Over the past six years, Techiya Fisher’s initiative to bring the mitzvot associated with Purim to Guelph’s Jewish community has continued to gain momentum.

In her role as the wife of Rabbi Avraham Fisher, the spiritual leader of Guelph’s Beth Isaiah Congregation, and the program and events co-ordinator at the shul, Fisher organizes a mishloach manot fundraiser to fulfil the mitzvot of Purim and bring the Jewish community together.

Fisher explained that although the congregation has a membership of about 40 families, there are only about 20 men and women who come to shul regularly.

“But on Purim, this is the time for each one to remember their friends, and send them baskets, even though they may not see them on a regular basis,” she said.

Participants in the mishloach manot fundraiser pay $36 for one basket or $30 for two or more, and send Fisher a list of their friends and family they’d like to send a basket to in Guelph, Fergus and Elora, Ont.

“The baskets are filled with chocolate, hamantashen, grape juice, candies, whatever I find,” she said.

“Every recipient receives a single mishloach manot [package] with a card listing the members who sent the basket to that recipient. No matter how many well-wishers you have, you will get one basket. Since the number of the baskets remains the same, the more people who participate in this mitzvah, the more money will be left for Beth Isaiah Congregation,” Fisher wrote in a letter to the congregation.

But Fisher explained that this initiative is about more than sending gift baskets to one another. It is an opportunity to fulfill the mitzvot of Purim, which many people don’t know about.

“The main mitzvot of Purim are not really known to many people… They only know about hamantashen and masks,” she said.

In addition to sending mishloach manot to friends and family, observers of the holiday are meant to give matanot l’evyonim, gifts for the poor.

“On Purim, we also give charity to at least two poor people, or friends. We reach out to each other, so that no one should miss the joy of the occasion. Concern for the needy is a year-round responsibility. But on Purim, it’s a special mitzvah to remember the poor,” Fisher said. 

Although this is a fundraiser for the synagogue, 10 per cent of the money raised will be donated to an Israeli organization called Paamonim. 

Paamonim aims to provide needy families with long-term, comprehensive solutions to debt and poverty. The organization offers guidance and support to those who are unable to solve their financial problems on their own.

Fisher said that since she started this fundraiser in 2009, it has grown.

“Six years ago, we started with about 30 baskets because they didn’t know what it is. People who have received them, even if they are not members, they contact me and ask me to send baskets to their friends. So last year, we made 87 baskets, which, for a small community like ours, is very nice,” she said, adding that last year, she raised $2,000, but expects to raise “much more than that” this year.

“This helps bring the community together. It is a very important aspect of this project. It’s not just about the money and the goodies and the mitzvah. It’s about building the community.”

For more information, contact Techiya Fisher at 519-265-1591 or [email protected].