Food Security, National Security, and Courage on the Eve of Purim
Joseph Gitler, Leket Israel, and Building Resilience at Scale
Purim begins tonight.
It is a holiday about hidden danger and revealed courage. About vulnerability, and mutual responsibility.
And this year, those themes feel less symbolic and more immediate.
Israel is navigating extraordinary security tensions while families across the country continue to carry the daily weight of uncertainty. In moments like these, resilience is not abstract. It is practical. It is local. It is personal.
In this week’s episode of You Are What You Give, I sit down with Joseph Gitler, founder and chairman of Leket Israel, the country’s leading food rescue and redistribution organization.
What began as a simple awareness - that enormous amounts of food were being wasted while families struggled - has grown into a national infrastructure serving hundreds of thousands of Israelis.
This conversation - which we recorded in advance of the current war - is about scale. But it is also about focus.
Joseph did not try to solve every social problem. He identified one gap - food waste meeting food insecurity - and built systems to close it.
We discuss:
The early grit required to launch Leket
How to build disciplined systems that allow compassion to scale
Leading through crisis without losing operational clarity
Why food rescue is about logistics and dignity
And what Purim teaches us about showing up for one another
As Purim approaches, Leket is mobilizing to distribute significant food packages across Israel, ensuring families can celebrate with dignity.
Because when life is uncertain, meals must be prepared.
Children must eat.
Holidays must be marked.
For nonprofit leaders, founders, and fundraisers, this episode is a reminder:
Mission does not pause during crisis.
It becomes clearer.
🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode here:
YouTube
Spotify
Wishing you a Purim of strength, security, and mutual support.
— Avi