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Jewish Community News
February 2004
Mitzvah Day set for March 14
By Cecily Ruttenberg
The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley has teamed up with four local synagogues and other local agencies to host the second annual community-wide "Mitzvah Day." On Sunday, March 14, congregations Shir Hadash, Emanu-El, Beth David and Sinai as well as the JCC and Yavneh will open their doors to Jews across Santa Clara Valley for tikkun olam, or repairing the world. Everyone is invited to participate, whether or not they belong to a synagogue.
Last year, Gary and Melissa Katz, along with their 8-year-old daughter Miranda, were some of 800 participants in Mitzvah Day. Mr. Katz said it was a meaningful way to spend time as a family, as well as an opportunity to meet others in the Jewish community. Although the family belongs to Temple Emanu-El, they chose an event organized by Beth David at Chai House.
"It definitely gave us an opportunity to expand our
circle a little bit," said Gary Katz. "The way I saw it was
an opportunity to do something together with other people regardless of
the synagogue they belong to."
Participants will begin the morning at one of four synagogues, the JCC
or Yavneh and continue on to a day-long volunteer assignment. Volunteer
opportunities include making bag lunches for the homeless, creating Shabbat
decorations for Chai House and cleaning up litter from local parks.
At last year's Mitzvah Day, nearly 150 cell phones were collected for distribution to charities for emergency phone calls. Over $1,000 were raised from people' excess pennies for charity projects and homeless shelters received used shoes and clothing.
Organized by past Federation board member Mitchell Askenas and Shir Hadash board member Davida Rosenbaum, the project is intended to call people's attention to the need for social action, and to pull together the local Jewish community that spreads from San Jose to Los Gatos and Saratoga.
Pamphlets outlining over 42 unique volunteer opportunities
will be available for pick-up at local synagogues, the JCC, Yavneh, and
the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley. For more information call 358-3033
or email mitzvah-day@jewishsiliconvalley.org.
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