YI of Woodmere:Pre-Pesach Mitzva fair

With the approach of Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the Young Israel of Woodmere is once again inviting members of the Five Towns Jewish community to have their Tefillin and Mezuzot checked, check clothing for Sha’atnez, properly dispose of Sheimot and donate food items.

The program, started at Rabbi Aaron Glatt’s initiative, has been ongoing for about 20 years. “It’s always been in the Young Israel of Woodmere,” said Rabbi Glatt. “It’s a community event. All the shuls participate in it as cosponsors.”

He stressed that various poskim (rabbinic sources) say that the month of Nissan is an “opportune time to check for chametz (leaven) inside of a person as well as chametz in general,” to verify if the miztvot are not being done properly. He cited that it is an “opportune time to check mezuzot and Tefillin and for Sha’atnez (clothing with a mix of wool and linen) and Shemot (sacred writings that can no longer be used).” He said that they have this program every year around Rosh Chodesh Nisan. For the convenience of the community, it is generally held on a Sunday. This year it is being held before Rosh Chodesh which comes out this year on Tuesday March 12th. “We don’t want it too close to Pesach with the immediate stress of Pesach,” he said. “The last few years others have added on to it a food or clothing drive. It’s a beautiful additional thing.”

He noted that the different vendors charge a nominal fee and it’s an opportunity for “one stop shopping” and it reminds people to do it. He pointed out that Tefillin and Mezuzot should be checked twice every seven years. They will have “highly qualified sofrim (scribes), expert sha’atnez testers, and appropriate disposal of Shemot.” He suggested that individuals should “ask your local rav what needs to be disposed of” for Shemot.

The goals of this Sunday, said Glatt, are “to make people aware of the mitzvos. They don’t have to do it that day but it makes it easy. It’s one stop, one location and one time.

“It’s wonderful and we publicize all these beautiful mitzvos. It’s also a show of achdus (unity), when all the shuls in the community participate, cosponsors in the Hewlett–Woodmere area.”