It was almost midnight. The children sitting around the beautifully set Seder table kept glancing excitedly at the clock. The minute hand finally reached twelve. The children's enthusiasm bubbled over. It was time for the Afikoman. I expected the usual wish list - Play Stations, roller blades, stereos. Wistfully, I hoped someone would even ask for a set of Chumashim. But the ten-year-old haltingly asked in a heavily accented English, "Can I please have some matzoh for the rest of Pesach?"

An unusual request such as this is not at all unusual at L'man Achai's Sedorim. L'man Achai, founded to help Russian Jews return to Yiddishkeit, has held Public Pesach Sedorim for ten consecutive years in various locations in Flatbush, Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst. In addition, many private Sedorim are held to provide for the needs of our Russian brothers. These are people who are filled with a yearning, which is awakened during Pesach - the yearning of the "Pintele Yid" to be part of Am Yisroel. And we, L'man Achai, seek to fan and unite these sparks into a blazing fire.

Besides the Pesach Sedorim, L'man Achai organizes special events for all the Yom Tovim to ensure a full, all-around program for our Russian brethren. L'man Achai has become a household name by providing after school programs, shabbatones, yeshiva schooling and summer camps to ensure the Jewish continuity of our people. In order to continue with our numerous outreach activities, we are depending on your loyal support. Won't you please help us to be Mekarev our Russian brothers? In this Z'chus may we merit the ultimate Redemption speedily in our times.