Neighbor News
50 Social Action Projects for 50 Years!
Community Service Projects for local community as part of 50th Anniversary Celebration
Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a different event every month from July, 2017 through June, 2018. On, Sunday, November 12, 2017 over 150 youth and 35 adults came together for Mitzvah Day to help the local community by making 50 cancer wellness bags, 60 Thanksgiving centerpieces and placemats, 120 trail mix bags, 80 sandwiches for the local food pantry, 50 cards and book marks for the patients at Lurie’s Children’s Hospital, too many cereal bags to count and more than 50 of each of two types of dog toys for the Heartland Animal Shelter and Orphans of the Storm.
One student spoke of his mom ”having cancer” as he spent all of his time making cancer bags for the Cancer Wellness Center located in Northbrook. The cards that were made for the sick children were so special. The students were instructed not to write get well or feel better soon, so they had to be creative. One wrote, “I’m sending a big hug, my arms are around you.”
The children made “tzedakah” cans of their own to take home and bring back in April for Good Deeds Day on April 15, 2018, another Social Action 50th Anniversary Celebration Event. At that time they will select a charity to which to donate. The kids learned that tzedakah, which is the Hebrew word for charity or giving, is really about compassion and responsibility to others more than just giving money. Judaism teaches the belief that donors benefit from tzedakah as much or more than the recipients.
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Congregant, Jill Olefsky, planned the event with the help of many volunteers who donated their time and creativity to make the day a huge success. Many others donated the supplies that were used for the projects.
Congregation Beth Shalom is a Conservative synagogue with approximately 1150 member families. Beth Shalom is located at 3433 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, IL. If you would like to learn more about Congregation Beth Shalom’s social action projects or other 50th anniversary events visit our website at www.bethshalomnb.org.
