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These Passover packages include basic Seder items such as 5 kilos (11 lbs.) of Matzah, cooking oil, sugar, dates and walnuts, wine, coffee, candles and in the Sephardic tradition, rice. The distribution is manned by a huge volunteer staff, and is a great opportunity to involve new volunteers in Tzedakah work. The past several years the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has sent soldiers to help with the packaging and distribution, including soldiers from an elite Air Force officer training program.

On a weekly basis, The Rabbanit distributes challahs, chicken, and other basic items for Shabbat,

"See how wondrously G-d works”, the Rabbanit (Hebrew for “rabbi's wife”) Bracha Kapach explains. She ran a successful embroidery business in Jerusalem in the 1950s, employing 50 Yemenite woman, immigrants like herself. “No sooner had my husband, the Rav (Rabbi), finished his Certification and was appointed to the Rabbinical courts with a regular salary, than I found my real work”. She describes how she heard the cries for help of a neglected old woman. She went to the woman's apartment, bathed her and fed her, and took care of her daily until the woman's death a few years later. An elderly couple followed, and so began a reputation that reached even the media. She slowly closed the factory, found her employees work and devoted herself full time to those in need.

Over the years she developed 70 different types of classes serving the many immigrants in her community, from literacy classes for woman, to Bible classes (she still teaches a Shabbat class in her synagogue), to swimming lessons (she still swims 2-3 times a week). She organized subsidized trips within Israel and abroad. She was appointed as a Good Will Ambassador for the State of Israel and traveled to 22 countries. The Rabbanit organized groups of women to knit socks and hats for soldiers following the Six Day War. The Army has honored her. Many organizations have honored her. The Country has honored her. Among many awards that adorn her kitchen walls, the one that means the most to her is the prestigious Israel Prize, the highest honor bestowed upon a civilian. She has met with kings and vagabonds, and has impressed them all.

"G-d, give me the strength to help your children” she cries out. For 47 summers she has run a subsidized summer camp in response to the tears of one small boy crying the first day of school that he had stayed home doing nothing all summer. (And now this lad is grown and his own children attend the Rabbanit's camp!)

For 40 years she has run a used clothing distribution, first from the storage room in her house, and later from a neighborhood apartment donated to her by the Yemenite Council. For over 40 years she has helped people make bar/bat mitvah's and weddings, pulling together donated food, flowers, volunteer musicians and videographers in the courtyard of that apartment. Her bridal gown collection is famous. And for over 40 years, she has been distributing food for Passover, her most famous project. Thousands of food packages are distributed every year, feeding over 20,000 people. Impressively, all the funding for this $125,000 annual project was raised from private donors.

“Hashem Ya'azor” (G-d will help), is her attitude when it comes to raising money. Her magnetism and leadership qualities attract throngs of volunteers, brilliantly keeping her overhead low. Any one of her projects would make her a Mitzvah Hero. It is almost dizzying to think of the range of projects she has single handedly initiated. But each one began with an individual in need. It is certainly a lesson for us all.

To help people in need with what they need and when they need it.

The mother of the child came in and said to The Rabbanit that the father was serious, and would she (the Rabbanit), please take the child away. They have 8 other children, but this one simply didn't get along with the father. The mother pleaded, and so the Rabbanit took the child with her.

While she maintained contact with the biological family, the Rabbanit raised the child as her own. He called her “ima” (mom), and the Rabbanit sent him to school. Soon, however, the principal called the Rabbanit in and said that the child was a mess, very disruptive and would have to leave the school. The Rabbanit said fine, but before she leaves, could the principal please find a teacher in the school to test the child – see what he knows, where he's at, etc.

After an hour or so, the teacher comes in and tells the Rabbanit and the principal that this child is actually a genius. The Rabbanit then offers to the principal and the teacher to teach him privately until his behavior falls in line and she will pay for the private lessons.

By age 15, the child- who was excelling in his studies – became a “Sofer Stam” (someone authorized to write and draw calligraphy for Mezzuzahs, Tefillin and a Torah Scroll). He was a quick study, and went on to learn to be a shochet - butcher (kosher slaughter of animals) and mohel (authorized to perform ritual circumcision). All the while, he would come home – to the Rabbanit's home, of course – on Fridays for Shabbat. She would always have a present for him – a treat, a new pair of socks, a special dish for dinner, etc.

Through this typical loving care that the Rabbanit shows to all, this young man went on to serve as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, and did advance studies to become a Rabbi. And so, he is married and providing for the community, instead of winding up on the street and draining community resources – all due, in no small part, to the Rabbanit Kapach.

Here are a few ways to get involved:

a. donating funds

b. showing up to visit and/or to volunteer