Joseph Gitler, founder and honorary chair of Leket Israel, recently visited Boston to discuss the organization’s rapidly expanding food rescue operations across Israel.Gitler addressed area supporters at a gathering of the American Friends of Leket Israel. He discussed how the organization has grown into what is believed to be the largest gleaning operation in the world, quadrupling in size since before the pandemic.

Since Oct. 7, Leket has played a major role in supporting Israel’s weakened agricultural sector amid ongoing wartime labor shortages. The organization has created a microloan fund, provided emergency grants, and transported a record 11,000 buses of volunteers from across Israel and around the world to assist farmers whose regular workforces were disrupted by the war. More than 100,000 people volunteered with Leket last year alone.

Despite the organization’s dramatic growth, Gitler emphasized that food insecurity remains a serious issue in Israel. While Israel’s poverty rate has declined from roughly 25% to 20% since Leket was founded 23 years ago, Israel’s population has grown by several million people during that same period. Combined with rising living costs, many families continue to struggle to afford healthy, nutritious meals.

Massachusetts’ Jewish community has become increasingly engaged in issues of food justice in Israel over the past year.

The North Shore in particular has stood out for its strong participation, with rabbis including Rabbi Matthews of Newburyport’s Congregation Ahavas Achim, Rabbi Mandell of Andover’s Beth Israel, Rabbi Ragozin of Swampscott’s Congregation Shirat Hayam, Rabbi Irelander of North Andover’s Congregation Ahavat Olam, Rabbi Wilfond of Andover’s Temple Emanuel, and Rabbi Gurt Lind of Temple Ahavat Achim joining over the past year.

For more information, visit American Friends of Leket Israel.