Twice a year, before the start of the two major holidays Passover and New Year, the municipality sends a box of food products to its senior citizens. Nice initiative but...I'm sometimes unhappy with some of the box's content.
I don't know how it works, and who's in charge of the project there, but it's done with minimum of thought and logic.
Elderly people try to keep away from the unofficial 'killers' : sugar, salt, oil. In the box, these are dominant items both as stand alone (1 kilo sugar, 1 kilo salt, 1 bottle of oil) and as part of the various products (coca cola bottles - not the diet or zero version - but the classic one with all the sugar and calories; several tins of tuna - in oil, not in water).
People like to drink coffee, but the only type in the box is always the strong, black, turkish coffee which might cause or increase insomnia at a certain age. Ketchup is a constant. I wish some of it be replaced by a few fresh tomatoes.
The good stuff in the box is the one that helps with observing the holiday tradition, and I feel grateful for that: for Passover - a big package of matzot (unleavened bread), eggs, potatoes, a jar of 'gefilte fish' (egg-shaped patties made of ground carp fish), a package of matza flour for making soup balls , a bottle of non-alcoholic wine.
 |
| soup balls |
 |
| 'gefiilte fish' with carrot topping |
For New Year, a small jar of honey, traditional honey cake , apples, eggs, a bottle of wine. (Dipping slices of apple in honey is symbolic of a sweet, abundant New Year).
 |
| honey and apples |
The box is brought in by one or two young volunteers, in their last year of high school, methink. They deserve a big hug for their heart-warming effort and caring.
* web pictures