Flatbush, NY – Rafi Hazan is a man at war, fighting battles on two fronts.
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He’s trying his best to keep operating the kosher food pantry he started in Flatbush four years ago.
at the same time, he’s trying to overcome an aggressive cancer diagnosed three years ago.
“I’m very lucky to be around,” said Hazan, 47. As he undergoes weekly chemotherapy treatments, his strength is not what it has been.
But Hazan is determined to keep going because in just over a year, demands have doubled at his Bnai Raphael Chesed Organization Food Pantry, at 2917 Avenue K.
“In Nobember ’07, we served 800 families,” said Hazan. “Now, It’s 1,500. And we’re serving 70 synagogues and churches. We used to be open six days a week, Now It’s just two.”
“Our resources are drying up,” he said. “The economic situation is hitting all sectors, But it’s a bad feeling when you cannot help people.”
Hazan said the pantry is seeing “more elderly people, more younger people, more families, more people of different ethnic backgrounds and income levels.
“People who once had houses and cars are walking in with their heads down. Their homes are in foreclosure and they are ashamed.
There is nothing to be ashamed of,” Hazan said. “They need help, like everyone elso.”
David, a computer specialist who lost his job, said the pantry has been “very, very helpful.”
“At first, I was embarrassed to come here,” said David, who declined to give his last name.
“I usually donate to places like this. It’s humbling to be on the receiving end.”
The food pantry is set up like a grocery store, its narrow aisles filled with jars of baby food, cans of fruits and vegetables, cartons of juice and bins of fresh produce. Refrigerators and freezers hold poultry, meats and other perishables.
Individuals and families register at the pantry on Sunday and line up Wednesday or Thursday to select what they need for a week.
The annual budget for the pantry is $489,000, Hazan said. In the past, he relied on fund-raising, small grants and resources from his own business, a trucking company.
“We need help,” Hazan said. Thoughts of closing completely are too difficult to contemplate.
“I’ll last as long as i can,” he vowed.
“I pray for him every day, asking God to give him strength for his personal and public issues,” said Alexander Rapaport, co-founder and director of MASBIA, a kosher soup kitchen in Borough Park.
“Whenever I have people who want more than just a meal, I refer them to him,” Rapaport said. “Even with his biggest personal struggles, he wants to help more people. That speaks volumes about the kind of person he is.”
Church’s ?!?
In the zechus of his chesed may he have a refuah sheleima.
My Dear Mr. Hazan, May the Almighty send you a refuah shelhama TODAY. May you be blessed ad Mea Essrim and beyond. The work you have started is the most noble there can be. While I do not have a lot of funds my check will be in the mail today. May it be a help to you and to those who are in need. I am sure that HaShem is with you in all your mitzvahs. Chazak, Chazak V’nisChzek. May the Almighty of Israel watch over you and BLESS YOU.
I personally know Rafi and no words can describe the chesed and love he has for his fellow Jews.
Churchs-for the non-kosher food that gets donated from companies
to the previous comment:
masbia…l’chol chai rotzon
WE WISH HIM MANY YEARS IN GOOD HEALTH MAY HE CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD DEEDS AND LIVE TO 120 HEALTHY
Rafi is a tzadik .. most chesed store expenses paid from his own pocket.
Is this the Hatzolah member F122?
Its amazing cuz there is another Rafi that is a big tzaddik as well. Same name and he is invilved in Hatzalah as well as teenagers at risk. Its amazing what a name has to offer. May all the Rafis continue doing their good work!!
hopefully bezchus the chesed and the people who relay on him hashem will grant him a complete refua shleyma bsoch sharr chle yisroel!
I know Raffi Hazan personally. His only purpose with the Chesed Store is to do Chesed Leshem Shomayim. He has given thousands of dollars of his own money to support this operation, borrowed thousands of dollars to keep it running, and spent thousands of hours of his time on it. All the while he himself lives like a pauper in poverty, in a single room, on a floor with several other single room apartments sharing one bathroom, on top of a shul in Mill Basin.
A yid like this brings mashiach. May he have a refuah shleima bekarov.
May it be Hashem’s will that you be blessed with a good and long life. May you merit a complete healing immediately.
As we all sit and complain about our present economic situations, we dont know how lucky we are. May hashem bless Rafi, and allow him to do his good work for many years to come.
Rafi Hazan is a great man and has gone above and beyond giving to all kinds. His Mitzvot is something we should all follow!! Yevarekh Otkha Ha-Shem
I know Rafi for many years. When I suddenly bacame homeless in the beginning of the winter of ’05 -’06 he gave me an apartment, dignity, a job and something to live for. I worked closely with him for 2 years plus and have seen him give selflessly and endlessly. He has more patience than any of us.
This is a man who will work from early in the morning until close to midnight and then literally collapse into bed. He works extremely hard and doesnt let his cancers get the better of him. If any of us did his chesed once in our lives we would consider it a great thing. He does it every day. When Rafi sleeps(whenever that is) it is a mitzva for him to do. The store was open 6 days a week until recently when funds dried up.
I know Ralph and some time I do some valunter work in his place, and see the neady people that come in, beside giving them food he also try to help them with different advice, and different problems I wish him well and good health we all love him
i know rafi for overv30 years and a day has not gone by that he has not helped someone in need may he continue for the next 120 years
i know ralph for over 30 years and a day has not gone by that he has not helped someone in need regardless of color or religion if we had more ralphs the world will be a better placein these difficult times any small donation will help he would do it for you
I also agree, as we all sit around and complain about what is going on with our country and world. I know One Person who doesn’t sit around, just the opposite.
Rafi doesn’t sit, even when he comes home from having chemo.
All he worries about is how he’ll help feed God’s children. Who can donate more food? There must be many supermarkets who could contribute if they had knowledge of this honorable service Rafi provides.
. May Hashem bless Rafi, and allow him to do his good work for many years to come
Get the word out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Hi I am Ralph sister and I would like everyone to know that I am very proud of him , he always try to help everyone and does help., since he was a little boy, Every time I go somewhere and people know that I am his sister they come to me to tell me what Ralph does for them and for the community. I pray and ask everyone to pray for his health
What a blessing Rafi has been to Brooklyn,.
Rafi helps all, doesn’t matter what religion, color or race. He helps all and that’s all there is to it.
The question is how can we help Rafi to continue with his work?
Please get the word out so people and businesses might be able to send in food and money to keep everything on a roll.
Refuah shleima
Being sick with Cancer doesn’t stop this man.
As we all sit and complain about our present economic situations, we dont know how lucky we are. May hashem bless Rafi, and allow him to do his good work for many years to come.
Ralph has gone above and beyond to help those out who need it. He has dedicated endless hours to help others. He ALWAYS puts himself low on the priority list. May G-d give him health and the strength to continue to help others. If everyone gave one tenth of the energy Ralph has given… this world would be a much better place….thank you for your dedication!
Dear Raffi, You are an amazing man,with very unique kochot nefesh. Our holy sages use the following example to teach us “Who is a Hero? He who conquers his self-centered needs and desires. Raffi you are that example for the world and our Rabbis to see and emulate. You think of yourself last. Raffi, you took on Bnai Raphael singlehandedly and made it what it is today. I was just asked to come along for the ride and help in my own small way. Raffi, you have worked tirelessly to help the less fortunate and underserved in our community denying yourself all gashmiut in order to lighten the great financial burdens that many are experiencing. You have recognized the tremendous needs in the community, the countless individuals and families struggling with basic necessities and breaking under the financial strains. Raffi you have taken from your own pocket and given unconditionally to those less fortunate. 2/ years ago when our fellow Jews were expelled from the Gush, you were there to help in a very big way. Raffi you are the essence of an Ish Chesed and it has been an honor to help in this great Chesed Operation. To the entire Jewish Community, we want to continue this holy work. The Chesed store needs all the support and financial help it can get, or Chas V”Shalom it will close. How do I know so much about this incredible project? Many of you know me, my name is Chana.
What an inspiring story. I wish him a speedy return to health. Yesterday there was a post about overdoing mishloach manos. Perhaps instead of giving fancy baskets to people who don’t need them or giving lots of junk food, we take some of the money and buy a big box of healthy non-perishables (i.e canned vegetables, tuna, peanut butter, cereal) for our local food bank, or donate the money to the food banks since they can buy in bulk and get better deals.
Lets do something practical too. Go through your food cabinets, donate what you dont need or want anymore. Drop it off at 2917 Ave. K between Nostrand Ave and E.29th street in Brooklyn. Call Rafi at 917-861-7282 and ask for a pushka.
Go to your local shul and ask for a refuah sheleima for Raphael Chaim ben Chana.
G-d Bless.
I was homless and on the street with no money, ralph helped me to get an apartment and food so I can stand on my two feet also got me a job. In my entire life I never met someone like ralph, since then I also try to help, but deep inside of me I know I will never be like Ralph. Refua shelma and please who ever can help the chesed store please do so It help plenty of families
THe only proper and correct way to fund this worthy organization is to send your checks directly to their office on Ave K. ANy other means does not guarantee that the monies will be received at Bnai Raphael. I had a recent bad experience with someone coming by to collect the pushka. Be forwarned. Send your tzedakah directly to their offices at Ave K.
Rafi is an ish tzadik and an anav. Most people don’t know that the store is not named after him it is named after another tzadik Raphael Guy. I know Rafi and I know that he wouldn’t want this kind of personal attention that these articals have created however he knows that without the public understanding what he does they won’t be inclined to give. He welcomes anyone to come visit the store.Stop by give a few minutes of your time volunteering.Bring over your unneeded canned goods left over shalach manos or your chometz before pesach. Get involved…..He can’t do it alone.
Rafi is too amazing. I’ve seen him help French Jews, Venezuelan Jews, Mexican Jews, Russian Jews and Israelis. I’ve seen poor people of other groups come in, be taken care of and respected. What can you say?
When I was pregnant and my husband jobless it was rafi that kept us afloat and fed. His staff are also very dedicated people.
i want to scream “thank u rafi”i will say in one single world he is the best person i ever met “real tsadik”sometimes i think where he has the patient and the power to help everybody any time .i know him already 2 years and this man doing just good thing.my own story very long story but i can say that anyproblem i (and 10000’s like me)he is always help even his sickness .anytime anything and henever ask u for something back.while e’s on treatement (cimotherap)he always answer the phone.for me he’s every thing.and also he has sans of hunor and he’s very smart,rafi thank u u r the best.he’s my own “mashihach”(no hard feeling)we all should pray for his health and happiness.
i was in the store about a month ago, just to see what it looks like I saw old people waiting on line for food, parents with little kids came to take some cookies, and candies for the kids. One of the parents did not know that I just went to absorve and see for my self. she told me she has four kids and her husband lost his job she can not efford to buy food and especialy candies and cookies so she goes there for mostof her groceres, THANK G-D FOR RALPHIE MAY G-D BLESS HIM AND GIVE HIM ALL THE STRENTH also before I left ,I gave a check and feld very good ,hope most of you will do the same we all have to help rafie keep the place
when my husband left me and my 4 children. He stopped paying all bills. I was left without rent money my tuitions fell behind and our pantry was bare.Rafi saved me he welcomed me and made me feel like I was doing him a favor by taking the food. I can’t thank him enough for his continued support.
the chesed store is indespensable everyone should understand that poverty exisists in our community. Open your eyes and do the right thing. Don’t ignore you fellow jews.
ho i wish the parents were here to see the hesed and goodness the raphi giving the poeple of n.y. i wish him to 120 refua shelema ahelama mehira
If you want to be a winner, be on the winning team. support an organization that might not have the fame of organizations that have marketing specialists.Support an organization that lives up to its name . THE CHESED STORE
After reading all the posts about this organization I can recognize that it must be doing something right. Everyone has such good things to say about this guy Rafi.I must go meet him.
if u know rafi u blessing ,everything for everybody and nothing for himself.even the food he is eating he is sharing with other.hardly going out he says”instead of spending money on myself i can feed more families” never say one bad word and hasrespect to everybody .the hightest level of humanity every body should learn little from him again ‘refua shlema” i need u we need u
look at the big picture understand who comes into the store. I went to observe and I saw a kollel man who explains that he doesnt have enough at the end of the month for all the food his family requires,I saw a divorced woman with 8 children, I saw a father who recently lost a good job in computers bec. his company downsized.I asked rafi has there been more people coming lately? he responded that he has to start looking into another location but he can’t shoulder the burden alone. He needs our help.
The chesed store might not be well know bec. they don’t have advertising agency’s making big promotions for them and they don’t toot their own horn but it’s apparent just by the comments that this organization is doing true chesed.My check is in the mail. 2917 ave k right!
i pass the hesed store twice a week to see if they need help poeple on line my heart going out to them but god bless ralph he sit and make them fill right and not embares a pleasure to see a place that run and poeple fill comftable
Rafi is an amazing person. May Hashem give him the strength to go on and keep doing what he does best and that is the head this great organization. May he have a refuah shlaima. Linda
All I can say is that Rafi is the meaning of chesed. In the zechus of all the neshimot Rafi helps day in and day out Hashem should allow him to have a refuah shelaymah. He should have the strength to continue to do the work Hashem has blessed him to do. He has sent so many girls to me looking for shelter, for growing in Judaism. He has donated to Ohr Naava upon a moments notice. He offers furniture when at hand, food, an ear and as well as a shoulder to cry on, Rafi is one of a kind. There is nothing he would not do for Klal Yisroel. With enormous gratitude past, present & future Jodi & the future of Klal Yisroel………The women & girls of Ohr Naava Women’s Torah Center.
I have known Rafi since high school at what used to be called BTA. He is unlike anyone else I have ever known and I am privileged to call him a good friend. Rafi is motivated by his desire to help fellow Jews from all walks of life. He has built shuls, sponsored sefer torahs, raised funds for Friends of IDF and other worthwhile organizations, and now the “chesed store”. He has paid for much of this out of his own pocket “what do I really need to live on, I can put my money to better use helping people” he has stated. To that end, he lives in a cramped, sparsely furnished one room apartment above a shul. He is an amazing individual. His goodness originates from his family. I recall his mother always offering food when I or any of Rafi’s other friends walked in the door. Rafi now continues that same tradition of feeding not only his friends, but strangers from the community. If more people were like Rafi, Moshiach would be here. When Rafi was diagnosed with a horrific form of cancer several years ago, I was very distressed and could not understand why the good people in this world end up like this. Perhaps it was what I was taught in Yeshiva, that whomever has it tough in this world, will benefit in the next. If you can make mishebayrachs and say a kapittle tehilim for “Raphael Chaim Ben Chana” you will be doing a great mitzvah by asking Hashem to grant allow Rafi to be healthy till 120 so that he can continue his outstanding endeavors. Please support Rafi’s efforts to alleviate his stress so that he can heal & focus on helping others. Chazzak Chazzak Vanischazayk.
people please help the chesed kitchen stay open!!!!! im just a teen and dont got much money but im doing wat i can! and i wish Rabbi Hazan a refuah shelaima speedily and so he could continue his great chesed!!!!
Anytime a person takes it upon him or herself to help a person or people they
should have support. This place is unreal. everytime i pass by their are lots of
people waiting.That tells me that people unfortunately still need lots of help.I
hope and pray with Hashem’s help that Bnei Raphael finds the strength to remain
open and be well.
this place cant close!!
good luck!!!!!