Maot Chitim

Each year at Rosh Hashanah and Passover, Hakafa volunteers participate in the mitzvah of Maot Chitim by packing and delivering holiday meals for Jewish families in need.

In light of the pandemic, this year the Maot Chitim organization will be purchasing and delivering Jewel gift cards that will enable recipients to safely purchase food for Passover - with less exposure for both volunteers and recipients. 

If you would like to contribute toward the purchase of Jewel gift cards to be used for Passover meals, please click here to donate.

Maot Chitim refers to the custom of gathering wheat which was then given to the poor for making matzo for Passover. Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago started over a century ago when Rabbis set up card tables in front of their synagogues and distributed a few dollars to the poor for holiday day meals.

Today, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago has evolved into a year-round volunteer effort searching for the best and most reasonably priced Kosher products, organizing an army of volunteers, setting up a warehouse, locating recipients through the ARK and other social service agencies, packing the products, coordinating an orderly delivery system, delivering the packages and finally closing up and beginning the plans for the next holiday.

In 1997, Maot Chitim wanted to extend the delivery of holiday food to include Rosh Hashanah because of the growing need in the community.

Click here for more information about Maot Chitim.

If you would like to make deliveries for Maot Chitim, please contact Hakafa member, Carol Anne Been.