Welcome to Areyvut

	*2007 AREYVUT* “A KINDNESS A DAY” CALENDAR - FAQ's**
		*What is Areyvut?* Areyvut is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a brighter Jewish tomorrow by inculcating students and educators with the core Jewish values of chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (social justice). For information about our programs, please visit Areyvut in Action (actionintro.asp) and to learn about our services, please visit our Bnai Mitzvah Resource Center (rcenter.asp) or contact us at 201-244-6702. What is the title of the calendar? Areyvut’s Jewish Values Desk Calendar is titled “A Kindness a Day Calendar: 365 Ways to Make the World a Better Place.” What is the purpose of the calendar? The purpose of the calendar to give each reader practical suggestions of how to incorporate the values of chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (social justice) into his/her daily life. Who is the calendar geared for? The target audience for the calendar is primarily adults and students of college age and beyond, regardless of Jewish background and knowledge. Most suggestions can be easily adapted for younger students and the lesson behind the calendar is appropriate for all ages. What inspired the calendar? The “Book of Jewish Values” by renowned author and member of Areyvut’s Advisory Committee Rabbi Joseph Telushkin helped serve as an inspiration for this project. What does the calendar look like? The calendar is full color with a scenic picture on each day. On each page of the calendar, there is a quote taken from a Jewish source. There is also an action of the day. Activities are based on such ideals as chesed,tzedakah, and tikkun olam, Torah learning, teaching and character improvement. Click on the following link www.areyvut.org/Calendar/picture07.asp to see the cover and a sample week of the calendar. Who wrote the entries and developed the content? The entries, sources and content were compiled by Areyvut’s Special Projects Coordinator, Shira Hammerman and Areyvut’s Founder and Director, Daniel Rothner. How big is the calendar? The calendar is desktop and is 5.75" x 5.75". How is the calendar bound together? The calendar has a spiral binding. Instead of tearing off each day that has passed, pages can be neatly folded underneath. The pages are double sided so that half way through the year, you turn the calendar around to continue the days. How many pages does it have? It has 376 pages. What is the ISBN number? ISBN-13: 978-1-932443-49-3 ISBN-10: 1-932443-49-5 What types of activities are suggested? Suggestions cover a wide variety of topics related to social justice and charity. Some sample activities are: Let your first check of the year be to charity. Spend a few hours reading a book on values and ethics. Gather some friends together to sing at a nearby hospital or nursing home. Donate an old cell phone to help save a life. Find out about donating locks of hair to an organization that makes wigs for people with long-term medical hair loss or cancer. There is additional information and resources available on the Areyvut website to extend many of these activities. What types of sources are quoted? Quotes are taken from Biblical, Talmudic, rabbinic and modern sources that will speak to every reader. Some examples of quotes are: You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11) Whoever visits the sick, it is as if he removes part of his sickness and makes it easier on him, while one who ignores a sick person is like one who sheds blood. (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Mourning 14:4) Whoever busies himself with acts of loving-kindness, merits sitting in the shadow of G-d. (Jerusalem Talmud 4) Why do quotes accompany each entry? It is important to note that the values highlighted for each day are grounded in Judaism and have traditional sources that relate to them. For that reason, relevant quotes serve as an adjunct to each day’s entry. How do I go about following the daily entries? There is no doubt that many of the sources and activities in this calendar will speak to you on a personal level. Some, however, will need to be adapted to meet your specific needs and individual circumstances. While we hope that you will be inspired to think about chesed on a daily basis, we realize that it may be difficult to perform each suggestion on the day it appears in the calendar. A number of entries require extra planning before they can be carried out; the appendix, organized by date, is meant to help you implement those acts of kindness that can be difficult to plan. Let this calendar serve as your guide, and use its resources in a way that is comfortable and meaningful to you. Can the calendar be used in a classroom or group setting? There are many ways in which this calendar can be used as a teaching resource and as a basis for developing classroom materials. You will find close links between each Shabbat entry and the Torah/Haftarah portion of the week and holiday entries have been tailored to match the themes and customs of each celebration. In addition, the sources provided in the calendar can serve as the foundation for thematic projects. Your own creativity is the key to taking advantage of all that the calendar has to offer! Where can I obtain additional resources to use the calendar’s ideas in my classroom? Areyvut has developed “Ideas for Educators” to use the calendar as an educational tool which is available at ideas.asp. Additionally, the thematic index (themeindex.asp) is helpful when planning projects around the calendar. In what ways can this calendar be used? Gifts for friends, family, co-workers, and educators Your next fundraiser Party favors at an upcoming celebration Hospitality gifts Graduation presents Much, much more How much does the calendar cost? The calendar retails for $10.95. When ordering from Areyvut the price of the calendar depends on the amount purchased; the more you buy, the more you save! 1-5: $10.95 6-24: $10.25 25-99: $9.50 100 or more: $8.75 For larger quantities, please call the Areyvut office. Prices do not include shipping and handling. How can schools and organizations benefit from selling the calendar? Areyvut offers special pricing for day schools, synagogues and non-profits. Since there is a discounted price when you buy a large quantity of calendars, the calendar is a perfect fundraiser for your school or organization. You can charge $10-18 per calendar, but you can buy it for significantly less. If you order 25-99 calendars, your price is $8.95 per calendar. If you order 100 or more calendars, your price is $7.95 per calendar (excluding shipping and handling). If you are interested in special pricing please call us at 201-244-6702 or e-mail daniel@areyvut.org. Where can I buy the calendar? There are a number of ways to place your calendar order. Call the Areyvut office at 201-244-6702 E-mail your order to orders@areyvut.org Complete an order form (order07.pdf) and fax your order to the Areyvut office (201) 338-2427 Complete an order form and mail in your order to Areyvut, 147 South Washington Avenue, Bergenfield, NJ 07621 Purchase a calendar at your local Judaica store www.Amazon.com www.JudaicaPress.com How will I receive my calendars? Calendars are shipped via UPS Ground to anywhere in the continental United States for an additional fee. Please contact our office to arrange shipping. How can I submit my own personal feedback of the calendar? Simply send an e-mail to calendar@areyvut.org or call us at 201-244-6702 to share your calendar story with us. Where can I find out more? If you have any additional questions regarding Areyvut’s A-Kindness-A-Day Calendar, please do not hesitate to contact the Areyvut office at 201-244-6702 or via e-mail at daniel@areyvut.org.