Jodi Isman and her daughter, Maddy, assemble a tactile board

One way that Keren Or involves synagogues in our work is to participate in Mitzvah Days.  Recently, Temple Emanu-El in New York City held their annual Mitzvah Day, which allowed children and adults of all ages to learn about different charitable organizations and to do something for them. 

There was a table for Keren Or where attendees could make tactile boards, special learning surfaces that can be custom-made with objects and toys of different sizes and textures.  Keren Or students cannot rely on their eyes, so they use their sense of touch to "see" the different types of objects on the board. At Temple Emanu-El, kitchen racks and simple plastic toys were available that older children and adults could assemble into boards.  Younger children could decorate stress balls and bean bags for the students.  

Many Hebrew School students and their families participated, and the adults became just as involved as the children in making the tactile boards!  After the tactile boards were put together, they were immediately boxed, labeled, and sent to Jerusalem to be used at Keren Or.   We are so grateful to all the congregants of Temple Emanu-El who made Mitzvah Day such a success.  It was truly impressive how the event engaged people of all ages, and especially children, in the true meaning of mitzvah.

If you would like to organize a Mitzvah Day at your synagogue and would like to include Keren Or, please contact Avi Smolen at avi@keren-or.org.