From Feast to Famine
http://jvmi.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=15121.0&dlv_id=17941

Dear Friend,
 
This week Jewish People in Israel and around the world are observing Sukkot‹the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. This is a special remembrance of God¹s care and provision for the Jewish People as they journeyed from Egypt to the Land of Israel. Through His miraculous power they were protected from their enemies and their need for food and water was provided.
 
The sukkah, a small booth built from branches of different trees, is a reminder of that time of wandering and living in temporary homes. Today Sukkot is a festive time with great food, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in keeping with the theme of a harvest celebration.

Yet for the poor of Israel, there is little to celebrate. Statistics from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) reveal that Israel has the highest poverty rate of any country in the developed world. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish People, many of them children, struggle to find enough food to eat. To them it is especially hard to celebrate as they watch others enjoy plenty while they live with hunger.

To the Jew first and also to the Nations,

Jonathan Bernis (Rabbi)
Head of Jewish Voice