From Keto Kitchen to Frontline Fuel: Nourishing IDF Soldiers + Zaka Members

Beef Up Our Boys: Jerky with Heart, Impact with Purpose

I wanted to share something truly inspiring that I came across recently on instagram: kosher beef jerky!

Elisheva and Chaim Rutenberg are a couple with a passion for healthy low-carbohydrate eating. They have turned this passion into something incredibly impactful, by creating the initiative Beef Up Our Boys, which is making and distributing healthy beef jerky to IDF soldiers and Zaka members. 

Their story shows that even small actions can make a huge difference. I found it heartwarming to see how they're bringing healthy food and nourishment to those serving on the front lines. Their story makes me think about the power of community and compassion, and each person finding their particular way to help in difficult times.  I hope you find it as inspiring as I did!

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Can you please introduce yourself to our readers? 

We are Elisheva and Chaim Rutenberg, residing in Beit Shemesh, Israel, with our 16-year-old son, Ezra. We are ten-year Olim from New York and Toronto, which signifies our decision to migrate to Israel. For us, this move from the Jewish Diaspora signified not only a physical relocation to our ancestral and cultural homeland but also a commitment to actively participate in the ongoing process of settling the land and contributing to the empowerment of all people in Israel.

Over the past seven years, I have been actively involved in Israel baseball, particularly in our local Beit Shemesh baseball community, where we are building a baseball field in the heart of the city, historically known for recent immigration. Additionally, I focus on cooking low-carb meals and am currently in the process of publishing an easy-to-follow Kosher Keto cookbook, aiming to make the keto lifestyle feasible for everyday cooking.

My husband, Chaim, is an engineer by trade and involved in local charity work and supporting low-income food subsidies. He also promotes disruptive media technology to foster and respect cultural diversity online. One of the points I often emphasize to those considering Aliya is that despite moving to Israel, daily challenges and routines remain the same. However, here, every aspect of our routine contributes to the vitality and viability of the modern state of Israel.

In recent years, especially during irregular times like the COVID-19 pandemic, we've learned the significance of interdependence within society. We became hyper-local focused, relying on immediate family and neighbors for human interaction and essential support, while also recognizing the vital role of everyday people, including "front line workers," in ensuring a steady supply of necessities.

What initially drew you to trying the keto dietary pattern, and ultimately to write a cookbook? 

Here’s why I compiled and created a Low Carb Kosher Cookbook. In 2014 my 6.5-year-old son Ezra was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. After numerous searches on the proper diet for a Type 1 Diabetic, I found that the low carb and high protein, aka Keto diet was the healthiest diet for him. I consulted with his pediatrician and a nutritionist and decided that this was a very good option for him. 

When Ezra adopted a low carb diet, he was able to maintain excellent blood sugars. This was due to the fact that the food groups he was using mainly consisted of protein and high fiber vegetables which do not cause blood sugars to rise instantaneously. Instead there is a slower rise in blood sugars. This helps a lot, as the synthetic insulin that a Type 1 Diabetics takes has a peak action time of 1- 2 hours post injection. Thus, anything we can do to slow down the blood sugars from rising quickly will help. 

Removing all foods high in carbohydrates from his diet did mean goodbye to cereals, chips, cookies, breads, doughnuts, candy etc. This was not so easy for me to do, but I knew in the long run somehow this would be a million times healthier. There was one main problem: I needed a variety of delicious foods for him, and for myself and for my husband, and I needed it fast! 

While browsing in many bookstores I found that the low carb cookbooks were either not kosher, too sophisticated for his pallet, or the food didn't seem appetizing for a kid. On the rare occasion that I did find a handful of "maybe" recipes, I realized it was not worth the price of the cookbook. In doubt, I went to the world wide web…there I found loads of low carb recipes from so many different low carb influencers, doctors, nutritionists, and advocates for the diet. I started my very own printing out and collecting recipes that I thought would work for our family. 

During the past 10 years, many of my friends and family have got to know and enjoy our low carb food. People were interested in trying out this way of eating and reaping the benefits. After several requests for me to put a compilation of them all into some printable version, I decided to go for it!

What inspired the creation of Beef Up Our Boys, particularly focusing on providing beef jerky to IDF soldiers and Zaka members?

Since the outbreak of war on October 7th, coinciding with the last day of the Sukkot Holiday, life in Israel has swiftly transitioned to every citizen being on the Homefront, ready to contribute. In the initial days of the war, our local synagogue's social hall transformed from serving as a base of operations and sleeping quarters for an army unit, with food trains set up to feed them, to a large mourning space for the family of a fallen soldier from October 7th. 

Personally, I've been deeply moved by the women who tirelessly cook for entire army units multiple times a week. Eventually, our local synaogogue’s social hall became the central hub for packaging and distributing tens of thousands of packages of Beef Jerky, thanks to hundreds of dedicated volunteers and brave drivers. We've been honored to supplement the hot meals made by so many community members by providing "Beef Up Our Boys – Beef Jerky," which soldiers and other rescue workers take with them into the field. I have been amazed by the local impact on the  entire community, with volunteers from around the world collaborating with locals of all ages to provide assistance. 

That fateful Oct 7th morning jolted us to the core. Being a holiday, we were hosting my niece and nephew, an amazing newly wed couple Avi and Leah. Leah is an attorney intern, and Avi is a laboratory equipment technician. Like many Israeli men, Avi is in the Army reserves. What that entails is spending a few weeks a year training and being on standby. As soon as we heard multiple missile alert sirens, Avi turned on his phone. At around 11:30 am, Avi was called up to protect the northern border.

While many of the reserve units received an outpouring of food donations and BBQs, Avi’s unit was based in remote locations where the limited food they had was carried into them, and they were not allowed to use phones. The following Sunday, the 15th, Avi finally got in contact with Leah, who continued to stay with us. Avi told her that he was with 92 guys and they were cold and hungry. Avi is the type of guy that unless you get jackets for all 92 guys, he would not take one. With Avi’s parents, we sourced 92 military-grade fleece-type jackets. 

Because of my experience with finding low-carb options for my son, I appreciated the immense benefit of Beef Jerky as a meal in a bag that can be taken anywhere and packs a lot of protein for its size. My husband contacted a number of Beef Jerky manufacturers, most of whom make luxury charcuterie boards. One vendor, Butchers Cut, posted a promotion to their clientele on their website, as well as another local group of caterers that changed their business to produce as much Beef Jerky as possible. By the 16th, we picked up not only the 92 fleece jackets and about 150 packages of Beef Jerky.

Early in the morning on the 17th, my husband Chaim drove to the northern border through closed military zones to meet up with the logistics officer for Avi’s unit. He loved the Beef Jerky but said that the Jackets were not warm enough for the extreme location they were serving. The connection for the fleece Jackets told us that the main base in the north was looking for hundreds of the very same fleece jackets. My sister and I agreed to give the Jackets to the Northern base and source warmer jackets for Avi’s unit. After unloading the jackets on the Northern Base, Chaim found a bag of 30 packages of Beef Jerky that was serendipitously forgotten under the jackets. Chaim gave a taste to some commanding officers; they loved it and sent it out to their units in the field. By the time Chaim returned to Beit Shemesh, he was contacted by the head of logistics, and he tasked us with getting them as much Beef Jerky as we could, "as this is the one food source they do not have ready access to" and it is the perfect tactical food ration. 

On the 17th of October, we went into full fundraising and sourcing. We opened CauseMatch.com/beefupourboys and assisted our vendors to scale as quickly as possible.

What are some of the challenges and successes Beef Up Our Boys has faced from its inception to its current scale?

From the 17th of October, when we fully launched the campaign, we were continually challenged by the ongoing balance of meeting the enormous demand and the available supply and funding. In the effort to raise awareness for our efforts and hopefully the funding needed to mass source quality kosher beef jerky, we ended up receiving enormous, heart-wrenching requests for our beef jerky. 

By Thursday the 19th, we had nearly 1500 packages arrive, ready for delivery early on the 20th. While loading the car late Thursday night, a number of local parents of my baseball coaches came to pick up Beef Jerky for their boys. One specific example is one of our head coaches who is a commander of a unit, also in a remote location, that happens to be allergic to fish, which is the main protein source of army rations.

The beginning of the war was a very challenging time as we were all reeling from the events of October 7th, and the Homefront was doing what we could to assist the over 300,000 soldiers that immediately went into battle. Galvanizing countless volunteers, delivering an expensive and much-demanded food source directly to units and rescue workers all over the country, and receiving the tremendous outpouring of appreciation from the units was an amazing experience. At the same time, scaling an artisan boutique product and dealing with the logistics was an enormous challenge. 

Thanks to the help of many volunteers, family members of soldiers spreading the word, and amazing coincidences that can only be attributed to divine assistance, we were able to have a tangible impact quickly.

How do you ensure the quality and nutritional value of the beef jerky distributed through your campaign?

All of our vendors have years of commercial experience and are under top rabbinic supervision. Our primary vendor for the past few months is a renowned dried meat expert trained in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

The beauty of beef jerky is that it is over 97% pure beef that is dried to about ⅓ of its original volume. Being that we distribute to numerous soldiers, we receive direct feedback on what brands and flavors are preferred.

In what specific ways do you believe Beef Up Our Boys' jerky is making a difference in the lives of IDF soldiers and Zaka members serving in challenging environments like Gaza and the Northern Border?

I had a few of our coaches, who had served for months in war zones, contact me about returning to baseball coaching. But first, they wanted to share how beef jerky became a major morale booster and a welcome change from the regular army rations.

We had a soldier volunteer after spending 3 months in Gaza, where they received beef jerky almost weekly. He came to give back and share with us that his unit, stationed in an armored carrier, had miscalculated their food supplies. The soldiers were hungry and low on energy, but fortunately, one of them had several packages of beef jerky, which really saved the day. We've received reports from commanders indicating that when soldiers go on long missions on the Northern border, chewing on beef jerky helps them stay alert. These are just a few of the numerous stories we've heard.

You told me that each bag of beef jerky includes heartfelt messages and handwritten notes. Could you elaborate on the importance of these personal touches and how they contribute to the overall mission of the campaign?

The entire mission of our campaign is to assist those who are assisting us. While we are fortunate to serve as the conduit for providing this essential food source, the sentiment behind each package is even more significant. For soldiers or rescue workers undertaking challenging tasks in some of the most remote locations, often separated from their families for months on end, the arrival of Beef Jerky, as reported by logistics officers, sparks great excitement.

Each package of beef jerky may contain a note from a yeshiva student near Jerusalem, bags adorned by schoolchildren from Florida, sponsored by a family in San Diego, assembled by volunteers from England, delivered by volunteers from North Carolina, and savored by a soldier from New York serving in the reserves.

As one elite paratrooper recently expressed, “it's like having a piece of the outside world inside,” and “it's Beef in a bag,” illustrating how heartwarming it is to witness global support. Importantly, he noted that while receiving the meat is appreciated, its memory fades after a few hours. However, they cherish the meat and preserve the accompanying notes. 

Elisheva, what deeply motivates you on a personal level to dedicate your time and efforts to the work of Beef Up Our Boys? Can you share a moment or experience that has touched your heart and reinforced the importance of what you're doing for the soldiers and Zaka members?

What motivates me personally is to make people happy, helping others, and getting feedback from family members of soldiers from Israel and abroad that have reached out to help get Beef Jerky to their family members. They are concerned and reach out to us to help. They know that Beef Jerky is a hard to find and expensive commodity in Israel, and often they want to pay. The appreciation and at times tears they have when we tell them, “That we are here for them, and it is free, that you cannot put a price on kindness”. 

The sacrifice of those on the front lines and their family members is beyond comprehension, having the opportunity to touch them in a positive way and show our complete support is what this campaign is all about, and the least we can do on the homefront.

Elisheva, could you delve into what sets Beef Up Our Boys' beef jerky apart from others in terms of both the sourcing of the beef and the unique flavor profiles you offer? What considerations go into selecting the beef used in your jerky, and how do you ensure a consistently high-quality product that resonates with the soldiers and Zaka members you serve?

We adhere to the philosophy inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe: when performing a mitzvah (good deed), it should be done with utmost care and excellence. We are fortunate to collaborate with some of the finest professionals in the industry who have mastered the craft of creating beef jerky that is not only delicious and easy to chew, but also maintains its freshness for weeks to nearly a year. 

The extensive feedback we receive from soldiers allows us to refine our recipes, resulting in a product that has garnered immense popularity among servicemen. This includes those familiar with traditional beef jerky or its South African counterpart, biltong, as well as many others who have discovered and become avid fans of quality beef jerky for the first time. As zero profit and virtually zero overhead initiative the only thing that drives us is to help and be the representative of the thousands of sponsors and volunteers that make this all possible. This allows us to be solely focused on maximizing quality and impact. 

If our readers want to support your project or get in touch with you, how can they do that?

To partner with this amazing effort that helps to fuel our heroes on the front lines to do their amazing works, you can donate through causematch.com/beefupourboys and receive a charity receipt. 

You can find us on Instagram

For Comments or questions please reach out to us at beefupourboys.com 

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I hope that you have been inspired to read this Israeli Food War Story, witnessing the power of community, compassion, and resourcefulness in action. Through Beef Up Our Boys, Elisheva and Chaim Rutenberg exemplify how small acts of kindness can have a monumental impact, nourishing the bodies and spirits of those who courageously serve on the front lines. Join me in supporting their mission and spreading hope in challenging times.

Thank you as always for reading and learning alongside me. 

Am Yisrael Chai

Kenden