Mitzvah Mall 2016, Interfaith Build, Aid Syrian Refugees, Family Promise, Feed Our Hungry Neighbors, Memories and Materials, Social Action Drives
Mitzvah Mall 2016 Charities Chosen
The votes are in!
Thanks to all of the Religious School students and Tzedek Brunch participants who discussed, debated and chose charities on October 25, we have identified 10 grassroots organizations to raise funds and awareness for at Mitzvah Mall 2016 on January 31. It's not too soon to start learning about these charities, the mitzvot they represent, and the issues they are addressing. Click here for the final list.
To join Team Tzedek, or help at Mitzvah Mall, ccontact co-chairs
"Be quick in performing a minor mitzvah as much as a major one; and flee from transgression, for mitzvah goreret mitzvah, aveirah goreret aveirah, one mitzvah leads to another, and one transgression leads to another."
Pirkei Avot 4:2
Paterson Habitat for Humanity's Interfaith Build
November 5 and 6
Barnert Temple teens (16+) and adults are invited to participate in an Interfaith Build for Paterson Habitat for Humanity on either Thursday, November 5, or Friday, November 6.
We will work together volunteers from the Christian and Muslim faiths to build stronger ties with each other and our surrounding communities. Click here to see the full flyer.
Please note this is a School Holiday for most towns (Teacher's Convention). Volunteer days go from 7:45 am to 2:30 pm. No construction experience is necessary...just a desire to serve those in need.
Please notify the coordinator for this event, Rich Edelman, if you are interested in participating. E-mail Rich at edelmanr@optonline.net.
HELP MAKE A DIIFERENCE!
Hear The Call. Be The Call.
The Syrian Refugee Crisis - You Can Make A Difference.
Three things we can do:
1. Go to the HIAS (formerly called the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) website (HIAS.org - look for the "Global Refugee Crisis - How You Can Help"):
- Sign the online petition to President Obama: "Commit to resettling in the United States 100,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, allowing more individuals and families to start new lives in safety and freedom." - Call your Senator, House of Representative Members using the HIAS script requesting support for the increase in refugee funding and legislation to improve the lives of refugees.
HIAS - the only Jewish organization whose mission is to assist refugees - whomever they are and wherever they are, through action and advocacy. HIAS.org
IsraAID - is a humanitarian aid agency helping people all over the world and providing millions with vital support for over a decade. http://www.israaid.co.il/
Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief (JCDR) - brings together the experience, expertise, and resources of North American Jewish organizations that seek to assist victims of natural or man-made disasters outside of North America on a non-sectarian basis. http://www.jdc.org/jcdr/
Join the Family Promise Day Shelter Volunteer Team for November 8 and December 13
Each month we send out an E-mail looking for volunteers to sign up for a 2 to 3 hour shift on the second Sunday of the month.
No long-term commitment needed. It's a great family-service opportunity: kids are welcome and many have used this for their Mitzvah Project. Your role is to just be a presence at the shelter while the regular weekly staff is not working. There are typically 2 to 4 families in the program. You may play with the children there, read a story or just chat with the parents. It is an important and rewarding service that enables working homeless families to have a "home base" where they can spend the day.
Contact Temple member Donna Meyer at (201) 681-7044 or meymail@me.com for more information or to join the monthly list.
Feed Our Hungry Neighbors
As school starts, can you imagine if you were a Bergen County parent who could not afford to feed your hungry children? Many of your neighbors will turn to the Center for Food Action in order to put food on their tables.
You can make a difference! Food donations are accepted at Barnert Temple, and financial donations can be made to The Center for Food Action by clicking here.
The Center for Food Action purchases many of the basics that go into emergency food packages - things like peanut butter, soup, pasta and fresh items such as eggs and vegetables - because food donations are just not keeping pace with the need.
The thought of having a child or a senior citizen or anyone in our area going hungry is unacceptable. Your help is urgently needed to make sure that this doesn't happen. Your gift will help ensure that local families will be able to put food on their tables this summer.
DONATE today. Send a check payable to Center for Food Action to:
Center for Food Action
192 West Demarest Avenue
Englewood, New Jersey 07631
Social Action Drives
We are Always Collecting Food: Check out the On-Line Option for Donating Food!
Local food pantries are struggling to meet demand. We're always collecting food in the Atrium, but now you may also donate food through the click of a button. Click here for our Barnert Temple Food Drive webpage at yougivegoods.com. It's simple! Select the food you would like to donate and pay on-line. All purchases will be delivered to the Center for Food Action in Mahwah.
Winter Coats and Jackets : We are still collecting for children and adults. Please donate new or gently used coats and jackets today! They will be donated to the Paterson community through CUMAC (Center of United Methodist Aid), a 2009 Mitzvah Mall Charity.
New Toiletries, Cosmetic Bags, Toiletry Bags: Center for Hope and Safety (formerly Shelter Our Sisters, a 2002 Mitzvah Mall Charity) still need items. Full sizes or the small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion and bars of soap from hotels are great! New cosmetic bags and toiletry bags are needed as well!
Please drop off your contributions in the baskets in the Atrium.
Contribute to the Mitzvah Mall Archives:
Share Memories and Materials So Others May Benefit From Our Experience
Team Tzedek is collecting all photos, memories, agendas and handouts from past Mitzvah Malls to use for a Power Point we will be creating to share with Temples and other organizations that would like to create similar programs. If you have anything you would like to share, please send it to Mitzvah Mall Archivist Florette Lynn at faygel@optonline.net.
We are Always Collecting Food:
Winter Coats and Jackets :
Team Tzedek is collecting 