MITZVAH DAY
Mitzvah Day first took place on March 8, 1998, and has been held on an annual basis ever since. This event, which is coordinated by the Social Action Committee, involves over three hundred individuals every year, who help in numerous volunteer activities throughout the Champaign-Urbana area. Temple members, Religious School students, and university students from Sigma Delta Tau, Alpha Epsilon Phi, and Hillel, all participate.
Projects take place at locations such as the Men's Emergency Shelter, PACE, Inc., Swann Special Care Center, Discovery Museum for Kids, Carle Arbours, Champaign County Nursing Home, Clarke-Linsey Meadowbrook, Covenant Medical Center, Eastern Illinois Food Bank, Community Blood Services of Illinois, Family Service Telecare, Carle Foundation Hospital, Center for Women in Transition, Community Day Care, Housing Authority: Steer Place, Champaign County Humane Society, American Heart Society, Urbana Free Library, and Salvation Army Transitional Housing.
Everyone gathers at Sinai Temple in the morning for a bagel breakfast, and in the evening for a pizza dinner to celebrate the successes of the day.
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MITZVOT COMMITTEES
The Mitzvot Committee has developed seven committees, described below, whose purpose is to extend friendship and help to our Temple family. The goal is to better take care of the spiritual and emotional needs of our Temple family, and function in a more cohesive, organized, and inclusive way to provide support as needed to Temple members of all ages. Volunteers are always welcome to join and participate in one or more committees.
- CONDOLENCE: Purpose—organize the meal of condolence following a funeral, and help in making calls for the shiva service.
- ELDERS: Purpose—(1) address the needs of Jewish residents in nursing homes and assisted-care facilities, and those who are homebound; (2) provide regular and holiday visits and support when adult children are out of town.
- The committee needs help identifying area Jewish elderly, and implementing visiting programs. They need volunteers for regular visits and for "adopt-a-grandparent."
- FAMILY CRISIS: Purpose—link people who are undergoing a crisis with those willing to lend support, contact, and/or mentoring. Crises may include divorce, bereavement, illness, accident, or marital issues.
- NEW BABY: Purpose—provide a meal, babysit for the new baby or an older sibling, or provide support or help in any way for a family with a new baby.
- RELIGIOUS SCHOOL/YOUTH GROUP: Purpose—design and implement ways to involve our youth in specific or ongoing mitzvah projects in coordination with our Temple Educator.
- TRANSPORTATION: Purpose—arrange rides to the temple for services or other Temple events.
- VISITING THE SICK: Purpose—fulfill the mitzvah of visiting in times of illness. Help may entail walking the dog, providing a ride to the doctor, bringing over a meal, or just being there to visit over a cup of tea.
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