Meir Panim was created by Dudi & Rivka Zilbershlag (see profile in staff section) in answer to the economic distress in Israel, and as an aid to a struggling and overburdened welfare system. Since the organization started in 2000, poverty in Israel has risen sharply, with 24.7% of the population (over 1.6 M people!) living in poverty today. This number includes nearly 800,000 children. The Zilbershlag's vision was to create a more unified and loving society in Israel, to build bridges of tolerance and understanding, and to generate a feeling of community among all types of Jews. Meir Panim recruits volunteers from all walks of life, from the young to the old, secular, religious, Ashkenazim, Sephardim, new immigrants and native Israelis, who work side by side to assist our brothers and sisters in need.

The Zilbershlags named the organization "Meir Panim" in loving memory of their son “Meir” as a positive response to his untimely passing due to a rare digestive disorder. During Meir's short life of thirteen years and two months, he could not enjoy food. Today, thousands of needy people in Israel enjoy food each and every day in his merit, true to the meaning of the name “Meir Panim”, which means “to light up a face”.

A Meir Panim free restaurant is a place where needy people can come in and partake of a hearty, hot meal - no questions asked - and relax from their immediate worries. The ideal of Meir Panim is to preserve the dignity of the people served; therefore, the kitchens are designed and operate like typical restaurants, except for the fact that the food is "free". The meals are high quality three-course dinners cooked by professional chefs and served by dedicated and friendly volunteers. For those who are embarrassed to come in personally, and for the elderly or handicapped, Meals on Wheels are available. The meals are personally delivered by volunteers. (Click to donate meals by secure form).

Currently, Meir Panim feeds 2,400 diners every day and 5,000 children via our network of 15 relief centers situated countrywide. We also home deliver meals for 1,200 elderly and shut-ins or those unable to come personally to the restaurants. The Children's Meals program which ensures disadvantaged youngsters of a daily warm, nutritious meal , is a very important component of Meir Panim's charity work. This initiative satisfies the children's hunger, gives them a feeling of equality amongst their more affluent peers, and prevents them from being labeled as poor.

Absolutely not. Meir Panim is an egalitarian, non-profit organization serving Israel's needy population without regard to race, color or creed.

Meir Panim launched the Children’s Meals program because of the increasing number of children in Israel living in poverty and recognizing the negative effect that poor nutrition can have on their future. Children who are hungry cannot perform well scholastically, can have problems interacting sociably with their peers, and develop health-related and emotional problems. A law was passed to guarantee lunches for 200,000 children out of the 1,200,00 children presently in schools. However, due to certain difficulties in the system, 48% of children entitled to meals, do not receive them. Meir Panim believes that EVERY CHILD DESERVES ONE DECENT MEAL A DAY. We go to the cities that have difficult situations (usually at the request of the municipality). The meals are subsidized, and where children cannot pay (this is determined together with the principals), Meir Panim covers the entire cost. Although only some children in a particular school may need Meir Panim’s subsidized meals, the meals are provided to everyone so as not to single out needy children. We are presently working on establishing a new giant facility in the Negev area where 30,000 lunches will go out to the needy children in this greatly distressed area. (Click here to donate Meals for Children by secure form)

Absolutely yes.

In addition to critical food services, Meir Panim has created many social services for the needy, including 1) Vocational Training helping the jobless obtain a new profession. 2) Professional Training and Counseling for Battered Women leaving shelters to help them regain independence. 3)Occupational Rehabilitation for individuals with emotional challenges who are hired for compensated employment in the Meir Panim kitchens, helping to make them feel like functioning members of society. 4) Senior Citizens Centers providing cultural services and a hot lunch 5) After school youth clubs that provide hot meals, tutoring and a supportive environment for children at risk and 5)A Full Plate-pre-paid credit cards provided to low-income working families. We are like a social/service charity organization all in one, working together with the government, who refers these people to us - to help them.

Through this initiative, we are giving all classes the opportunity to participate and become partner in our relief work. Do you have the Power of Giving? - we ask. Yes, everyone has an appliance or piece of furniture that they want to replace some time or another. Why should it go to waste when it can easily be repaired and refurbished and make someone else happy? This is the idea behind Power of Giving. Here, everyone, not only a well-to-do person, can become a "giver". Meir Panim has 9 POG warehouses where people can donate their household appliances, furniture, toys or clothing which our volunteers then categorize and refurbish and put out on display. Then people come in and pick out what they need - for a nominal fee (or none) - and we deliver the item to them by POG trucks. This service is a very important component in Meir Panim's charity mission.

Roughly 89%. Meir Panim tries very hard to maximize donation dollars by limiting advertising and office expenses. Meir Panim has 3,000 registered volunteers who work wholeheartedly for this effort. However, we do have to pay managers, chefs and office and warehouse staff, which takes up about 11%. We will be glad to furnish our Annual Financial Statement upon request.

We can use lots of help due to the increasing demand for our services. Both young and old can lend a hand to help us perform our duty to the Jewish people. You can tell family and friends about our vital programs, spread the word in your shuls and communities, distribute flyers, or make a fundraiser. When making a simcha it is important to remember the hungry in Israel by donating to this important cause or by co-sponsoring another child's simcha in Israel. It is also a great merit to remember a poor bride or groom in Israel when marrying one's offspring. Children, especially, should be made aware through parents or teachers that there are children across the ocean who are less fortunate than them - and they can connect with them by making a Mitzvah project at their schools or by sharing their Bar/Bat Mitzvah gifts with them. Meir Panim has a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program with suggestions how to make this special occasion more meaningful. We also have beautiful Simcha seating cards to enhance your simcha.

Yes. If you want to add perpetual significance to your son/daughter’s moment of passage from childhood to accepting the responsibilities of adulthood in a way that has religious and spiritual significance, teach them about the ability to make rational choices. The choice of giving tzedakah and helping to feed the needy in Israel is a most meaningful way to start off the celebration of your son/daughter’s coming of age. Another initiative is to inspire people to give tzedakah instead of gifts, which gives the child a sense of the power of making good choices as well as the feeling of doing a personal mitzvah for Israel. Our Bar/Bat Mitzvah program includes suggestions to make your child’s affair more meaningful, such as: a)Purchase of Meir Panim place cards to make your guests feel special - b) Display a poster/table card stating that in honor of your guests, a donation has been made to help feed the hungry in Israel - c)Display Meir Panim brochures and/or Meir Panim Tzedakah box - e)Enclose a card with your invitation (we will provide sample) to direct gifts to Meir Panim f)Your son/daughter can make a class project to raise funds for meals for children in Israel. g)You can sponsor a Bar/Bat Mitzvah for a needy child in Israel. For more information, please contact us at info@meirpanim.org. We will send your child a beautiful framed Bar/Bat Mitzvah Certificate for a donation of $180.00 or more.

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer and send it completed and signed with your gift. We will do the rest.

Certainly. You can make a donation in memory of a loved one, Yahrzeit dedication, or in honor of someone's Birthday, Anniversary, or Birth. We will notify the other party of your thoughtfulness. For a donation of $180 or more, we will display a poster with the names at our Jerusalem facility upon request. You will receive a copy.

Those caring and generous individuals who find place in their hearts to provide for Meir Panim and its humanitarian activities in their will, will become partners with us and will be gratefully acknowledged. There is no gift more meaningful than the "Gift of Life", as you will be providing "life" for hungry people by helping Meir Panim fill their basic needs. For information on how to make a Bequest to Meir Panim in your will or codicil to will, please contact us.

Yes. Our donation form has a special box where you can insert the amount you wish to donate monthly for x months. Click Donation Form to make a donation.

You are welcome to visit any of our locations at any time, and we will gladly let you volunteer. Please click here to contact us and we will make arrangements for a memorable hands-on volunteering experience. Planning to join a Solidarity Mission trip to Israel? Be sure to make arrangements to come visit us and we will show you around and let you partake in our wonderful work.

Yes. Meir Panim is a 501© 3 tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. Our Tax ID number is 20-1582478. You will receive a printed receipt from us.

Meir Panim's main office is located at 5316 New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219. Our Telephone Number is: (718) 437-9100 or Toll Free 1-877-736-6283. Please see "OFFICES" for more US and international branches. Contact us by e-Mail at : info@meirpanim.org