By Mike Cohen The Suburban Apr 12, 2017
B’nai Brith Canada and the MADA Community Centre teamed up this Passover for a rejuvenated campaign, delivering some 2,000 food baskets to families who might otherwise go hungry during this holiday. They will do so again for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
MADA President Pesach Nussbaum with Ted Greenfield.
MADA is a volunteer-based organization that evolved from a small neighborhood community centre to Montreal’s central address for fighting poverty and assisting people in need with the basic necessities of life while preserving their dignity and helping them become self-sufficient members of society. B’nai Brith has nurtured and funded the Holiday Food Basket program in Montreal for over 50 years. MADA, meanwhile, is recognized for its effectiveness in reaching and servicing over 18,000 clients, volunteers and supporters and engaging their expertise in converting dollars into food.
It was senior B’nai Brith Canada leaders Eric Bissell and Ted Greenfield who played key roles in solidifying this partnership. They credit noted Montreal Jewish businessman Amos Sochaczevski, the owner of The Suburban, for bringing B’nai Brith and MADA together. “Amos thought MADA was a good match because of their background in food and the logistics of distributing to the needy,” Bissell said.
With 1,300 chickens, 1,500 pounds of fish, thousands of pounds of vegetables and one massive community effort, MADA hosted nine Passover seders the last two nights across the city.