Russia Today, a Russian government television station, recently posted a video on YouTube showing starving elderly Russian immigrants in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach. On the screen a pensioner complains that prices are so high that he is not even able to buy his favorite fruit – mango. This, they imply, is the depth to which those who abandoned their homeland have sunk. Thus, we decided to see for ourselves how poor residents of Brighton Beach are surviving with today’s high prices.

Every month a van distributing foodstuffs parks near the synagogue on Brighton’s 4th Street where a sign reading Ocean View Jewish Center hangs on the wall. Rabbi Moshe Wiener, director of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island explained: “The Shorefront Jewish Community Council distributes food products here once a month. Over 1,000 needy people in Brighton Beach and surrounding neighborhoods receive aid through this program. The vast majority of these people are elderly Russian speakers; many of them are former prisoners of the ghetto and concentration camps. In order to receive benefits through special programs, a person’s income must not exceed $200 per month after rent. Unfortunately, there are many people in this situation. The people who are registered – we have over 500 – are the poorest of the poor. They receive food aid from us every week. The food comes from government and private sources, some of which require that any person who shows up must be given food at least once a month. On those days, anyone can come up to the van, say that he needs food, and receive it without any questions or verification of income.”

Since no one verifies anything, people can say whatever they want.

A young African-American woman said that she was there to pick up food for an ill elderly Russian-speaking woman that she takes care of.

A Chinese woman complained that she did not have enough food. Out of her large family, only her husband works and she stays home with the children. So she has to look for places that hand out food at no charge.

A Latin American woman, wearing a professionally mournful expression on a face touched by alcoholism, said she values greatly the aid from Jewish organizations and attests life would be much harder without it. She came for food with her boyfriend, who said, “I lost my job and it is hard to find a new one. Thank God there are kind people who organize aid. Rent is very high so I have to save on food.”

People have to sign a registration book before receiving their rations. For Lyuba, who says she has lived in America for 18 years and is not in the Section 8 program so she pays her rent in full, free food never hurts. And she knows who distributes it: “Our dear, kind Jews.” An elderly man, in America for 16 years, whose apartment is paid for under Section 8 and who receives $102 in food stamps a month, still does not have enough for a mango.

Esther, an employee of the charity, says, “Everyone who receives aid is grateful to America, in general, and specifically to our organization because we are trying to make sure that no residents in our neighborhood go hungry. Not everyone expresses their gratitude in words, but everyone understands it.”

Take Bella, for example. “I understand this aid comes from rich people who have the means to support us.”

Of course, it’s terrible that there are people in need, but as long as there are needy people there will be programs to help them. Charitable organizations owe their existence to these programs, which fund them and create jobs for social workers. The wolves are well fed and the sheep are alive. Incidentally, those who receive aid are truly having a difficult time.

For people whose incomes are slightly above poverty level and are not eligible for government aid, things are more difficult; sometimes poor people even live better that those in the lower-middle class.

Many poor people pay almost nothing for their apartments, under the Section 8 program, or for their healthcare, under Medicaid and Medicare. They also receive food stamps. As well, the government pays for home attendants, who are open to deals and willing to share their salaries. People also rent out rooms in their apartments. In other words, those who can, manage somehow. And here Americans are handing out food for free! I wonder, do they give out mangos?

People arrive at the van empty-handed and leave with bags overflowing with food. The vans bear the inscriptions New York Federation of Jewish Philanthropists and Jewish City Council to Combat Poverty. The food is kosher.

Distribution is well-organized: nobody tries to cut the line and nobody worries that the food will run out. There is enough for everyone and their grandchildren, if they come. Those who come are dressed fairly well; they certainly do not resemble victims of the Depression. They are not emaciated. Some are not even that old or infirm. Some seem to have come straight from the beach.

Bella says, “I am very pleased with America. I am glad that we came here.”

There are people who eat only crumbs but cannot bring themselves to ask for help, while there are those who eat caviar and ask for help.

An ancient Jewish tradition has become all American: those who ask for help, those who need help, must be helped. And those who pretend to be poor, well, God is their judge, not us.