In September of 2022, Lenny Goldstein and his wife fulfilled their lifelong dream of making aliyah. Through his close friend Elliot Auerbacher, he soon learned of the volunteer organization Grilling for IDF, and joined a month later. As an avid cook, it was a natural fit. After being deathly ill from Covid and actually in an induced coma for 12 days, Goldstein felt strongly that Hashem had given him a new lease on life for a reason and now he had found it. Goldstein is one of 20 to 30 daily volunteers for the organization. In all, over 100 individuals across the country work for the nonprofit in various capacities.
The Jewish Press spoke with Goldstein via WhatsApp last Thursday as he and about a dozen other volunteers were wrapping up for the day outside of Modi’in in central Israel. He explained that the goal of Grilling for IDF is two-fold: to provide high quality food to members of the IDF whenever a request is made by base commanders, and to interact face-to-face with the soldiers while feeding them, in a show of solidarity and support.
Grilling for IDF is a relatively new organization, established in 2020. The Jewish Press also spoke with its co-founder, Elliot Auerbacher, via WhatApp, a few days ago. He explained its origins. Auerbacher, from Englewood, N.J., and co-founder Dave Kaplan, from Toronto, were olim who both settled in Modi’in. They fast became friends. Kaplan’s wife had shared with him a conversation she had with their son, an IDF officer who operated an Iron Dome battery. Their son said, “Ima, I don’t mind sleeping on the floor every night without a mattress and I don’t mind working 21 hour days, but I’m hungry.” When Auerbacher heard that he said, “We can’t let this happen.” Grilling for IDF was then unofficially formed by the two friends, with the concept put into play sporadically. Not long after, Rav Chaim Lieder of a charedi IDF unit contacted Auerbacher and relayed that one of the soldiers had committed suicide the night before, adding, “Can you bring us a barbeque to raise the morale of the soldiers?” It stopped Auerbacher in his tracks. He realized that these barbeques were no longer a nice thing to do but an obligation.
Although the organization has only been in existence for a few years, it has experienced enormous growth in both its deliverables and needs in recent weeks – unfortunately for all the wrong reasons, with over 300,000 reservists called up to prepare for war. According to its website, 1,500 IDF soldiers served in 2001, 3,500 in 2022 and 5,000 in just the first seven months of 2023. All of that pales in comparison with the recent food production, as the organization provided meals for over 40,000 soldiers in less than two weeks following the October 7th Hamas massacre. Grilling equipment constraints are hampering an even greater output. An average of 3,000 – 5,000 meals are currently being served daily. In its early stages that number was a mere 100 a week.
The operation involves multiple tasks. They range from logistics/event coordination, food prep, cooking, serving, and transporting via truck anytime and anywhere the IDF has a need, sometimes with just two hours notice. Although the organization is known for its grilling, it’s more than just steaks and burgers. Volunteers also provide side dishes, deli, desserts and snacks, and even cater to vegetarians and vegans. There is no grilling on Fridays, but a sister group of several dozen women headquartered in Ra’anana have taken to baking challah rolls for Shabbos for the soldiers. The first week following the massacre they baked just under 14,000, according to Auerbacher, with 30,000 this past Shabbos. They have set a goal of 50,000 for the upcoming Shabbos.
The vast majority of the volunteers are American olim, with some Canadians and Israelis included in their number. Goldstein face-timed this reporter to provide a sense of the operations and facilities. He introduced two of the all-star volunteers, Ora Blank and Jane Olman, who pitch in with whatever is needed. The warm smiles on their faces was a testimony to the organization’s aim.
“It means the world to the soldiers to witness such a level of caring. They feel the love and achdus from relative strangers,” said Goldstein. In this time of great danger, the boost in morale of such acts is immeasurable. He panned in on the grills. They have twelve and each can produce 60 burgers an hour, 35-40 if they are oversized according to the team’s analytics guru, Jeff Feldstein. Because of the way the steaks are cut, it will also yield 60 per grill in the course of an hour.
Cooking can begin as early as 8:00 in the morning, and if need be, will sometimes go late into the night. Volunteers rely on five vendors who all must follow IDF regulations of providing food that is chalak (the modern Hebrew word for glatt). They will go as close to the Gaza border as allowed. They take their cues from the IDF logistics officers. Sometimes they’ll be given a base location and instructed as to the number of soldiers that need to be fed for on-site grilling. Other times they are asked to deliver cooked food to a designated location where it is picked up by IDF logistics officers. There are times, though, when the situation is sensitive, that the organization is asked to provide the raw food, grills and other necessary equipment and let the IDF take it from there.
Auerbacher shared that in the time of King David each soldier actually consisted of a unit of three. One did the fighting, a second learned Torah and a third provided food and took care of daily needs. He considers his organization as the third leg of Israel’s fight against its enemies. He also noted the organization is not restricted to grilling for IDF bases. They have serviced hospitals, and, more recently, displaced citizens from the south.
Auerbacher stressed that Grilling for IDF is totally donor funded, with 100% of the proceeds going towards food and equipment. There are no paid employees. Clearly, the current need is great and will only grow, with refrigeration equipment and additional grills near the top of the list. Costs for food alone is currently a staggering $22,000 per day. Anyone wishing to donate to this worthy cause can do so by visiting its website, www.grillingforidf.com.
