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Mitzvah Day Registration Is Open! Many Ways to Get Involved in Our Day of Service and Community

02/23/2023 04:47:05 PM

Feb23

Often, we refer to a mitzvah as a “good deed,” but mitzvot (plural) literally translated means “commandments,” the deeds that Jewish people are required to do. The idea of mitzvot puts the emphasis on action: not just positive thoughts or wishes, but conscious acts of empathy and kindness. 

A duty to action, g’milut chasadim (acts of lovingkindness), and tikkun olam (repairing the world) as we strive to be menches (good or righteous people)—that is what Mitzvah Day is all about. We’ll spend the day getting to know each other better across generations as we work together for the greater good of the Madison community and the world. Acts of g’milut chasadim are central to Judaism. We should do g’milut chasadim without anticipation of receiving something in return. 

Picture yourself knitting at Café Panim or painting the walls at Just Bakery. Imagine writing letters to veterans or soldiers or to children in Israel. Maybe you can see yourself cooking at the Ronald McDonald House, cleaning up the shore of Lake Wingra, or providing manicures and visiting with seniors at Capitol Lakes. These are a few examples of projects you can register for. Registration is first come, first served, so please register early and let Aleeza know if your plans change.

One of the most basic mitzvot is tzedakah (charity), or giving to those in need. In the Torah, God tells the children of Israel that giving to the needy is akin to giving directly to God. In the weeks leading up to Mitzvah Day, you will have a chance to participate in a collection drive for diapers, toiletries, food, school supplies, and yarn. Some of these items will be used in projects, such as the school supplies in refugee kids’ welcome bags, or they will be donated directly to partner organizations such as the Mt. Zion Food Pantry or Village Diaper Bank. We’re also doing a friendly competition among our Religious School grades to help collect some of these items. Learn more on what we’re collecting and join us in doing this mitzvah together.

Several Mitzvah Day projects will help repair our physical world, while others will emphasize social relationships and inclusion. We will participate in outdoor cleanups and gardening, make blankets for kids in hospitals, cook meals to be distributed by the Catholic Multicultural Center, help organize the GSAFE offices, and more. These are all fantastic projects that rejuvenate our physical environment or make connections with people who may feel isolated or in need of human contact.

The biggest mitzvah of all is to save a human life. To save one life is as if you’ve saved the world. Be The Match will be available on Mitzvah Day to help those ages 18–35 swab their cheeks and be added to a registry that is searched when an individual needs a life-saving stem cell transplant. Get swabbed in the morning during Religious School/Café Panim or in the late afternoon at our Social Justice Fair. Even if you are not 18–40, there are two ways you can help with this. First, sign up as one of the volunteers to help register people during Mitzvah Day (training provided). Second, share this important opportunity with others and have come to Temple anytime from 3:00 to 5:30 pm, when this opportunity is open to the public. Please help spread the word. 

Our Social Justice Fair from 3:00 to 5:30 pm is open to the public, so please invite your friends to come and support the nonprofit organizations selling their products in the Weinstein Community Court, including ArtWorking (artworking.org), Just Bakery (justdane.org), and Porchlight Products (porchlight.org). For details please visit our Social Justice Fair page. As you finish your afternoon projects please come stop by the Social Justice Fair, then join us for dinner.

Thanks to our Youth Education Committee for coordinating lunch for our Religious School families, with pasta and sandwiches donated by Adamah and Great Dane. Students are encouraged to write a letter to students at our sister congregations in Israel during lunch as well.

We’ll end our day of service together in community in the Swarsensky Social Hall for dinner. We’ll reflect on the day, share meaningful moments, and schmooze with friends over pizza donated by Rocky Rococo. Thanks to TBE Sisterhood for helping with dinner. 

Please see the TBE calendar for full project details and registration. Questions? Contact Aleeza A. Hoffert, program coordinator, at engage@tbemadison.org or 608-238-3123, or one of our Mitzvah Day chairs: Lynn Renner, Linda Reivitz, and Staci Rieder.

April 23, 2024 15 Nisan 5784