World’s Largest Tzedakah Organization, Tova U’Vrucha, Brings Together its 1,200 Gabbaim for Historic Appreciation Event

A peak behind the scenes at the organization that has distributed, according to publicly available data, over 200 million dollars in recent years — and the individuals executing its lofty mission

By: Yakov Grunbaum

Are you familiar with Tova U’Vrucha, or its semi-annual Yad Elka Yom Tov distribution?

If you answered no, not only aren’t you alone, but this is in fact mostly by design.

Tova U’Vrucha is an operation like no other — in more ways than one. The organization is far and away the biggest tzedakah organization in the world by every available metric, and its founding members have specifically chosen to sacrifice brand recognition for the dignity of its recipients.

The organization encompasses multiple projects, each of them sufficient to qualify as a world-leading organization of its own. These include notable and unique projects with budgets that reach into the tens of millions annually. Chief among them is Yad Elka, a distribution prior to every Pesach and Tishrei season that serves poor families from 41 cities and towns across Eretz Yisroel where more well-known organizations don’t reach, as well as single-parent homes. This undertaking alone totals nearly $50,000,000 annually!

Another growing project is V’karasa L’Shabbos Oneg, which provides 500 shekel per week (roughly $8,000 annually) to thousands of outstanding Bnei Torah whose large families sacrifice for their learning. The costs of this project too reaches into the tens of millions.

The organization also counts under its umbrella a mission called Chasdei Moshe Tuvia that provides continued relief to 6,500 widowed and orphaned families in 80 cities across Eretz Yisroel, with truly life-changing implications.

In all, Tova U’Vrucha and its programs reach a staggering 250,000 individuals each year, Yidden of every background and affiliation who need a helping hand to provide for their own.

Who executes this large mission?

While the costs of the mission are carried by a who’s who of Klal Yisroel’s most noted philanthropists and ba’alei tzedakah, the operations themselves require an army of askanim who can handle applications and ensure that the funds reach the people they are intended for — with utmost dignity and efficiency.

Last week, the 1,237 gabbaim who make these programs possible traveled from all across Eretz Yisroel to partake in an appreciation and chizzuk event arranged in their honor.

At the historic event, Gedolei Yisroel, philanthropists from Eretz Yisroel and the diaspora, and leaders of the organization joined in gratitude and praise for the heroes who do the field work and bring relief to so many who would otherwise never have access to it. 

With the help of these gaba’im, Tova U’Vrucha and Yad Elka have established a credit card system, in which the support is distributed on innocent-looking cards that can be swiped at a large number of stores in the same manner a regular shopper would. The cards do not even bear the organization’s logo to ensure the dignity of the recipient. 

Yad Elka’s cards are pre-loaded with significant sums, the likes of which are unheard of in the tzedakah world, and the families are able to purchase whatever they need. Some families—depending on household size—are eligible to receive the large sum of up to 5,000 NIS every Yom Tov. 

The list of the organization’s meticulously-kept numbers tell the story. Beitar Illit, 37,319 individuals… Teveria, 7,703 individuals… and the list goes on and on, covering every small city and town where Yidden can be found. According to a publicly-available database managed by the Israeli government, the organization has directly distributed a mind-blowing $208,000,000 over the past few years. That is nearly a quarter-billion dollars in critical aid from an organization many have never even heard of.

These official numbers report that in 2023 alone the organization has distributed 200,000,000 NIS. The number for 2024 will be more than 300,000,000 NIS! 

Ensuring that these astronomical numbers only make it into the right hands is where these devoted the gabai tzedakah in every city come in. These are individuals who truly feel the heart of another Yid, and have their finger on the pulse of the needy among their communities. In many cases, they operate the kupas tzedakohs and other  projects in their localities. 

Their responsibility is multifold. First, to ensure that no eligible family in need is left off the Tova U’Vrucha distribution list, and also to ensure that the funds indeed reach their intended recipients. 

Giving Gratitude 

Against this backdrop, twin events took place last week at venues outside Yerushalayim — with the participation of many Gedolei Yisroel who feel the burden of their fellow Yidden and who recognize the incredible work of Tova U’Vrucha. 

The events underscored the tireless work of the more than 1,200 representatives, and it hailed the work of the world-renowned ba’al chesed and askan Reb Yoel Yisroel Zupnick of Brooklyn, the founder of the organization who toils annually to raise the tens of millions of dollars necessary to cover the enormous budget.

The speakers at these events extolled the work of the gaba’im and the leaders of the organization. They spoke about the various programs and departments, and the ever-growing list of initiatives that the organization continues to take upon itself. 

After hearing stirring and emotional speeches and enjoying a moving musical presentation and award ceremony, the representatives from throughout the Eretz Yisroel burst out into song and dance in gratitude to Hashem for their sacred role and for their holy part in the Tova U’Vrucha revolution.

Mi K’amcha Yisroel!