A Letter from the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog
Honorable and esteemed members of Chasdei Naomi
Directors, employees and volunteers
Dear Friends,
I extend to you my heartfelt congratulations on forty years of social activity of unparalleled
importance.
Forty years is an extremely significant period of time.
In the course of those four decades, you have left an indelible mark on Israeli society, added infinite goodness to the lives of so many men and
women and illuminated the world around us.
in doing so , you have made a significant contribution to the quality of our society , which has been blessed with an exemplary organization such as Chasdei Naomi.
Our sages had good reason to say that “At the age of forty, one attains wisdom,” as during this period experience is accumulated, and wisdom is formed. In your case as well, forty years after Rabbi Yosef Cohen’s initiative began, you have done wonders.
You have greatly expanded the scope of your activities and have accumulated rich experience and unique insights in the field of kindness and assistance.
Chasdei Naomi has long become known by all as an organization that lives up to its name – kindness for everyone, without distinction. By doing so, you also contribute to building bridges and bringing people together,
regardless of their outlook or lifestyle.
The fortitude and quality of a society are largely measured by the quality of the mutual responsibility,
community activity and treatment of others, especially its needy and more vulnerable members. With your endless giving and generous and constant support of the needy, the elderly and Holocaust survivors, and of course your assistance to soldiers and evacuees, you fulfill the vision of the prophets of Israel who declared kindness giving to others and care for the needy to be of supreme importance.
Thus, the prophet Isaiah exclaimed: “Is this not the fast that I choose, to undo the bonds of wickedness… Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and to bring the poor into your home, when you see a naked man you will clothe him, and do not ignore your flesh and blood.”
The prophet Micah placed kindness as the top priority, declaring: “He has told you O’ man what is good and what the Lord demands of you, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk discreetly with your God.”
I can only thank you, on behalf of the citizens of Israel and certainly on behalf of the many thousands who you have already helped and who you will help in the future, and wish you continued fruitful work for many years to come.
With gratitude and best wishes,
Isaac Herzog
President of the State of Israel
A Letter from the Prime Minister of the state of israel , Binyamin Netanyahu
Jerusalem, 24th of Cheshvan, 5785
November 25, 2024
Rabbi Yosef Cohen
Founder and Chairman
Chasdei Naomi Association
Dear Rabbi Cohen,
I am happy to congratulate you – and through you all the members and volunteers of the
Chasdei Naomi Association – on the 40th anniversary of your extensive work.
In the last four decades, Chasdei Naomi has become a central player among the charitable
organizations in Israel. You help thousands of families and tens of thousands of needy people in a
wide range of fields – distributing food baskets and meals, helping widows and orphans, supporting Holocaust survivors, providing transportation to housebound people, guiding grooms and brides, assistance and encouragement for sick children, providing winter equipment, and more.
Everything is done with the impetus of giving, generosity and respect for the needy.
I am always amazed at the ability to translate the words of the Psalmist – “For I said the
world will be built on kindness” – into actions. The Jewish people sanctify contributing and giving charity to the disadvantaged. This is a prominent characteristic of our nation which has created a wonderful heritage of mutual responsibility.
Chasdei Naomi activities are important in times of routine, and all the more so in times of
emergency. The ongoing war requires attention to the needs of our heroic soldiers, to whom you
distribute care packages. At the same time, you reach out to help families affected by the fighting or who were temporarily evicted from their homes. For that too you deserve deep appreciation.
Dear Rabbi Cohen, I wish you good health and continued fruitful work for many years to
come. Your work will continue to be a memorial to your esteemed wife, the late Rebbetzin Sarah, who was your loyal partner.
Continue your good work, with genuine appreciation.
Sincerely,
Binyamin Netanyahu
A latter from Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs , Yaakov Margi
of Cheshvan 5785
November 24, 2024
2024-041-391
Chasdei Naomi Association, Management and Esteemed Volunteers
Dear Friends,
Re : Blessing on the occasion of 40 years of activity of the Chasdei Naomi Organization
I would like to congratulate you, on behalf of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, on the
occasion of 40 years of extensive and vital activity.
Since your establishment in 1984 by Rabbi Yosef Cohen, you have become one of the leading
organizations in the country in providing assistance to people from all walks of life. Your activity
transverses sectors and ages, reaches all parts of Israel and contributes greatly to the welfare of
hundreds of thousands of people.
Your enterprise, aided by a wide array of 20,000 dedicated volunteers, manages to reach 25,000
families every month. From the food baskets distributed through dozens of centers, to visits and
hot meals for the elderly, the transportation system for the housebound, distribution of schoolbags
to students at the beginning of the school year, support for soldiers, assistance for evacuees from
the north and south, and more – all these emphasize your commitment to the values of
compassion, equality and caring for others.
In routine times and especially in emergencies, such as your quick mobilization during the war,
you have added an additional tier of responsibility and giving that turned you into a beacon of
support and assistance for those in need of immediate help.
As Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs, I see your activity to be a role model for fulfilling the
vision of a supportive and caring society.
I would like to thank you for your dedicated work, and to bless you that you continue the
important work for the benefit of all parts of Israeli society. At the same time, I pray and yearn for
the day when there will be no need for this type of activity, and when every single family in Israel
will live in full dignity and well-being.
Sincerely,
Yaakov Margi
Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs
A letter from the mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon
22th of Kislev 5785
December 23, 2024
Rabbi Yosef Cohen
Founder of the Chasdei Naomi Association
On behalf of the Jerusalem Municipality and all of the city’s residents, I would like to express our
sincere and deep appreciation for the forty years of the Chasdei Naomi Association’s wonderful work for the community. This is an exciting and inspiring milestone, attesting to the endless dedication and true love for the Jewish people that has driven your work over the years.
Chasdei Naomi is a mainstay of giving and hope for thousands of families in Jerusalem. The regular distribution of food baskets every month, along with special baskets for Jewish holidays, gives many families a sense of economic security and the ability to celebrate with joy and dignity. Home visits with the elderly, distributing heating devices, providing hot meals and personal attention to the elderly are living proof of your concern for the welfare of every resident of our city.
Equally important, your activity on behalf of the city's children at the beginning of each school year is a ray of light for thousands of students and their families, ensuring that the children can start the year with a smile on their faces and a sense of equality.
Your vision and activity are an inspiration to us all. You remind us that Jerusalem, beyond being the capital of the Jewish people, is also a city of mutual responsibility, compassion and acts of kindness for others. Forty years of giving is no small matter.
I congratulate the organization, and in particular its head, the man of kindness and giving, my friend Rabbi Yosef Cohen, that you continue your blessed path for many years to come, in good health and contentment, and continue to bring your light to every needy family in our city.
Sincerely,
Moshe Leon