On Sunday, Temple Beth-El will continue its annual Mitzvah Day tradition at the temple on Route 206, where members gather to focus on activities that help others in Somerset County, as well as around the world.
The Hebrew word mitzvah means commandment, and there are a number of commandments in the Jewish tradition that instruct the Jewish people to perform acts of kindness for strangers, neighbors and the like.
”Temple Beth-El has a rich tradition of social action initiatives,” Rabbi Gluck, the community’s spiritual leader and senior rabbi, said. “We have been active in Blood Drives and the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) for many decades now.
”Mitzvah Day gives us an added focus in this area,” Rabbi Gluck added. “It helps us to teach our religious school students to know that these actions are important in their Jewish heritage and that we can make a difference, especially in these difficult times that we all face.”
In addition to a blood drive (from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), food drive, Passover Dessert Contest, collections for Operation Shoebox, a youth group bake sale, Temple Beth-El’s Mitzvah Day will include:
Nothing But Nets Fundraiser to collect money to purchase anti-Malaria family bed nets for refugees from Sudan. Malaria is a deadly killer of millions of children a year in Africa. There will be a basketball shooting contest from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the temple parking lot. Prizes will be awarded to the five top shooters. To participate, a minimum donation of $1 is requested.
Caring Cards. Religious School students will have the opportunity to make get well and cheer cards. These cards will be delivered to people in the hospital and in nursing homes.
Temple Clean Up Program. Volunteers will participate in a clean up both outside and inside the temple.
And advocacy: A table will be set-up in the temple lobby where people can get educated around social action issues and write letters to leaders and government officials regarding these issues.
Rabbi Gluck hopes others in the community regardless of their faith will participate beside temple members in the many different activities and events planned for this day.
”Part of our tradition also teaches us to leave the world in a better place than when we came here,” Rabbi Gluck said. “So we hope others in the community will join our efforts. “
Visit the Web site at http://www.bethel.urj.net.

