Jerusalem – Elie Klein is putting his gluttony to good use by rasing Hanukka gelt for charity in 3rd annual sufganiya binge.
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It’s that time of year again and Elie Klein is putting his gluttony to good use by raising Hanukka gelt for charity.
For the third year in a row the 31-year-old Beit Shemesh man is collecting donations for dozens of organizations by going on a donut binge.
“What started as a gentlemen’s bet two years ago regarding which one of my neighbors could eat more sufganiyot between Rosh Chodesh Kislev and the end of Hanukka, has turned into a beloved annual fundraising campaign,” he said, using the Hebrew word for donuts. “Friends, family and complete strangers have been pledging generous dollar and shekel amounts to their favorite Jewish causes/charities for every sufganiya that I eat.”
Donuts and latkes made with oil are traditionally consumed during Hanukka to commemorate the miracle of the menorah, which burned for eight days and nights after the Maccabees reconsecrated the Temple. But doctors don’t recommend eating too many of the calorie-rich foods, a fact that doesn’t deter Klein. He says plenty of people raise money running marathons and cycling but that his fundraiser grabs people’s attention. He should know, as Klein works for a PR firm.
Last year’s campaign was such a success that this year the Baltimore native has raised the bar even further.
“I consumed 70 donuts and raised NIS 32,788.60 (roughly $9,100) for 44 causes and charities around the world,” he said. “This year, I have made a pledge to eat no less than 100 sufganiyot during the campaign. We should have no problem reaching NIS 45,000 by the end of Hanukka.”
risking his life for charity???!!!
no hes not risking his life. hes young .and probably just having the donuts instead of a big meal.ur forgetting he lives in israel. they tend to do alot more walking and dont eat huge portion sizes like we do without thinking much in america.
Are you kidding me? 100 donuts in a month?! thats less than 4 a day! what is the big deal? for someone who is blessed with good health, and spends significant time during the other ten months musing that rosh chodesh kislev cannot possibly come fast enough, its really not all that difficult. (i said 10 months bec. i usually spend most of teves in SA- sufganiyot anonymous- donut rehab). I will shatter his record soundly!
Mezonos or hamotzi?
not really a binge ;look at these
Twenty-stone miner, Patrick Cunnade of Wakefield, scoffed 20, 4-oz doughnuts in exactly 6 minutes on 13 October 1987.
2. Peter Dowdeswell ate 45 two-hole, 5.5-oz doughnuts in 17 minutes, 32 seconds in New York, USA on 12 August 1983.
3. On 05 March 2004, Ray Meduna (USA) ate 22 doughnuts (1 ½ oz each) in 1 minute, 39 seconds at KISW radio in Seattle (USA). He followed the rules of the International Federation of Competitive Eating which allow the doughnuts to be dipped into water before eating.
It’s terribly terribly terribly unhealthy. Why couldn’t he do it with celery sticks?
Call me a killjoy but achilah gasah is no joke. Any money he raises is a mitzva haboh be’aveirah if he is stuffing himself for the sake of it, let alone bal tashchis to waste good for the sake of a bet. He should probably just grow up and find another way to raise money for tzedoko.