By Steve Guggenheim
More than 80 Hebrew School students took part in Beth El Synagogue’s 2017 Mitzvah Day at the synagogue Feb. 12 in a day aimed at helping those less fortunate than us., Activity books were assembled for children at the pediatric ward at Princeton Hospital. Meals were prepared for homeless families who live at the Facility Preservation Center at Homefront. Banana bread was cooked for Holocaust survivors in our local community and also for Meals on Wheels participants. The students made blankets for dogs and cats for the local animal shelter. Signs also were made to help in the adoption of the animals., The students also created candy dishes as a gift for residents of Greenwood House, an assisted living and rehabilitation center in Ewing. Cookies were decorated for delivery to the Trenton Soup Kitchen. Puzzles were made for children who live at the Children’s Home Society. In addition, as a result of the students work, so-called “Blizzard Bags” were decorated for delivery to the seniors in the local community., The program is not just for the young children. USY, the teen youth group, held a bake sale for Homefront. Adults donate their time in making sure the program is successful., Mitzvah day has been going on at Beth El for more than a dozen years. The aim is to help others in the community. Originally it started out where members of the synagogue would go out into the community to help those in need. When program chair Andrea Genek of East Windsor took over several years ago she changed the focus to the Hebrew school, to involve all of the children. Genek said she loves to motivate others to help out in the community., The program encourages kids to understand the Jewish concept of Tzedakah. Rabbi Jay Kornsgold says this translates into teaching children righteousness and justice in helping make the world a more just place. He says we want to insure strong student representation as they move forward., Cantor Larry Brandspiegel, who also is Beth El’s religious director, says Mitzvah Day gives kids a chance to think about the community.
