout the community and love being very inclusive of those they encounter. They are members of both the shtieble, Khal Bais Yitzchok D’Turka with Rabbi Dovid Weinberger and the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates with Rabbi Dov Lerner. In 2015 the couple hosted a backyard tent for the Shabbos Project with over 150 community members from all the local shuls for lunch and singing. In 2016 YCQ honored them as Parents of the Year. Just a few weeks ago, on May 28th, they celebrated the bar mitzvah of their son Yehuda Levi in their backyard. The family might be of Sephardic decent, but they enjoy shining a positive energy on their diverse neighborhood. An elderly couple who are longtime friends of Tanya have been locked in quarantine for 100 days this week. The couple made a special effort to reach out for shopping errands during this trying period.
Yehuda, a YCQ seventh grader, chose to make his bar mitzvah experience something memorable. His older brothers had affairs to remember and he wanted the same. Yehuda chose to think of the others who were suffering and go outside of his comfort zone. The Nissani’s have long been friends of the Boxers and this relationship helped form Yehuda’s Response as a fundraiser to aid in Kosher Response’s efforts. Tanya explained, “Yehuda felt amazing being part of this program. He was truly proud of his efforts.” For his bar mitzvah, Yehuda gained and experience much more than most 13-year-old Jewish boys. The campaign’s original goal was just $1,000 and gradually rose to a current goal of $5,000 that is set to expire next week. “Yehuda was able to focus away from himself and respond to the pandemic in a major way,” said his mom. Imagine if we all take a moment to think and support other, the world would certainly be a beautiful place. According to Ronen, “For his bar mitzvah, Yehuda chose to use the occasion as a vehicle for greater good.” In his own words, Yehuda says, “I have decided that the best reaction to these circumstances is action.” Donations can be made at https://thechesedfund.com/yehudaresponds/yehudarespondsmybarmitzvahproject.
Miri Stern, a North Woodmere resident with her husband Joe are members Kodesh an up-and-coming shul. Miri is the Vice President of Kosher Response and also joined the Queens Hatzalah appreciation program this past week. Miri recalled two poignant incidents that highlight the work of Kosher Response. On one occasion, the team stationed themselves outside of NYU Langone Hospital distributing Rita’s ices to nurses as they came outside for a breath of fresh air. “Many came out quite emotional with tears in their eyes,” commented Miri. “One Frum nurse told me that she had just recited vidduy with a patient who was only in his thirties and resided in the 5 Towns community.” Due to the situation the family could not be at the hospital and the duty to be with the patient in their last hours fell upon the hospital staff. Knowing that a patient similar in age had past really brought the situation home for Miri. In a different occurrence at Beth Israel hospital, a nurse who we had brought food to explained that having a real meal boosted her moral. “This is my first meal in over 24-hours,” explained the nurse. “I am just coming from leaving the side of a man who passed on and seeing Kosher Response here is really uplifting.” Healthcare workers often need to feel taken care of and a catered meal is just the answer that shows that their fellow Jewish brothers and sisters care.
A woman called in to Kosher Response that her sister is a nurse at Lennox Hill hospital and can use a Shabbos in a Box. The nurse was not religious, but really appreciated that the Jewish community reached out and she took upon herself to kindle Shabbos candles. Kosher Response continued delivering a package to this nurse until one week the funds just did not seem to come through. In the end, a box was delivered, but the nurse had reported that she decided to buy Shabbos food and make herself a meal, starting a tradition to be more religious. “Never had we imagined that Shabbos in a Box would have such an astounding impact,” said Miri. To place a donation, go to kosherresponse.com.
Kosher Response Salutes Our Heroes
Typography
- Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
- Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times
- Reading Mode