|
Mitzvah Day 2008 — Sunday, May 4 “He who loves mitzvot is not sated with mitzvot” (Devarim Rabbah, 2:23) On Sunday, May 4th at 9:00 a.m., the Temple will hold its sixth annual Mitzvah Day program at Temple Aliyah. It is our responsibility, individually and communally, to leave the world better than we found it; to strive for tikkun olam, the repair of the world. Last year more than 200 temple members participated in Mitzvah Day and we are hoping to surpass that number this year! We welcome everyone—families, individuals, students, teens, and seniors—to join in this year’s 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. Please look through the enclosed list of activities. Choose one that interests you, or design your own project. Remember, space is limited for some of the projects so send in your registration form early. Projects will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis so please indicate alternative choices on your sign up form just in case your activity has been filled to capacity. Unless indicated otherwise, (i.e. some projects are meeting off-site and in the afternoon) all project participants will gather together at the Temple at 9 am on Sunday, May 4th for bagels, cream cheese and beverages and a brief program before joining with your project team. Most projects will end by noon or 1 p.m. This year we are also sponsoring a team for the Relay for Life in Needham in May 2008. If you are unable to participate on the team, please consider making a contribution. If, for some reason, you are unable to join us on Mitzvah Day 2008, you can still participate in a number of ways by dropping off items for any of our collections: food for Family Table; a used cell phone drive to benefit Kol Isha, a battered woman’s shelter and we are also seeking sponsors ($$) for the Temple Aliyah Relay for Life. However you and your family choose to participate on Mitzvah Day, we look forward to your insatiable contribution on this memorable and important day. We’ll see you on Sunday, May 4th! Don Lassman, Mitzvah Day Chair +++++++++++++ Mitzvah Day 2008 ProjectsTo sign up, please download and print out the sign-up sheet and mail it in to the Temple (no later than April 15). Project Break Walk for Hunger Walk part of the way or all 20 miles with the Temple Aliyah/Family Table team. Open to everyone; get sponsors to support you as you walk to end hunger in Massachusetts. Must sign up in advance!! Please use our enclosed form to let us know you’ll be joining our team. (More info on the Walk can be found at www.projectbread.org) +++++++++++++ Alzheimer’s Memory Scrapbooks +++++++++++++ Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Bring out your gardening gloves and roll down your sleeves as we prepare to clear out weeds and brush at the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. This Audubon sanctuary has nine miles of walking trails winding through fields, woodland and wetland habitats. Additionally, this area lends itself to fantastic opportunities for bird-watching and photography along the bank of Indian Brook. Come help clean up this space as the Mass Audubon prepares for spring and summer programming at the beautiful picturesque sanctuary. (Ages 9+: sorry, we cannot accept younger children for this program.) +++++++++++++ Cook for Tippett House and the Ronald McDonald House Join us in the Temple kitchen from 9:30 to 11 am as we prepare dinner – lasagna, salad and dessert - for residents at the Tippet House, a hospice in Needham, and the Ronald McDonald House, a home away from home in Brookline for families of children with cancer. (Ages 7+). +++++++++++++ Doll-Making for Boston Medical Center Make your own doll from scratch to be given to a child hospitalized at the Boston Medical Center. Pick the hair, design the clothing and with the help of a few sewing machines, create a doll of your own. Although it may be difficult to part with the doll you make, your doll will be treasured by a young patient at BMC. (Ages 9+) +++++++++++++ Bowling with Residents of Charles River Industries Help wonderful people with special needs enjoy a morning of bowling and socializing. Meet at Fairway Lanes on Route 9 in Natick and join a group of developmentally challenged adults (ages 22 and up) who live in group homes operated by Charles River Industries. After an hour of bowling, we’ll enjoy a snack and some socializing in the party room with the group and their staff members at the bowling alley. (All ages welcomed; best for kids Ages 6+) +++++++++++++ Senior Center/Nursing Home Concert Meet at Temple Aliyah and join Margie and Gil as they lead a group of young children and adults in learning or relearning old favorite tunes. After a short rehearsal at the Temple, head out to an area Senior Center/Nursing Home for a morning of songs and visiting with the residents. (This activity is good for parents and their children of any age, including babies.) +++++++++++++ Waltham Fields Community Farm Roll up your sleeves and get dirty as you work on this organic community farm, weeding, transplanting seedlings and performing other farming tasks. (Good for young children.) +++++++++++++Walker School Bingo Meet at The Walker School, a residential home for children for a bingo game The game will last for about 45 minutes and we will supply prizes and refreshments. Briarwood Needham Brighten the rooms for residents of local nursing homes as we decorate flower pots and plant them with flowers to give to the local nursing home residents. Great project for families with young children. +++++++++++++ Decorate a Flower Pot for the Homeless Location: Temple Aliyah at 9:00 a.m. Come and decorate a flower pot for the Long Island Homeless Shelter. Once decorated, soil and plants will be provided for planting. The flower pots will be used to decorate the tables where people eat at this large, Boston-area shelter. Open to all ages. +++++++++++++ Israel Kesher Committee -- Write Letters/Make Cards for IDF soldiers from Kiryat Bialik Location: Temple Aliyah at 9:00 a.m. Brighten the day of a young Israeli soldier by letting them know you care. Write a letter or make a card for new inductees into the IDF from our sister congregation in Kiryat Bialik. Get creative, express your appreciation and tell a little about yourself. The finished creations will be sent to Rabbi Balter who will distribute them to each soldier along with a new siddur donated by the Kesher Committee. +++++++++++++ Serve Dinner at Long Island Shelter Meet at Long Island Shelter at 4:30 pm for orientation to this large homeless shelter in Boston Harbor that serves nightly community meals. Driving directions will be provided and carpools arranged if desired. Each volunteer will serve an item from the dinner line, as well as be invited to sit with guests and receive a tour of the shelter. Adults and mature children over 10 years of age are invited. +++++++++++++ Do a Mitzvah!!! Join the Temple Aliyah Relay for Life Team! A team from Temple Aliyah will once again be participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event. It’s a time and place where people come to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against a disease that touches too many lives. During the Relay, teams gather together around the track and take turns walking laps. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track at all times. Last year, we were one of the top 6 fundraising teams and this year want to do even better!! It’s an inspiring, amazing event that will touch your heart and do so much good for others...a true mitzvah. There are many ways you can support the Temple Aliyah team! *Join our team as a participant. It's easy to sign up; just go to www.relayneedham.com and click on our team name on the right. Families, teens, adults...we want YOU to be a part of our team! Everyone who joins our team gets a cool T-shirt, a chance to raise money (and win prizes!) plus you get to walk as a member of our Temple team at a time that's convenient for you. +++++++++++++++++++++Mitzvah Day Items NeededDonation of the following items will help us reach more people through our Mitzvah Day projects. Please bring these items to the Temple on Mitzvah Day, or in the weeks before. Even if you cannot participate on May 4th, please try to bring these items to the Temple before May 4th. Special collection boxes will be placed outside the Temple office for these items. Toiletries Collection We will be collecting personal care items (shampoo, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, diapers, etc.) for distribution to the residents at Project Hope and Sandra’s Lodge. Travel size toiletries are welcome. The items collected will be delivered by the groups doing work at Project Hope and at Sandra’s Lodge. Food for Family Table As we have throughout the year, we will be collecting kosher or parve soup and boxes of graham crackers for distribution through Family Table, the Greater Boston Jewish food pantry. Please bring a donation of food to the shul to remember our Jewish brothers and sisters who need to draw on Family Table contributions for food each month. Cell phones for Kol Isha We know you’ve got some old cell phones hanging around your house. Why not put them to good use? Kol Isha, an organization that helps battered women, is collecting old cell phones of any kind! Any cell phone is welcomed! Other Ways You Can Help! Contribute to the Temple Aliyah American Cancer Society’s Walk for Life Relay. It’s easy to contribute…just go online at www.acsevents.org/relay/Maneedham and sponsor a member of our team (Temple Aliyah), or contribute to our entire team: Send a check made payable to American Cancer Society, to the temple Contribute to Temple Aliyah to help defray the costs of running this event! (Make check payable to Temple Aliyah and send back ASAP). |
