Los Angeles, CA – Rabbi Yona Landau is sitting in his insurance office in the Beverly-La Brea area, not selling insurance. Landau and one of his two employees spend nearly all of their time running Touch of Kindness, a social service agency Landau helped found in 1977.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
When Landau first moved to Los Angeles from Lakewood, N.J., he and a group of others met in a garage to pack and deliver weekly groceries for about six families. By 1980, the others had left, and Landau inherited Tomchei Shabbos (Hebrew for Supporters of Shabbat), which had grown to serve 60 families. He moved into a small storefront with shelves and top-loading freezers. Today, Touch of Kindness, which encompasses Tomchei Shabbos and several other concerns, is a $2.2 million organization helping around 1,500 families.
The weekly food delivery, which operates out of a 16,000 square-foot warehouse on La Brea Avenue, is the heart of the program. About 100 volunteers package and deliver 6,000 pounds (double on holidays) of chickens, eggs, milk, challah, grape juice, fresh produce and other groceries to more than 200 families each Thursday evening.
Read the full story at The Jewish Journal
rabbi yona landau, you are a real tzadik. much hatzlacha in your holy work.
Rabbi Landau wanted to move out of Los Angeles a few years back, and the community asked him to stay,
Yasher koach to Harav Shmuel Lazer Stern(the best in the west )shlita and Ahron Simcha Steinberg zichron l’vracha who did so , so much for this amazing cause in the early days.
Reb Yonah is mamash a world class tzaddik! He is unique individual who really cares and does everything in his abilty for every single yid, regardless of religious affiliation. Ashreinu, Los Angeles, that we have Reb Yonah in our midst. Hashem should bench him and his rebitzen with many many many years to do all that they do.
First of all Reb Yonah did not start Tomchei. Tomchei Shabbos was started by Rabbi Shmuel Lazer Stern, Rabbi Simcha Lefkowitz and Rabbi Berish Goldenberg. At that time the Landaus weren’t in Los Angeles yet.
By the way were did you get that great picture.
I’ve dealt with rabbi landau in the past and can attest to his devotion in supplying the best products for the needy his shmurah matzohs that gets distributade every pesach come all the way from new york so as to give the needy tasty matzohs as well only hashem can repay your devotion yo klal yisroel
Thank you Rabbi Landau is a tzaddik, he does so much chesed, helping everyone who needs help. Hashem should bentch him and family with much brochos and hatzlacha!
The landau family is really special. We are really proud to have them as part of our family! Keep up the amazing work you do and may you always be on the giving end!
First of all I know Rabbi Landau personally & he did not approve of this article!
He like doing things quietly & discreetly, unlike this.
And if you are already writing an article make sure that it’s accurate, this one’s full of mistakes!
and why don’t you at least write about the major expenses Tomchei Shabbos has to pay now while they move to a new location?
Rabbi Landau is one of the very special people in todays generation, May Hashem give him koach to keep on doing good things for people!
Tomchei Shabbos of LA needs your support!!!
they unfortunately don’t have a place of their own and had to move recently to a new location!
there’s a very special man in LA who has been giving them warehouse space for free for years now but needed to move them to another location that he’s also giving them for free!!
Hashem should give him the ability to keep on giving!
but the move is costly! $30,000 is needed to cover the costs of the renovations!!
Please Donate generously and may Hashem always keep you on the giving side!!!
http://www.tomcheishabbos.com/
DONATIONS
PO Box 481270
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Attn: Mrs. R. Czapnik
Tel: (323) 936-2202
Fax: (323) 936-2232
hashem should help you to continue to do amazing work for others.These are the wonderful stories tyat deserve publicity over the horror “madoff”scamming stories that come out every week.
Rabbi Landau has a son Heshel Also a real tzadik going in his fathers footsteps
Re: Rabbi Shmuel Lazer Stern I wanted to inform you that he is having heart bypass surgery today in LA His name is Shmuel Lazer ben Sarah Rivka Leah
It is well known the work that Rabbi Shmuel Lazer Stern in founding Tomchei Shabbos in LA following in the footsteps of his father in law R’ Yosef Simcha Kovalenko who was from the founders of this amazing organization in NY many years ago.
behind every great man, there is a great woman. reb yonahs rebetzin, tzirel is a true tzadeikis. one just has to go to thir house for a shabbos meal, and witness, twenty guest or more, sitting at the shabbos table, and rebitzin landau serves everyone with a smile its truly amazing. but whover knew tzirels mother boby can understand how this family grew into being such tzadikim
Oy! What a big thank you to the Landau’s. Bobbi A”H would’ve agreed with everything in this article…plus. Except that the Rebetzin gets at least half the credit . I can attest to the fact that whatever time I show up for the meal, I always leave full. Like Bobbi A”H used to say, Ess ess siz doo noch. BTW Bobbi was “everyone’s” Bobby. Zichronoh Livrocho. Reb Yonele…Keep up the great work!
Several years ago the Eastern part of the US was without power. My flight home from LAX was delayed 8 to 12 hours. Unprepared I was without food or water. One call to Yona and he said “be outside in 30 minutes look for a small two door red car.” I had enough food to feed everyone around me…. So I did. My new marooned friends and I almost did want to leave. Me and fifteen others look forward to more delays together out of LAX. Thank you Yona. Love, us
The Landaus are amazing baalei chesed; everything they do is with warmth and simcha and true ahavas Yisroel. They should continue michayil el chayil ad meah v’esrim!
The Landaus are the most amazing couple. I am a true believer that they are one of the most prominent families in the community. ANY chesed done in the community usually revolves around them. Mrs Landau also serves dinner to about 20 people who dont have any place to eat every evening. Keep up the good work. LA is lucky to have you