More than 16,000 Jewish families across Michigan have received handmade shmurah matzah this year. The initiative, by Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan, enlisted the help of dozens of volunteers to canvass neighborhoods and rural counties to reach every Jew in the state, bringing this special type of matzah — considered ideal for use at the Passover Seder — to Jewish Michiganders.
The campaign, launched 71 years ago, in 1954 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, distributes more than one million matzahs in advance of Passover. The Rebbe felt strongly about helping Jews celebrate the Seders with handmade shmurah matzah.
The state’s 30 Chabad centers and 50 Chabad representative couples chose to ramp up this year’s matzah distribution. “We are hoping we’ll reach every last Jew in the State of Michigan this year, whether they are involved throughout the year or not,” said Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, executive director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Michigan.
Shoshannah Tulupman, a Ferndale, Michigan entrepreneur is one of the volunteers who joined the initiative. Back in the 70s, Tulupman had a newspaper route, delivering the paper each morning to hundreds of homes. Taking the week off work, she delivered hundreds of boxes of handmade shmurah matzah to local Jewish families in the Detroit suburb she calls home.
Tulupman heard about the campaign from the “Friday Boys,” as the groups of Lubavitch yeshiva students who visit local homes and businesses Friday afternoons are known. “They are such a joy; I look forward to them coming around each week,” she told Lubavitch.com. “I had time this week to do it. It’s a mitzvah; I’m more than happy to do it.”
Tulupman’s red SUV loaded with boxes of matzah is now known as “the matzah-mobile.” “It’s been a joy — I met all kinds of people. I will do it again next year as well.”
The matzah gifts come with an invitation to join one of the many community Passover Seders hosted by Chabad-Lubavitch throughout the state — from Traverse City to Downtown Detroit. This Saturday and Sunday evening, thousands–possibly hundreds of thousands will join Chabad-Lubavitch communal seders around the world.
To find a Passover Seder near you, visit Lubavitch.com/Centers.
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