Jewish Parenting 101 Borrows Lessons from this Rite of Passage

Posted on May 8, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

Parents beware! Your ‘baby’ is turning 13 in the next year; He or she will soon be participating in the Jewish community’s coming of age ritual. What’s an overly-involved parent to do?

Well, The Mitzvah Bowl co-founders, Valerie Franklin & Cheryl Friedenberg, want you to know this is the perfect opportunity to take a step back.

A Mitzvah project allows your child to help find their voice, learn more about their likes and dislikes, and, yes ….give them greater independence!

It starts with having your child choose a mitzvah project, which will keep them energized, excited and interested. They can ask the questions “what do I like to do?” “Is there a worthwhile project that I can delve into that would make a difference in my community? “Is there a cause that I am passionate about and in which I can get involved?”

As far as helping others, the opportunities are endless. Sometimes, all it takes is your teen’s imagination and courage, mixed with a little motivation, to begin creating a wonderful project.

Parents’ guidance is usually a needed step to begin the process, however, do not underestimate the resourcefulness of teens. They may take charge and surprise you with an amazing purposeful project! Do not push your teenager into a project that doesn’t interest them. This defeats the purpose and most likely is not the best fit for your kid.

Take your time with him/her finding the right match and then stop hovering. Let your daughter or son take ownership of their community service project. They can only experience pride if they can confidently state “I performed this mitzvah!”

by The Mitzvah Bowl co-founders, Valerie Franklin & Cheryl Friedenberg email: info@themitzvahbowl.com

Project SHEMA- connecting generations, building community

Posted on May 1, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

Twelve-year-old Rachel Reale has been visiting with residents of the Abramson Center for Jewish Life since she was a very little girl. Her visits began with her pre-school class at Temple Sinai and are continuing today, as part of her community service project for her upcoming bat mitzvah.

Even though her schedule is packed with school work, music, dance and Hebrew lessons, Rachel doesn’t find it hard to make time for friendly visits at the Center. “I like visiting the residents in their rooms, seeing pictures of their children and grandchildren, and hearing their stories from when they were young,” she says.

Rachel also enjoys celebrating Jewish holidays with residents. “I like when they clap after we sing songs and that they know the same prayers that I do,” she says. “It’s nice to connect that way.”

Rachel’s visits and those of hundreds of other area students each year are made possible through the Center’s Project SHEMA (Sharing and Enriching through Multigenerational Activities). “Project SHEMA gives students and seniors the opportunity to create special bonds and learn from each other through shared activities,” says Volunteer Director Mona Gold, who coordinates the program. Activities run the gamut from games and arts and crafts, to attending special programs and holiday celebrations. Students participating in the program can earn community service hours for bar and bat mitzvah projects, honor society, college applications, and senior projects.

Resident Myra Bernstein makes a point to attend as many Project SHEMA activities as she can. “I like being around children because they remind me of my youth,” she exclaims. “I love it when they ask me questions and I can answer them.” Jodi Reale is happy that Rachel and her older daughter Marissa, 16, both chose to visit with seniors at the Abramson Center for their bat mitzvah projects. “I think their experiences demonstrate the lifelong commitment of the Jewish people, and enforce the lesson that despite your age or health challenges, our commitment to Jewish customs and traditions is important.”

*Reprinted with permission from the Chai Lights newsletter of the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life

You can help support multigenerational programs at the Abramson Center by calling the Development Office at 215-371-1811. For information on volunteering through Project SHEMA, please call Mona Gold at 215-371-1816.

Kids Helping Kids

Posted on April 22, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

Ever know a kid, maybe at school or temple, who had cancer? It’s pretty scary to think about. Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where kids didn’t get cancer? Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is trying to do just that – find a cure so that someday kids don’t get cancer. The best part is – YOU can help while fulfilling your Mitzvah project.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by a 4-year-old little girl, Alexandra “Alex” Scott. Alex had cancer, but decided that she was going to start holding lemonade stands to raise money that would help doctors find a cure for all kids with cancer. When other kids saw what Alex was doing, they decided to hold their own lemonade stands, and before you know it – they were being held across the country. Alex died from cancer when she was only 8, but before she passed away, she was able to raise more than $1 million through her lemonade stands. Thanks to Alex’s mom and dad and supporters from around the world, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is still working to raise money and find a cure for all childhood cancers.

So, here’s how you can help! Just like Alex – we love the idea of kids helping other kids. We have a bunch of ways that you can help raise money for kids with cancer, with one of the most popular being holding a lemonade stand. You can hold a lemonade stand at any time of the year, but one of the best times to hold one is during National Lemonade Days .

During National Lemonade Days (June 8-10, 2012), people, including kids, from all over the country come together to hold lemonade stands and try to raise as much as possible in one weekend! It’s a perfect time of year as school is wrapping up and the weather is warming up.

You can also hold a different event other than a lemonade stand like a walk-a-thon or coffee house – whatever you’d like! The staff at Alex’s Lemonade Stand is always willing to help out or work with you with any new and creative ideas you may have.

Have a few coins laying around? Collect extra change, bring it to the bank to get counted and send it along to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Do you know that $12,000 in pennies is thrown away each year? Try out this super simple way of helping out kids with cancer with your friends, family, sports team or just start digging under the couch cushions by yourself!

Check out our website, AlexsLemonade.org, for more ideas for your Mitzvah project and for ways to get involved with a great cause! Thank you for helping us in the fight against childhood cancer!

A Student’s Clothesline Art Sale Benefits Even More Students

Posted on April 13, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

For Raquel Dunoff’s mitzvah project she will be having a clothesline art sale to benefit Fresh Artists. Fresh Artists provides art supplies and art programs to inner city schools with little-to-no art budget. The art sale will be held at Whitemarsh Township Day on April 28th, 2012 form noon til 5. It is open to the community and we welcome you to come.

There are two ways that you can help with Raquel’s project.

First, is to donate children’s art for the sale. We are collecting both ceramics and paintings/drawings. There is a drop box for art in the lobby at Congregation Or Ami in Lafayette Hill. Or you can contact Raquel and she can arrange to pick up the items. Email her at ridunoff@yahoo.com.

The second way you can help is to come to Township Day and purchase some of the art. Suggested donation is $5 but you may donate whatever you would like to take home a piece of art.

Fresh artists also installs children’s art in corporate and public spaces for donations to their cause. These are high-quality photographic reproductions of art created in Fresh Artist programs to display in offices and facilities.

Find out more at Freshartists.org.

Aaron’s Dash for Awareness

Posted on April 9, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

When I was just one year old, my Uncle Paul, my dad’s youngest brother, passed away. He had been waiting for an organ donation for about eight months, waiting for a double lung donation to come through for him, but it never did. I decided to do my bar mitzvah project in my uncle’s memory. I decided to raise awareness for the need for organ donations.

As part of this, I also raised money that would go towards raising awareness. I created a virtual team for the Gift of Life organization’s 2012 Dash for Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness, a run/walk taking place in Philadelphia. I also raised awareness by sending e-mails about the Dash, and by speaking to people about the need for organ donation. Additionally, I handed out brochures and the green Donate Life awareness bracelets, and I received donations for the bracelets. I set a goal for how much money I wanted to raise, and I met that goal in just a few days. I continue to raise money, though, and have more than tripled my goal, so far.

My bar mitzvah ceremony takes place just a week after the Dash. I will be speaking about organ donation awareness at my ceremony. I also sent information to our guests, asking people to register and, if they already were registered, to pass the information on to family, friends or neighbors. Even if only one person registers because of my campaign, many lives could be saved. Of course, I hope many register. A lot of people put nice comments about organ donation awareness on their response cards, thanking me for taking on this issue for my project. Family & friends wrote me with stories of how the organ donation issue has touched them. Some people have immediate family members who have had organ transplants. Others have had family members and friends who have passed away, but whose wishes of being organ donors were carried out, making the families feel so good about helping others. I hope the work I am doing causes people to think about organ donation and to register to become organ donors. by Aaron Glatter

The Dash for Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness is a 5K run/10K run/3K walk. This is the 17th annual Dash on April 15, 2012. Visit Aaron’s virtual page at http://tinyurl.com/TeamPaulDash

Aaron Glatter’s Bar Mitzvah is on April 21, 2012, a week after the dash!

A Random Act of Kindness will help make Great Strides

Posted on April 1, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

WANTED: Caring, supportive kids (and Moms & Dads) who are interested in sharing a full-filled morning making a difference in the lives of children and adults who battle cystic fibrosis.

Jessica Franklin, a 17 year old vivacious Upper Dublin teenager living with cystic fibrosis, is seeking to expand her team of walkers at the upcoming Great Strides Walk-a-thon on Saturday, April 21. Beginning at 10am, supportive families will gather at Citizens Bank Park to schmooze with the Philly Phanatic, munch on complimentary treats, enjoy entertainment and prepare to engage in a 5K trek through the infamous Philadelphian stadium. Jessica commented “Donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in ANY denomination are deeply appreciated!” This hopeful teenager is optimistic that a cure will be found in her lifetime for her chronic illness. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that afflicts just 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. An overproduction of thick mucus inhibits digestion and causes chronic lung infections leading to progressive and premature death.

Kids who are interested in arranging their own team of walkers for a bar/bat mitzvah project or simply to perform a random act of kindness can discover how to create a letter writing campaign to gather support. Volunteers are also needed to set up the day’s events.

For further information contact: Robin Clarke at the Delaware Valley Cystic Fibrosis Foundation office rclarke@cff.org or 610 325-6001

http://www.cff.org/Chapters/delawarevalley/greatstrides/

Take a Path to the Cure!

Posted on March 25, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

It is hard to believe that almost an entire year has passed since we all gathered for what proved to be an amazing 1^stannual Path to the Cure, a fundraiser on behalf of our children Dylan Singer, Sam Sernovitz, and other individuals in our community and surrounding areas who suffer with familial dysautonomia (FD) – a life-altering and life threatening Jewish genetic disease.

As a result of your support as a particiant or sponsor of one, we experienced the best in our community and the best of humanity. TOGETHER we raised over $150,000 and had fun doing it! This was a day that would prove to be one we would never forget.

In our continuing effort to raise funds that seek better treatments and an eventual cure for FD, we invite you to once again support the 2^nd annual Path to the Cure – a bike/walk tour through Alverthorpe Park in Abington, PA on Sunday April 15, 2012.

Perhaps, this year more than ever our sense of urgency is stronger than ever.

Dylan nearly died this past May. He developed pneumonia and had to be placed on a ventilator at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). After two chest tube placements, an emergency surgery and a month in the hospital Dylan miraculously recovered and came home.

Most recently, Sam, who is only three years old, spent nearly a week in New York at NYU Langone Medical Center. His daily bouts of severe nausea and retching, dangerously elevated heart rates and erratic blood pressures have kept Sam from enjoying and living his life to the fullest.

This is no way for any child to live and we again ask for your help in raising funds and awareness so that those with FD have a chance at a better, healthy life.

Please check out www.famdys.org/pathtothecure for more information about this amazing event.

Not able to make a monetary donation at this time? Perhaps you might like to volunteer or simply come out with your family and friends just to support the cause. Your participation in any capacity would be greatly appreciated!

Much love,

Cindy Singer & Rabbi Larry Sernovitz

Co-chairs, Philadelphia Chapter of the Dysautonomia Foundation

Blind Golfer uses a Guide Dog trained in Hebrew

Posted on March 19, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

Zohar Sharon was a 26 year-old Israeli soldier when a chemical bomb that he was defusing blew up in his face. He has an amazing story, but the most impressive thing is that this man did not let blindness define him. With the help of his guide dog Venus and his caddy Shimshon, Zohar is the reigning World Champion Blind Golfer – a title that he has earned three times in a row!

This is the type of person you are helping when you support the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. We are a small group of very dedicated people doing amazing work. We are the only recognized guide dog training facility in the entire Middle East! Israelis depend on us and we hope you will help us.

Create your own customized webpage – and help visually impaired Israelis to obtain the independence and mobility that only a guide dog can provide. You can edit your page, include your own photo, set your own goal, and track gifts that friends and relatives send in. We need people like you to help raise awareness of this important cause. Please click the link to learn more: http://IGDCB.donorpages.com/Mitzvah

For more information, you can contact Michael Leventhal, Executive Director at 215-343-9100 or e-mail: mike@israelguidedog.org

This League Delivers A Happy Pesach

Posted on March 5, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

Jews around the city and all over the world will gather with family and friends in the coming weeks to recall their ancestors’ exodus from Egypt and the beginning of their journey to freedom in the land of Israel on Passover.

Not all Jews are readily able to participate in the Passover holiday, in steps the Passover League of Philadelphia. The Passover League, a non profit charitable organization founded in 1933. The mission of The Passover League is to raise funds to help needy individuals and families celebrate the Passover holiday.

Seders, funded by The Passover League are conducted at various community locations throughout the Delaware Valley. These Seders reach thousands of individuals who would normally be unable to celebrate the traditional Passover holiday. The Passover League also serves Jewish veterans in various local hospitals.

In addition, The Passover League helps fund the delivery of Kosher meals to homebound individuals and assists many people who are referred through crisis networks.

All of these activities are made possible by donations from individuals and corporations with most donations being made in $20 increments. Throughout the Passover League’s long and successful existence, it has been able to touch the lives of thousands of Jews in the Delaware Valley.

Every one of the Leagues endeavors have made an impact on the Jewish families it has helped, but no other Passover League assisted Seder has grown to the size and scope of the Golden Slipper Passover Seder.

Golden Slipper Club & Charities, in partnership with the Passover League of Philadelphia, hosts a community-wide Passover Seder for more than 500 seniors who otherwise have no place to go honor the holiday. A convoy of buses and vans brings our guests from throughout the region for one of the biggest Seders in the Philadelphia area. The seniors get to enjoy an evening of friendship, entertainment and a delicious traditional Seder dinner provided by Betty the Caterer.

Outside of the Golden Slipper Seder, the Passover League helps fund Seders for the following organizations:
JCC-Stiffel Center
JCC-Klein Branch
Jewish Family & Children Services
Congregation Ner Zedek
Lubavitch of Overbrook Park & Penn Wynne
Federation Housing
Temple Beth Ami
Jewish Relief Agency (JRA)
B’Nai B’rith-Project Hope
Advocates for the Jewish Mentally Ill (AJMI)
Jewish Center of Northern Liberties
Congergation Beth Hamedrosh
JFGP-Mitzvah Food
Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center
Chabad at Temple

*Although grant requests for local Seders are no longer being accepted for this year, if you are or know of any local organizations in need please have them contact The Passover League for grant request information. As always donations to the Passover League are accepted year especially during the Passover season.

From our Passover League family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy Pesach

The Passover League
215 N. Presidential Blvd, 1st Floor
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(P) 610-660-0530
Info@Passoverleague.org

photos courtesy of Richard Chaitt

Do a Mitzvah Raking Leaves (by March 16th)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by themitzvahbowl

JRAid has a lovely woman in Elkins Park that has a small property with leaves and some debris that need to be cleared. She needs volunteers that are thorough in their work with an attention to detail. In the past, she has filled about 10-15 bags. The bags will be supplied by the homeowner and she does have 1 rake.

To sign up, visit www.jraid.org or
Contact: Melissa Samen, JRAid Program Director; JRA Group and B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator
610-660-0190, x104

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