Areyvut Archives
Make a Difference Day 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
Make a Difference Day Educational Resources
Action for Post-Soviet Jewry - Waltham, MA
The Adopt-a-Bubbe or Zayde program provides food, medicine, clothing, eyeglasses, hearing aids and much more to over 1,500 pensioners in eastern Ukraine. Action for Post-Soviet Jewry encourages people to write to their pensioners and their Adopt-a-Bubbe coordinators, who live in around 20 smaller cities and a dozen or more villages. There is also a Bar/Bat Mitzvah "Twinning" program where youngsters in the United States can write to their counterparts who attend Jewish Day Schools in three cities in Ukraine. They share experiences and learn about growing up Jewish in a different part of the world. These programs are run on an on going basis.
Action for Post-Soviet Jewry - Waltham, MA
The Adopt-a-Bubbe or Zayde program provides food, medicine, clothing, eyeglasses, hearing aids and much more to over 1,500 pensioners in eastern Ukraine. Action for Post-Soviet Jewry encourages people to write to their pensioners and their Adopt-a-Bubbe coordinators, who live in around 20 smaller cities and a dozen or more villages. There is also a Bar/Bat Mitzvah "Twinning" program where youngsters in the United States can write to their counterparts who attend Jewish Day Schools in three cities in Ukraine. They share experiences and learn about growing up Jewish in a different part of the world. These programs are run on an on going basis.
Ahavat Achim - Fair Lawn, NJ
Individuals donated and packed Kosher for Pesach items which were then distributed to needy families through Tomchei Shabbos.
Bears from Bergenfield - Bergenfield, NJ
People of all ages were asked to go digging in the back corners of their closets and finding one stuffed toy or animal that has been forgotten. All toys were donated to a group called the "Fund for Forgotten People" to exhibit that we stand with the populations that seemed to have been "forgotten" by the general population in Israel.
Beth Emet - Evanston, IL
It was that time of year again to fulfill the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh. When you donate blood, you save three lives. The Beth Emet Social Action Committee, along with LifeSource, held their annual Blood Drive.
Bronx Jewish Community Council - Bronx, NY
Volunteers helped transfer Passover packages from Co-Op City to Ampark and delivered them to isolated, homebound or needy households.
Bureau of Jewish Education - Irvine, CA
Individuals took part in week long activities about how to make a difference and save the world.
Congregation Adath Jeshurun - Louisville, KY
Congregants helped collect food for the local JFVS food pantry, both chametz and Passover foods, as well as money that JFVS used to purchase grocery gift cards. Children brought gently used stuffed toys which sixth grade students delivered to the local Jewish nursing home. The stuffed animals were used as pillows for the Seders and kept as mementos afterward.
Early Childhood Centers of the JCC of Chicago - Chicago, IL
Each early childhood school of the JCC of Chicago adopted at least one financially challenged Jewish Family that was unable to buy their own Kosher for Passover food. Each school was provided with a general list of Kosher for Passover non- perishable foods for their family.
Hebrew Institute of Riverdale - Riverdale, NY
As part of "Make a Difference" Day and as part of their on going food drive, the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale is requested their members bring a canned food item to services on Friday night, March 23rd. The food was donated to City Harvest and delivered to those in need.
Hebrew Union College - Los Angeles, CA
Throughout the month of March, students at Hebrew Union College participated in March Madness. However, in this basketball pool, rather than keeping the money, the winner got to decide where the money was donated. The entire community had fun, while making a difference in the lives of others.
Herzl/RMHA Upper School - Denver, CO
The eighth grade students of Herzl/RMHA Upper School at the Denver Campus for Jewish Education chose to raise student and community awareness to the fact that not all children/students enjoy basic rights and needs such as freedom, shelter, home safety, national security, schooling, education, clothing, three meals a day and rich cultural experiences.
Hillel of Northern New Jersey & Teen Connections - Rockleigh, NJ
Volunteers visited and entertained the residents at the Jewish Home for the Elderly at Rockleigh.
Jewish Community of Greater Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
The Jewish community came together before Passover to gather chametz (food prohibited during Passover) for the hungry. The food was distributed to the Mitzvah Food Pantry for use after Passover or to other food pantries or shelters to help the hungry and the homeless.
Jewish Community Services of South Florida - North Miami, FL
JCS volunteers distributed of Passover food to Jewish elderly in the community. The nutritious food baskets included fruit, matzah, macaroons and other treats for the recipients.
Jewish Family & Children's Service of North Jersey - Fair Lawn and Wayne, NJ
Volunteers visited home bound seniors living in the community.
Jewish Family Service of Bergen County - Teaneck, NJ
The Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) program, operated by Jewish Family Service of Bergen County, has been serving the community for over 26 years. The goal of the program is to provide a daily meal, hot or frozen, to elderly shut-ins and to keep them in their own homes for as long as possible.
Jewish Volunteer Connection - Pikesville, MD
Israeli teens from Ashkelon brought smiles and fun to the clients at the Pikesville Senior Adult Day Center.
Judea Reform Congregation - Durham, NC
1. Soup-Making for Urban Ministries: Urban Ministries of Durham held a fundraiser and enlisted the aid of local congregations to provide large quantities of soup for it. Congregants came together to help prepare and cook vegetable soup and transport it to Urban Ministries.
2. Trash Cleanup at West Point on the Eno: Eno River State Park needs help cleaning up trash! About 20 participants traveled to West Point on the Eno to clean up refuse.
3. Sign-Making for Durham Crop Walk: Durham Crop Walk, relied on Judea Reform Congregation to produce signs for the Crop Walk!
4. Seeds of Durham: Seeds of Durham, an organization that seeks to build community by engaging in community agriculture, provided mitzvah projects for about 15 ? 20 participants in its community garden.
5. Congregants also be collected specific school supplies for UNICEF?s School in a Box project, and prepared letters to the President addressing the continuing genocide in Darfur.
Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago - Lincolnwood, IL
5,000 Pesach food packages were delivered to needy Jewish families. It is estimated that roughly 12,000 needy people will benefit from these deliveries helping them observe Passover in a traditional and dignified manner.
Martin J. Gottlieb Day School - Jacksonville, FL
1. In September and October, students were trained with Hospice and now visit Hospice patients every Friday.
2. Books were collected from the entire student body and a project was organized by a child as his Bar Mitzvah project. The student sorted through the books to make sure they were in reasonable condition and appropriate reading material. The 7th grade students delivered the books to the elementary school so students would be able to have "home libraries."
3. Students shopped for basic Passover supplies. The list was supplied by Jewish Family and Community Services after a survey they conducted. The students assembled the food packages delivered the packages to the 79 Jewish residents.
4. A drive was conducted in the school to provide underwear for the needy children of Jacksonville. Students in our 5th grade learned of the need for underwear in low income families. They learned about programs available to collect new or damaged clothing and pass those on to those in need. The students donated the underwear they collected to Dignity UWear.
Mitzvah Clown - New Brunswick, NJ
Individuals dressed up as clowns, made balloon animals and visited the sick to cheer them up and entertain them.
NFTY-NAR - New York, NY
Volunteers took part in a full day of hands on community service.
Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore - Plandome, NY
Our teen group traveled into New York City to participate in Dorot's holiday package delivery program that connects teens with seniors.
Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union - Cranford, NJ
Students collected toiletry items including: soaps, shampoo, tissues, gum, lotions, tooth brushes, toothpaste and other related items. The children packed baskets for people in need.
Table to Table - Israel
Individuals, families and groups volunteered to pick fruits and vegetables that farmers have decided not to harvest. Table to Table distributed all the produce to over 80 organizations serving people in need of food.
Temple Beth Israel - Pomona, CA
The synagogue requested that people sign up for an activity and help make a difference in the community!
Temple Beth Torah - Fremont, CA
Tiyul Teva, which means Nature Trip, is a camping experience that culminates the year and focuses on Jewish environmental ethics. It included a communal celebration of Shabbat in a natural setting and community building with a ropes course, text study, socializing and a group mitzvah activity.
Women of Reform Judaism District One Biennial
Rosanne Selfon presented how a resolution gets to be a resolution; training tips for effective social action. Guest speaker Abigail S. Fisher, Ph.D discussed "Performing the mitzvah of Pikuach Nefesh by supporting advances in medical research: The basics of stem cells."
Yeshiva University Running Club - New York, NY
The Yeshiva University Running Club hosted a 5k Run/Walk for Israel. All proceeds went to OneFamily Fund, which supports victims of terror attacks in Israel.
Yeshivat Noam - Paramus, NJ
Each week a different class went to visit senior citizens at the Dellridge Care Center. They played games, did art projects and sang songs together.
Young Leadership Division - Oakland, CA
The Young Leadership Division hosted "Mitzvah Day" at St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County. They prepared and served food to local homeless and low-income women, men and children.