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What is the connection between toothpaste, a baseball bat, a bunny rabbit, and a bnai mitzvah celebration? That was the topic of conversation when Areyvut founder and director Daniel Rothner met with the 6th grade class at the Jewish Foundation School in Staten Island, NY on January 5th. Using the Areyvut Bnai Mitzvah Essay Contest winners as examples, Daniel demonstrated to students that even the most basic object can spark a successful and meaningful bnai mitzvah tzedakah project. Toothpaste can be donated to local women's shelters, a baseball bat can be used to start a sports league for youth with special needs, and a bunny rabbit makes a perfect companion for young hospital patients.
Daniel encouraged students to think about their own interests and talents as a source of inspiration when planning social justice projects for upcoming bar and bat mitzvah celebrations. When one student noted that dance is among her favorite activities, the class brainstormed a number of ways that this interest could be channeled into a tzedakah project. Among the ideas mentioned were holding a simcha dancing class for children, hosting a dance-a-thon fundraiser, and creating a performance for a local nursing home. Students left the program feeling empowered to begin planning their own unique projects following this model.
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