A couple keen to make high-quality, organic kosher food accessible to those in need and ensure that people can keep kashrut even during challenging times have launched an initiative providing kosher food and care parcels.

The new initiative, which aims to support struggling members of the community, started life originally when Dr Shara Cohen was diagnosed with breast cancer, and noticed a gap in the market.

“People didn't know what to buy me, or what to say,” Shara recalls of how her experience with cancer highlighted the need for self-care and support during difficult times. She set up Cancer Care Parcel for the international cancer community to offer resources, workshops and gifts.

It did not include food, but after providing services to hundreds of cancer patients, Shara turned to her husband Leon Pein, founder of the organic kosher company Biblical Foods, and suggested offering kosher parcels to the Jewish community.

They have now launched a new non-profit initiative, Kosher Care Packages, to provide support to members of the community with health challenges such as cancer, chronic illnesses and allergies. The project aims to “deliver comfort and nourishment to those who need it most” with a combination of organic kosher food and thoughtfully chosen items to support the wellbeing of the Jewish community, the couple from High Barnet say.

Dr Shara Cohen with one of her care parcels

The food parcel from Leon includes organic kosher chicken and chicken soup, while Shara’s package is filled with a mixture of items such as moisturisers, neck pillows, water bottles, bed socks, peppermint tea and lip balm.

“Leon's always talking about how people with cancer, chronic illnesses and allergies need his organic chickens, and it’s developed organically from us chatting,” says Shara, co-founder and CEO of Kosher Care Packages. “This is for people who are suffering within the community and need a little bit of TLC.”

“One of the project’s missions is to help Jews return to kashrut, especially those who have moved away, due to health or accessibility issues,” says Leon, an advocate for healthy living and former environmental campaigner. His passion for ethical, sustainable food production and “the avoidance of factory farming with all its cruelties” drive the project’s emphasis on organic produce.

Dr Shara Cohen receives a British Empire Medal for her work with cancer patients and their families

“I get quite a lot of calls from cancer patients and people with serious illnesses or their relatives or friends, so I thought this would be a good way to help them. One lady had been prescribed organic meat by her practitioner,” Leon says. “It's organic, so there's no hormones, antibiotics or pesticides in the [animals’] feed. There's no genetic engineering, it’s genuine free range so the animals run around and live as natural a life as they can.”

Shara adds, "We are deeply committed to serving our community. This initiative is about bringing comfort and maintaining the sacred tradition of kosher eating, even during the most challenging times."

The couple, who have three children, are calling on the community for support to expand their initiative, and are inviting donations and volunteers to help with the assembly and distribution of care packages and raise funds. Every £100 raised pays for a complete care package for someone in need.

Leon says that as soon as they start receiving donations, they will be able to provide the food parcels, either giving it for free or at the same price as standard kosher.

"We believe that no-one should have to choose between their health and their faith,” says Leon. “Kosher Care Packages is a community effort to bring comfort, nourishment, and the spiritual and health benefits of kosher food to those who are struggling. You’re not just providing food – you’re helping to uphold a vital aspect of Jewish life and showing that you care."

For more information visit koshercarepackages or email contact@koshercarepackages.org.