Mitzvah Day Draws More than 500 Volunteers

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not," according to Dr. Seuss, who was quoted on the Congregation B'nai Shalom's (CBS) pamphlet its 5th annual Mitzvah Day, held Sunday, April 29. Over 350 CBS students and teachers, and another 200 adult members pitched in to stack shelves at food pantries, write cards and letters for soldiers, pull weeds at CBS, plant seeds at the Heirloom Harvest Community Farm, and many more activities to support the congregation and community.

Interim CBS Rabbi Sharon Sobel commented, "It's not always easy to find time to do a mitzvah (good deed), but Mitzvah Day at B'nai Shalom made it happen for hundreds of volunteers." She continued, "Mitzvah Day is a concerted effort, on a single day to bring the entire congregation together to volunteer and participate in the holy task of tikkun olam, repairing the world."

CBS's Rabbi-Educator, Rabbi Joe Eiduson added, "Jewish tradition elevates deeds of loving kindness to the highest possible ranking among human traits.  It is our hope that by having a day devoted to doing good, our children will want to do more!"

This year's Mitzvah Day was organized by Karen Weiner (Northborough), and her committee members: Lori Winer (Westborough), Janice Hirshon (Ashland), Bobbi and Joel Feinblatt (Berlin). According to Weiner, "In these six hours, many lives have been touched. It's so gratifying to see so much accomplished by our community, and this year, it's great that members of joined our effort." Cindy Avergon, Beth Tikvah's coordinator of religious education, echoed Weiner's sentiment.

Weiner also said, "This year we made a big effort to define the meaning of specific activities. We wanted to make things real. When kids wrote letters to soldiers, we spoke about a congregant's daughter who recently was posted in Afghanistan, and we showed them her picture."

Both Within and Outside

CBS members pitched in to clean up the synagogue's courtyard and paint classrooms. Within the social hall, religious school students, teachers and parents were busy assembling rice mix packets and pizza kits for organizations in need, making cards for soldiers, and craft kits and games for Why Me, a Worcester nonprofit that helps children with cancer, and Sherry's House, a provides housing for families while children undergo treatment.

Outside the synagogue, CBS members volunteered at the Northborough Food Pantry, Heirloom Harvest Community Farm, Marlborough's Price Chopper, and Whitney Place Assisted Living, among other places. Adriana Caravan, recreation and volunteer coordinator at Whitney Place commented, "We love to have inter-generational and interfaith programs at our facility." Farmer John at the Heirloom said, "Mitzvah Day dovetails with the mission of the farm, which is stewardship."

Next Fundraiser

On May 14, CBS will be holding its 2012 Kiddush Cup, a golf fund-raising event for players of all levels. There will be a 1 p.m. shotgun start at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, followed by dinner and raffle. For more information, click here.

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