It’s not easy to be a single mother in the frum community. You must be the Mommy and the Tatty, the Abba and the Ima, and every day brings its own challenges. The financial burden is often tremendous, with mothers struggling to work, manage the home and be there for their children.
Every Yom Tov brings its own unique stress. For Rosh Hashanah, whose Tallis will my children go under during duchening? For Succos, does a young mother battle to build her own Sukkah to educate her children, or does she sit inside for meals with her kids, feeling like the Yom Tov has passed by her family?
Chanukah is no different.
Chanukah is meant to be an exciting time for parents and children. Watching the excitement on your child’s face as they receive Chanukah gelt or presents, the glow from the Menorah casting its holy light around the room. Gathering around the Menorah, singing memorable Chanukah songs and tunes.
For single mothers, Chanukah is often a stressful, lonely time. There’s barely money for necessities, and not for lavish Chanukah trips, gelt or presents. Sometimes, the menorah lighting is filled with stress and sadness, highlighting the family’s struggle and stress.
But this Chanukah, you can help.
Let’s brighten up Chanukah this year and provide some special Chanukah gelt for a single mother.
Whether she gives it to her children or finally buys something for herself, the gift will add a special glow to Chanukah for her this year. Knowing she is not alone, she knows someone recognizes her unique challenges.
Chanukah is an important time to notice those around us who can use a little more light in their lives.
This Chanukah, let’s be there for her.
Donate now to the Give Gelt Campaign, and together let’s make this Chanukah a little brighter.
I’m a single mother who can use this. How can I get in touch with this fundraiser organizer?
Thanks for thinking about the single mothers
Thank you for bringing this important cause to the attention of the community.
If you have a neighbor who is a Single Mom, consider inviting them to join you for Menorah lighting – and give her children chanuka gelt.
Who is organizing/overseeing this project? BH it is being addressed.
What about single fathers??
Helping single fathers is just as important as helping single mothers. It’s every bit as difficult for them.
But in many cases,mothers have kids 99 percent of the time and father has some visitations, making it harder financially for the mother.
Encourage spouses to get along with each other Or at the very least: don’t be trigger -happy and automatically ENCOURAGE people to get divorced Not EVERY problem needs to result in divorce. If one of the spouses is complaining, don’t just take their complaint at face value. Ask questions and try to figure out if maybe they are exaggerating, taking things out of context, or maybe can be helped to see things with a more positive perspective. Try to always say things that will make one spouse appreciate the other spouses. This is true even for the marriages in which… Read more »
Sometimes there are single parents raising their children because their spouse died or left yiddishkeit. Around my corner a lady whose young husband died of Covid. We invite her and her young kids for shabbos and share their pain. It’s better a couple fight every day and stay married. Getting divorced effects kids more than fighting parents. Many others I spoke to agreed. Keep fighting and stay together and one day you will be walking your child together under the chupah.