Mitzvah Day 2006

"It is within our power to mirror God's unending love in deeds of kindness…"

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

PICTURES:
Kids of all ages helped to make this a GREAT Mitzvah Day










The co-chairs, Joyce, Margie and Al

Dear Congregation:

Mitzvah Day is March 5, and it's our special day devoted to doing deeds of kindness together as a congregation.

What is needed for Mitzvah Day? Click Here!

Mitzvah Day 2006 at BSKI is once again is devoted to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), with great hands-on, social action projects for people of all ages.

You'll have a chance to write a letter to a soldier who is far from home in a war zone or you can paint and plant a flowerpot for a person in a nursing home.

You can bring in clothing for an elderly person with mental retardation, or bring in cans of food for hungry families who don't have enough money for food. A child from a low-income family will be able to benefit from the children's books you donate. And there are lots more ways to participate.

Please read about the opportunities for showing you care in the list below. Most projects will be completed from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. in the auditorium at BSKI.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 1. Bring in an item of non-perishable food or any type of toiletry for the Jewish Food Pantry and you will receive free lunch!

Shaare Shalom Religious School children will play a special role. They will have classroom presentations on different Tzdakah causes – and they'll be assigned to work on the projects. Parents and other adults: we hope that many of you also will take part in Mitzvah Day projects and help make this day a success.

So, for the betterment of the community, come and join us!

It's inspirational, rewarding – and fun. We'll also be fulfilling our mission as Jews to do deeds of kindness -- as cited in the words above by the great Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Even if you can't come in person on Mitzvah Day, please help us collect the items needed for our projects.

Shaare Shalom families should bring all donations to the Religious School office. Other boxes will be set up for the rest of the congregation in the downstairs and upstairs cloak rooms.

Donations are needed as soon as possible. If you have questions, call Joyce 993-1328 or the office at 725-6230.

In addition, we welcome your tax deductible cash contributions to purchase other items needed for these Mitzvah Day projects.

Thank you in advance. We know with your help we'll get the job done!

Al and Joyce Weltman and Margie Gillerman,
Mitzvah Day 2006 co-chairs

MITZVAH DAY PROJECTS AND ITEMS NEEDED

BACKPACKS

We will fill backpacks for children and contribute them to the Na'amat USA St. Louis Council's Project Backpack. The backpacks go to police and social service agencies in St. Louis City and County for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or domestic violence. A backpack filled with age and gender appropriate items will bring smiles to the children's faces and help make the transition from crisis situations to foster homes more tolerable.

Needed: Items listed below for boys and girls ages 5-11. All items must be NEW.

Toiletries & hair care: combs, brushes, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, anti-bacterial soap, wash cloths, lotion, barrettes, hair bows

Clothing: socks, hats, T-shirts

School supplies: pens, pencils, hi-lighters, notebooks, markers, crayons

Comfort items: small stuffed animals, color and activity books, flashlights, batteries, transistor radios

Misc: Water bottles, key chains

CLOTHING COLLECTION

One-third of the clients of St. Louis Developmental Disabilities Treatment Centers are wards of the state. They have a very small clothing allowance and are always in need. They could use some new clothes and would be grateful for the gifts.

Needed: New and gently used clothing for adults and children.

CRAFT KITS

We will put together craft kits and take them to Kid's Place, an after-school program at University United Methodist Church serving low-income elementary school children. Our Social Action committee works with Kids Place; and our Bill Solomon is on the board. The children at Kids Place then will use these kits to make albums for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), who work with children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

Needed: Magazines and greeting cards with pictures of animals, birds, & flowers; 5" x 8" white or colored index cards, stickers, stick-on letters, yarn, ribbon, rick-rack, white glue, crayons, colored markers, glitter, gel pens, beads, stencils, foam art.

GIFTS BAGS FOR ANIMALS

We will sort and pack donated items into "treat bags" for dogs and cats at the Animal Protective Association. The APA shelters lost, unwanted and abandoned animals and finds homes for them.

Needed: Dog and cat food and treats, new toys, new and gently used dog collars, leashes

Plus following items to be brought on Mitzvah Day

Linens: Blankets, sheets (without elastic), towels

Cleaning consumables: bleach, glass cleaner, laundry soap, peroxide, iodine, Purell hand sanitizer

Cleaning tools: corn brooms with wooden handles, Doodle Bug scrubbers & scrub pads, dust pans, Ortho spray guns, scrub brushes, soft/scratchy side sponges, squeegees & handles

Containers: 5 gallon buckets, laundry baskets, Rubbermaid barrels, spray bottles, 40/55 gal. trash bags

Gloves: Household rubber gloves, latex/non-powder surgical gloves

Paper goods: newspaper, shredded paper

Cat litter

HAPPY HATS

We will decorate hats for seriously ill children at St. Louis Children's Hospital, such as those who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy for cancer or other medical conditions.

Needed: Fabric pens, fabric markers, little pompoms, white googly eyes, plastic jewls, ribbons

CARDS AND CHEERY NOTES

We will write notes and decorate cards to go with the flowerpots, the backpacks, and the Happy Hats.

Needed: Same as Craft Kits above

EYEGLASSES AND CASES

These usedeyeglasses and cases will be given to the Lions Club Recycle for

Sight project. These items are collected at BSKI year-round

KOSHER MEALS-ON-WHEELS

We will pack meals in trays and decorate them. This is a project of the BSKI Women's League, which will distribute the meals to families or individuals in need of food supplement assistance who have been referred by OACAP's (Older Adult Community Action Program) Kosher Meals-on Wheels program.

READY-TO-COOK FOOD PACKETS

We will measure ingredients and make up packages of bean soup mix and flavored rice mix for the Jewish Food Pantry.

POTTED PLANTS

We will paint 100 flowerpots, fill them with potting soil, and put a plant in each one for delivery to the Mary Ryder Assisted Living Facility. This is a favorite among children and adults alike.

LETTERS TO SOLDIERS

New to Mitzvah Day this year -- we will write notes and letters to Jewish soldiers serving in the US Armed Forces, mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan.

CHILDREN'S BOOK COLLECTION

We will collect new or like-new children's books of Jewish and general interest for the Karen and Bill Solomon Library at BSKI and at Kids Place. On Mitzvah Day, we'll collect books, sort the books and pack them in boxes.

Needed: New and like-new children's books of Jewish and general interest.

SILK FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS

This year for the first time, we will fill vases with attractive and colorful silk flower arrangements, which will be taken to The Cedars for the enjoyment of residents, patients and their families.

Needed: Vases, preferably some that are non-breakable

COOKIES FOR USO

Our armed forces serve in distant places without the warmth and love of home. When they return or transfer through the Lambert International Airport USO, they will find home baked cookies, made by our members under the guidance of Joyce Eisenberg. This project is also new to Mitzvah Day this year.

A SPECIAL HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT that will include our USY and Confirmation Class will be announced.

Mitzvah Day is sponsored each year by the BSKI Social Action Committee, which is involved in various mitzvah causes throughout the year. Please contact Marilyn Dien or Shimon Ben-Poorat to hear about other social Action Committee projects and how you can help.

Watch for more news about Mitzvah Day and additional projects in the coming weeks…

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