Thank you so much for supporting Mitzvah Day at Temple Aliyah - May 5, 2013
Check out photos from Mitzvah Day 2013 and add your own!
Recap of Mitzvah Day 2013.
You could have signed up online to select the activities you preferred to participate in or joined us
at 9am on May 5th for registration, refreshments and a short welcome
from Rabbi Gordon and Fredie Kaye. Even if you were unable to
participate, you could have donated materials needed for these projects.
“He who loves mitzvot is not sated with mitzvot”
Devarim Rabbah, 2:23
On Sunday, May 5th at 9:00 a.m., the Temple held its tenth Mitzvah Day program at Temple Aliyah. As in previous years, close to 200 temple members participated in Mitzvah Day! We welcomed everyone -- families, individuals, students, teens, and seniors – to join in this congregation-wide day of service. We can make a difference in our community by sharing in acts of caring, by touching others and by enriching our own lives. Experience what it feels like to do, to act, to reach out to someone else.
Judy Lee, Social Action Committee Co-chair
David Harris, Social Action Committee Co-chair
Mitzvah Day 2013 Projects
Alzheimer’s Memory Scrapbooks
Location: Temple Aliyah Kehilah Room at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Fredie Kay
Join with other congregants at Temple Aliyah to make “memory scrapbooks” for Alzheimer’s patients who are at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center of Boston, MA. Volunteers can choose among many topics for their memory book theme such as sports, flowers, food, children, pets, and many more. Bring old magazines to cut out pictures of your chosen theme. Some magazines will be provided, but more are always helpful! This is a great family activity for parents to do with children 5 and over, for adults, or for pre-teens or teens to do with friends. (Ages 5+)
Cook for Bristol Lodge
Location: Temple Aliyah Kitchen at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Ron Furman
Join us in the Temple kitchen from 9:30 to 11 am as we prepare dinner for clients at Bristol Lodge, a soup kitchen in Waltham that serves meals daily. (Ages 7+) LIMITED TO 15 PEOPLE
Sort toys at Cradles to Crayons
Location: Cradles to Crayons, 155 North Beacon Street Brighton at 10:00 a.m. Project Leader: Marla Simon
Categorize toys and clothing at the Cradles to Crayons warehouse. Items are later distributed to children in the community. Founded in 2002, Cradles to Crayons is an innovative nonprofit organization that provides disadvantaged children with essential items that all kids need in order to flourish. This is a great family project and participants may bring new art supplies and/or gently used toys. (Ages 5+) LIMITED TO 15 PEOPLE
Knit Blankets for Children in the Ukraine
Location: Temple Aliyah classrooms at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Carol Pankin
Learn how to knit your way to acts of loving kindness: Knit shawls for Temple Aliyah members who are ill to show support and speed their recovery. (Ages 8+) LIMITED TO 10.
Bake with Residents of Charles River Industries
Location: Charles River Industries, 59 East Militia Heights Drive, Needham at 10 a.m. to 12. Project Leader: Candice Sullivan
Help wonderful people with special needs enjoy community connections. Bake dog biscuits for a local animal shelter and eat pizza with a group of developmentally challenged adults (ages 22 and up) who live in group homes operated by Charles River Industries. (All ages)
Avery Crossing Nursing Home Concert
Location: Temple Aliyah Social Hall to rehearse from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a visit to Avery Crossings Nursing Home to perform from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Project Leaders: Corine Milgram
Meet at Temple Aliyah and join Corine Milgram as she leads a group of young children and adults in learning or relearning old favorite tunes. After a short rehearsal at the Temple, head out to Avery Crossings Nursing Home for a morning of songs and visiting with the residents. (This activity is good for anyone who enjoys singing, including parents and children of any age. Young children especially welcome!)
Needham Community Farm
Location: Gather together at the Temple at 9:00 a.m. or meet at the Nike site at the end of Pine Street, Needham at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Vicki Levy Krupp
Roll up your sleeves and get dirty as you help prepare this educational Needham Community Farm for the planting season. Possible activities include weeding, planting and moving compost. Please bring gloves. (Ages 10+) LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE
Walker School Bingo
Location: Meet at the Walker School, 1968 Central Ave. from 2:00 pm to 3:30 p.m. Project Leader: Marty Lipman
Meet at The Walker School, a residential home for children ages 6-12, for a fun game of bingo. (Adults and Teens only please) LIMITED TO 15 PEOPLE
Decorating Pots for Bristol Lodge
Location: Temple Aliyah classrooms at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Judy Lee
Brighten the dining room of Bristol Lodge by decorating flower pots for the shelter’s tables. These pots will be delivered by other volunteers in the afternoon when they set up to provide dinner to homeless people. This is a great project for families with young children. Come dressed and ready to paint and plant! LIMITED TO 30 PEOPLE
Deliver Food and Flower Pots to Bristol Lodge
Location: Bristol Lodge, 545 Moody Street, Waltham, MA. Meet at Temple Aliyah at 2pm to bring the food and flowerpots to the shelter. Project Leader: Judy Lee
Visit Bristol Lodge from 2:30-4 to serve snacks and set up for dinner at this homeless shelter in Waltham that serves 60-110 people every night. Driving directions will be provided and carpools arranged if desired. (Ages 5+) LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE
Welcome Baby Bags
Location: Temple Aliyah classrooms at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Jodi Abbott
Join kids and adults in this activity where we will put together bags with new baby supplies for women living in reduced circumstances. The bags will be distributed to new mothers residing at Boston area shelters served by Circle of Hope, a nonprofit organization in Needham dedicated to serving families in need. Help us create gifts for the littlest members of our community—every baby deserves a big welcome. NEW supplies for baby bags are welcome but not necessary: small baby bottles; refillable packages of baby wipes; newborn and 3-6 month onesies; diaper cream; baby socks; baby blankets (crib and receiving size); sweater and hat sets. New Infant and Toddler books (All ages)
Circle of Hope Extreme Makeover
Location: Meet at Circle of Hope. Time to be determined. Project Leader: Hal Bryer
Men’s Club members will be redesigning the drop off room (the kitchen) and improving the lighting. Circle of Hope is a nonprofit organization in Needham that collects donations of new and used clothing and distributes them to individuals and families in Boston-area shelters. This project culminates months of planning and measuring at COH to “makeover” their sorting room. ALREADY FILLED
Walk for Hunger from Newton to Watertown
Location: Newton Center in front of Peet's Coffee, 776 Beacon Street at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: David Harris
Join in for the 4 mile section of the 20 mile Walk for Hunger from Newton Center to the Arsenal Park Snack Shop. This downhill section ends at the huge mid-station where there is free food, music and other entertainment. From there you can take a free bus to the Boston Common and the D line right back to Newton Center. Register to join the Temple Aliyah team or just support the team with a donation. Donations and fundraising are not required however the team hopes to raise over $5,000 for this program that provides 65 million meals for hungry families in Massachusetts each year.
Decorate and Fill Bags of Toiletries for Jewish Patients Visiting Boston for Treatment
Location: Temple Aliyah classrooms at 9:30 a.m. Project Leader: Hinda Eisen
Rofeh International provides housing, support and services for sick Jewish patients and their families visiting Boston for treatment. Rofeh operates a number of apartments in Brookline and taps volunteers (through an email list) to provide services such as transportation, providing meals, running errands and providing companionship. The decorated bags of toiletries you make will help patients feel welcome when they arrive and provide much needed supplies. (All ages)
Tour and help organize the Needham Community Council
Location: Meet at the Needham Community Council, 570 Hillside Avenue, Needham from 10 a.m. - 12. Project Leaders: Lisa and Craig Newfield
The Needham Community Council is a private non-profit organization which supports people in Needham who have under-met health, educational or social needs and promotes volunteerism, community and a sense of shared responsibility. Take a tour of the new facility, help sort clothing for the Thrift Store, and organize the Food Pantry. (Ages 13+) LIMITED TO 10.
Sign up online now to select the activities you would prefer to participate in.