M’Yad L’Yad Works TOGETHER With The Community
Temple Or Elohim Religious SchoolFor the second year in a row, the students of Temple Or Elohim Religious School in Jericho selected M’Yad L’Yad as one of their Tzedakah project charities.
In September, executive director Mark Zimmerman spoke with the students about M’Yad L’Yad (along with representatives from 7 other organizations). Each class then selected one of the charities to support, and throughout the year, the students brought in donations and learned about the meaning of tzedakah. Last month, Zimmerman returned to the school, where the students made presentations to all of the organization’s representatives. In addition to a generous donation, Mr. Nichomoff’s 6th grade students presented M’Yad L’Yad with beautiful drawings and essays on why M’Yad L’Yad deserved their support. As one student wrote so movingly, “When I get a present for my birthday or Hanukkah, I’m always so happy. We shall all take a second to think about other people who might not get this feeling ever in their lifetime. I’m proud to donate to this organization.” We thank all of the students and their families for their participation, and in particular we thank principal Jill Kaplan for including us in this meaningful religious school program.
Midway Jewish Center Religious School
The students of the Midway Jewish Center Religious School in Syosset have partnered with M’Yad L’Yad for years, demonstrating a true commitment to the giving of tzedakah. This Passover, the students donated gift cards and Passover candy, which was sent to a M’Yad L’Yad family. The family, including a mother, father, and five children ranging in age from 2 to 16, was not sure how they would be able to celebrate Passover, as the father recently lost his job. Clearly, the students of the Midway Jewish Center understand the meaning of the phrase, “All who are in need, let them come celebrate Pesach.” Because of their generosity, a Long Island family was able to truly celebrate their Passover holiday. We thank Principal Dina Hochbaum and parent Ruth Spitz for coordinating this successful drive.
Harborfields High School Honor Society
Preparation of the invitations for our Benefit Concert is a huge administrative task. The project involves stuffing, labeling, sealing and sorting thousands of invitations. This year we were pleased to be assisted by students from the Harborfields High School Honor Society. Five students, Allison Abbott, Caroline Golub, Sandy Stelmack, Summer Stanfield, and Max Deem, donated their time to assist our board members with this undertaking. Not only did they do the work, but they were a pleasure to work with. We thank them and their advisor, Mrs. Kristin Gavin, for their valuable assistance.
Stony Brook Hillel
The students at Stony Brook had barely finished collecting items at Chanukkah time to benefit a M’Yad L’Yad family, when they started again in time for Passover. The students filled a box with 25 pounds of Passover foods and other items, which were sent to a recipient family - a rabbi, his wife, and their three children. The rabbi is in ill health, and has been in and out of the hospital over the past few months. The package which the students sent greatly enhanced the Passover celebration for this family. We thank all of the students, and Rabbi David Delman, for continuing to work with us in such a meaningful way.
Young People Who Care
M’Yad L’Yad recipients have benefited from the generosity of several young people in recent weeks. Emily contacted us after she learned from her Cantor that M’Yad L’Yad offers the opportunity for bar and bat mitzvah students to participate in a Tzedakah Project, as part of the preparation for their ceremony. Emily was matched with a M’Yad L’Yad recipient, a senior couple who are in poor health, and who struggle to make ends meet on a pension and social security. Emily put together a support package for this couple and brought it to a mailing center to be shipped. The recipient sent a note to Emily saying, “Have a great future. May G-d bless you.”
We recently received a call from a mother whose son’s religious school is a M’Yad L’Yad sponsor. Her son Brian, a 4th grader, and his friend Daniel, wanted to collect used children’s sports equipment to donate to children who could not afford their own items. They did not know how much they might be able to collect, but before beginning, they wanted to be sure there was a good place to donate these items. We happily agreed, and as a result, M’Yad L’Yad children will be enjoying such items as lacrosse rackets, a skateboard, hockey sticks, golf clubs and a bicycle. What an amazing job Brian and Daniel did, spreading the word among their family, friends and neighbors, to benefit others who are less fortunate.
