Dear Friend,

A friend of mine owns a clothing store, which has been closed by the government, due to the pandemic. With the shop closed, he can no longer bring home any income or pay any of his employees. Not only is he unable to pay his family’s bills, but his employees have run out of money as well and can no longer pay their rent, food bills, and tuition. Since he is unable to pay rent on his now shuttered store, his landlord is unable to pay the mortgage on the small shopping center.
This devastating domino effect of non-essential business closures is sending shock waves through our community. Non-essential? There is no such thing! These businesses that are deemed non-essential are essential to the survival of many families. Hundreds of breadwinners in our community are suddenly finding themselves without a source of income, and their plight is impacting thousands of others, as rent, tuition, and grocery bills are left unpaid. 

The term “non-essential” is a misnomer. The concept doesn’t exist. Every business is essential to the survival of multiple families. When the printer is not printing dinner journals and wedding invitations, the shoemaker is no longer repairing shoes, and the dentist is no longer seeing clients, the ripple effect is felt by the entire community. Each “non-essential business” represents not only a family — a husband, wife, and children — but also all the supermarkets, clothing stores, pizza shops, schools, and businesses, with which this family interacts regularly. 
Today, I appeal to you to join me in saving the families of these essential businesses. Please email me to get involved in this vital undertaking. If each of us takes upon ourselves one such family, we can truly save them during this difficult time. I invite each of you to work alongside me in saving one family. Please contact me as I welcome your involvement. Together we can survive the devastating effects of this pandemic.

Thank you,

Alan Rosenstock
Tomche Shabbos of Rockland County