Or Lachayal delivers thousands of Purim packages to IDF soldiers
The packages included various snacks and candies with a personal message for each solider, costing some NIS 500,000.
By JEREMY SHARONOr Lachayal delivering "mishloach manot" purim packages to soldiers(photo credit: MEIR ALFASI)
With the goal of spreading cheer and happiness to Israeli soldiers, the Or Lachayal organization distributed 140,000 mishloah manot Purim packages to IDF personnel over the holiday weekend.The packages included various snacks and candies with a personal message for each solider.The project cost some NIS 500,000 and it was carried out in partnership with the Friends of the IDF organization.Or Lachayal organized several events for soldiers around the country, in particular several barbecues for some 2,000 combat soldiers.“As an organization that is dedicated to bringing light and happiness to IDF soldiers there is no doubt that Purim is the holiday in which we all harness all our resources in order to heighten the happiness for our beloved IDF fighters,” said Or Lachayal chairman Rabbi Menachem Ofen. “The happiness of the fighters is our goal.”Some 15 years ago Ofen and his brother were the target of a terrorist shooting close to Hebron as they were on their way to deliver packages to soldiers for Purim in 2000.Ofen was seriously wounded and his brother was critically injured in the attack sustaining a shot to the neck. They both survived, however, and Ofen says he decided to dedicate his life to the welfare and happiness of IDF soldiers.
