In Judaism, the concept of doing a mitzvah, a good deed, is something that is taught to children at a very young age. This core Jewish value becomes a way of being and doing within a community. In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday, students in the Temple Beth Sholom Social Action Teen Group, ACTIV8!, with the support of the Early Childhood Center (ECC) children and their families, organized a community-wide Thanksgiving Food Drive. Students as young as 2 years old participated in collecting, sorting and packing of the food items donated. The items were then donated to local organizations – The Lend a Hand Project and the Rudman Family Food Pantry at the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center (JCC). This outreach project helps to teach children and young adults about the impact they can have on their community by doing a mitzvah and giving back.
Local families in need will have good food to eat this Thanksgiving holiday as a result of the hard work on the part of the Temple Beth Sholom Religious School and ECC students and their families. Due to COVID, students were unable to deliver the food in person this year. On Sunday, Nov. 22, Ron Jasser, president of the Lend A Hand Project, along with the organization’s Executive Director Linda Pollak, made a special visit to the Temple to pick up the food. Jasser and Pollak shared with students about the daily challenges surrounding food insecurity that many of our Long Island neighbors are facing. During this season of giving, the organizational leaders thanked the students for their contributions and efforts.
Jen Schiffer, Director, Early Childhood Center
Silvia Kogan, B’nai Mitzvah Family Coordinator
Submitted by Temple Beth Sholom, Roslyn
