Brooklyn, NY – When Alexander Rapaport, executive director of Masbia Soup Kitchen Network and a Brooklyn Hasid, heard that Yemeni bodega owners were planning to go on strike to protest President Donald Trump’s travel ban, he and a group of his friends didn’t hesitate to express their support.
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“Our organization is not political,” Rapaport said of Masbia, which has three soup kitchens — in Rego Park, Flatbush and Borough Park.
“But I do stand with immigrants and I am against religious discrimination,” said Rapaport.
Rapaport and his friends posted numerous messages, such as “We care about our good Yemeni neighbor — Your Jewish friends,” in many front windows of Brooklyn Yemeni bodegas.
But not all the Masbia donors were happy about Rapaport sharing his views. While some sponsors told him they did not agree with him, he said, others expressed their outrage by withdrawing their financial support.
“After seeing, though, that you protested President Trump’s executive order, and thus shamefully sided with those who are putting American lives in danger, I am no longer able to donate to your organization,” read one text message sent to the number on a Masbia fundraising flier, The Jewish Week first reported.
“We stand with our neighbors and care about immigrants,” Rapaport said. “It’s nothing more than living in harmony, what does it have to do with feeding people?”
Today I am in support of the #YemeniteBodega in #BoroPark!
They carry all #Yiddish and #Hebrew #Newspapers.#NoWallNoBan #BodegaStrike pic.twitter.com/4EELMXPrjV
— Alexander Rapaport (@AlexRapaport) February 2, 2017
Masbia, which relies on sponsors to maintain its daily operations, serves more than 2 million meals a year out of its three locations, including hot, sit-down dinners and emergency care packages, according to its website.
Rapaport is also trying to raise funds to open a new Forest Hills location at 105-49 64th Road, near 108th Street, after developers told the organization to vacate its Rego Park site to make way for a luxury building.
Despite the backlash, Rapaport said there have been more than 100 new donors to Masbia after several Jewish leaders spoke out in support.
Rabbi Jonah Geffen of the Manhattan’s Shaare Zedek congregation posted about the soup kitchen on his Facebook page, raising more than $2,450 as of Wednesday.
Masbia currently distributes its meals in Queens from a food truck parked under the scaffolds in front of its former Rego Park site, while renovations at the Forest Hills location are stalled due to lack of funds, Rapaport said.
He told DNAinfo New York he hopes to raise about $250,000 to restart construction soon and open the new location this spring.
Masbia just lost a HUGE donor!
I kid you not.
that was his intention all along, he also spoke out against Ray Kelly, he is the Orthodox Jewish version of Clarence Thomas in reverse, meaning he speaks for 3% of the population. Easily 75% of the people they serve are non-Jews.
next time i get a mailing from masbia for a donation i will give it to the bodega to mail u a check…
Well Masbia lost me as a donor. I always was wondering if this was a legit organization or someone looking for attention . I feel it is unfortunately the latter. He can go to raise fund at the leftist organizations just please leave the frum people alone!!!
I hope he taps the Yemeni community for donations.
Wow what a turn of events
i have almost never seen any jews in the coney island ave masbia
have no idea what the purpose of this organization is
remember the following
“there is no for profit business as a non profit”
follow the money trail
they most probably get the food cheap from the govmnt and then sell to stores
what happened to the Williamsburg masbia?
Shame that people do not look at the good that Masbia does and rather look at the political stance of the manager.
Mr. Rapaport seems to be a good-guy who has made an error in judgement.
Nothing positive is gained by linking his very positive project to a political hot-potato.
I’m Curious,
what percetage of these donations are used for the actual distribution of food, and what percentage is earmarked for “admistrative costs”
The answer may surprise you.
For most charities listed on the various tracking sites, The vast majority of donations go to “administrative costs !!!
So he’s in support of the bodega owner because he sells Jewish newspapers?! Is he doing that because he lives Jews, i.e. because he’s trying to make money by selling to our community?! Duh.
When people were starving, Masbia did not stop to look at their faces, rather, they stopped and fed them and asked how they could help them! That is mentchlichkeit, something some of you posters can stop and learn! You get it back ten-fold!
Kol hakavod. Sounds like a guy who puts his money where his mouth is (not to mention food where everyone else’s mouth is).
why does a jew alway have to insert himself into every issue especially i am sure that in his heart he goes along with the president
What chutzpah the owner of the soup kitchen has in sticking his nose into a political policy, and advertising it. He should stick to feeding the poor, hungry, and homeless. Does he really think that the Muslim grocers are that thrilled with his presence?