Gerrard Berman Day School, Solomon Schechter of North Jersey |
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Mitzvah Wars at Gerrard Berman Day School Conclude Peacefully, Contribute to Tikkun Olam
By Morris Eidelsberg, Yad Sarah Volunteer Harvey Jaffe is a man on a mission. Feeling that children hugely benefit from acts of good deeds, Harvey seeks to introduce children to the world of Chesed - helping out of fellow human beings. So during the last school year, he volunteered at Gerrard Berman Day School, Solomon Schechter of North Jersey, working with the 7th and 8th grade to teach the principles of Tzedakah and G’milut Chasidim. Each student was expected to fulfill a certain number of Chesed hours, and when Harvey started, they were far from accomplishing their goals. The project began with each student researching a different organization and presenting it to his or her grade. Merits of each organization were discussed, followed by a vote to see for which cause they would collect Tzedakah. Wouldn't you know it; both the 7th and 8th grades independently voted for Yad Sarah. And then the Mitzvah Wars began – aptly named by the students- to see which grade would raise the most money. A bagel party was to be the prize for the winning team. Expectations for the Mitzvah Wars were not particularly high. "Everyone thought the program would be a huge success if we were able to motivate students and raise a few hundred dollars," noted Harvey. "I set a lofty goal of raising $1, The 7th grade led a Tee Shirt Sale, with clothing donated by a parent in the printing business. They also ran created a Video-thon, with middle and lower school students competing against peers during recess at a donation fee of $6 for 6 minutes of gaming. Elaborating on the video theme, they arrange for a screening of Yad Sarah's film, to educate the student body about the beneficiary of their charity skirmishes. The 8th grade solicited prizes for a raffle, shamelessly approaching all who entered the school, begging them to purchase multiple raffles. They supplemented their Tzedakah income by holding a bake sale from baked goods donated by local proprietors. Teachers were amazed by the enthusiasm of the children and how motivated they became when given an opportunity to help create a better world. Watching these children transform from disinterested kids to Chesed warriors was an experience Harvey will always cherish. "These kids incredibly managed to exceed my high hopes, raising a grand total of $1655.31," said Harvey, beaming with pride. The Tzedakah monies were used to purchase 7 children's wheelchairs, to be loaned free of charge across Israel. As to the winning grade- well, it was pretty close, but this time the 8th grade won out. But wait till next year. [photo: 8th grade students Yuval Millet and Joshua Golubovsky sell a Mitzvah War raffle ticket] |
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Hannah and Chloe, the Jewish Free School, and Yad Sarah’s Special Children |
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Hannah Nathan and Chloe Rich are two very special young ladies. They and their families are close friends of Michael, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Whenever Michael visits Israel, Yad Sarah arranges that all the medical rehab equipment he needs and our transport services are ready and waiting for him. Michael constantly praised Yad Sarah's services. Further all the moneys he received for his 40th birthday he donated to Yad Sarah to pay for 9 emergency alarm systems that were installed in the homes of elderly people. Instant help at the touch of a bracelet button!
Hannah, year 9, and Chloe, year 8, students of Jewish Free School, Kenton, London, were very impressed with Yad Sarah’s health and welfare support services for handicapped and/or sick Israelis and visitors to Israel. They checked our website and decided that we were the cause for them!
They devised and organized a hugely successful High School Musical party at Barnet and District Synagogue, New Barnet, for some 40 young pupils (ages 7 – 10). Each child performed a song or dance in a talent show and then watched the High School Musical movie. Hannah and Chloe’s mothers organized the food for the event. (Thank you Mums) The girls organized and obtained gifts for a raffle and decorated the Synagogue Hall.
Hannah and Chloe raised a considerable donation for more special games and toys for Yad Sarah’s Play Centre and Toy Library for Children with Special Needs at Yad Sarah House, Jerusalem.
Some 85 JFS pupils, including Hannah, recently visited Yad Sarah House Jerusalem. They saw the Play Centre and other of the organization’s many services in action. They volunteered to clean wheelchairs and were a huge help. A great time was had by all!
All our volunteer guides and everyone who met the JFS students were very impressed with their caring concern for others and their enthusiastic interest in everything they saw. We look forward to many more visits from JFS students. Well done the Jewish Free School!
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South Area Solomon Schechter Day School, Massachusetts |
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At South Area Solomon Schechter Day School in Massachusetts, Marilyn Sandperl's fourth grade class worked on multiple projects to raise money for Yad Sarah.
They made a variety of beaded jewelry (necklaces, bracelets and earrings), decorated t-shirts with fabric paint and sold their own artwork. They earned additional money taking care of younger children and doing extra chores around the house, and one student even sold his baseball card collection. "I was so impressed by their passion," said Ms. Sandperl.
Their efforts resulted in an extraordinary $772. At the request of the students, the money will be used to purchase a wheelchair, as well as new supplies for the Toy Library at Yad Sarah's Play Center for Children with Special Needs. The class has asked that the remaining $250 be used wherever Yad Sarah needs it most.
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Donna Klein Jewish Academy |
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Parents and teachers at Donna Klein have effectively paired the joy of doing a mitzvah with a love of reading, motivating their young students to learn and excel. Ms. Hoppenstein, along with fellow moms Dara Salama and Tanya Miller, fused these two elemental philosophies to create a project for their first graders: the students would hold a read-a-thon, raising money to send to Yad Sarah. Ms. Hoppenstein was the catalyst for the project. “We wanted to combine the reward of doing a mitzvah with the joy of doing a mitzvah,” she explained. “We’re always looking for ways to get the children to want to read more, especially in first grade.” After presenting the idea to the lower school principal, she and Ms. Salama got the ball rolling with a letter to the other parents, outlining the project and suggesting a goal they found particularly appropriate—purchasing equipment for children in Israel. “Since this was our first year, we asked people for a minimum of $1 per book. Parents were encouraged to ask other people to help.” The parents put together a chart to keep track of the kids’ progress. “Every time they read a book they put a star on the chart. The groups total up their sum and we plot it on a master chart in the hallway.” They gave the children bookmarks and magnets that announced: “I’m a Star Reader for Yad Sarah.”
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Yeshiva of Flatbush - Nursery class |
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It's usually a challenge to teach preschoolers how to share with and care about their own friends and family members. But Susan Rosenzweig, principal of the early childhood program at the Yeshivah of Flatbush, decided to teach her students about tzedakah at the next level, assisting total strangers. Under her guidance, the Nursery 1 class launched a tzedakah campaign on behalf of Yad Sarah in Israel. The children raised enough money to purchase a new child's wheelchair that Yad Sarah will be able to loan to a child in need. Thank you so much to Nursery 1, for your kind efforts.
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Cheder Class 1 Boreham Wood and Elstree Synagogue, Herts, England |
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You can’t start too young! The pupils of Cheder Class 1 Boreham Wood and Elstree Synagogue, Herts, England were determined to ensure that they would do all they could to help disadvantaged children who attend the Yad Sarah Toy Library and Enrichment Centre for Special Children in Jerusalem. They collected funding this year to pay for lots and lots of toys to help stock the Toy Library. A very big “thank you” to their teacher,Mrs. Ilana de Wolff, and to Emily, Joey, Jack, Georgia, Toby, Harry, Zachary, Ellie, Natalie, Roni, Dana, Louis, Sam, Daniel, Jared, Jessica, Ella, Warren, Sal, Natasha and Zoe from Yad Sarah’s special children. In addition to the Jerusalem Centre Yad Sarah operates a mobile Toy Library and Enrichment Centre to reach out to special children living in isolated areas in Israel.
Picture: From the children of Cheder Class one to Yad Sarah's special children |
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Columbus Fourth Graders Chip in to Yad Sarah |
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Fourth grade students of the Samuel M. Melton Religious School of Congregation Tifereth Israel, Columbus, Ohio, sent Tzedakah monies to Yad Sarah with Rabbi Harold J. Berman on his recent Israel trip. A class letter including each student’s personal wishes for the use of the Tzedakah accompanied the donation.
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