Last week, even as the community was preparing for Purim, many kept up the momentum of the #DoItForShira mitzvah campaign. People and organizations continued to mobilize with daily participation in various ongoing efforts focused on doing or enhancing mitzvot as a merit for the refuah sheleima of Shira bat Devorah Leah Shatzkes, and for all of the cholim who need tefillot.

Purim day was no exception, as displayed through the beautifully designed mitzvah outreach initiative at the corner of Rugby and Rutland Roads in Teaneck. Created especially with the mitzvot of Purim at its epicenter, the opportunity to #DoItForShira was replete with kindness and care, and with both fun and practical dedication to the mitzvot of the day. The “One-Stop Chesed Experience,” was facilitated by a “chesed team” easily identified by their purple jerseys, complete with team name on the back, who gave out bracelets and masks stamped with #DoItForShira.

With one of the themes of Purim being “The Power of One,” a big part of the mission was to directly provide participants with multiple hands-on chesed opportunities that could be done individually. To enhance this idea, a pre-Pesach mitzvah calendar card was also given out, with a suggested mitzvah-a-day. A parked mobile, big-screen slide-show truck greeted participants with a display of greetings and heart-warming “mitzvah photos” inspired by the campaign. The mitzvah station for matanot l’evyonim had large receptacles to collect non-perishable food donations. A small float bore an archway displaying the campaign message of the day:“The Power of One.”

Chesed stations had markers and a huge card to pen personal wishes of refuah sheleima to those in need, and to express appreciation to the nurses and doctors who care for them. The project station was a place for kids to design and create projects that express hakarat hatov. At the mishloach manot station, people were able to make a bracha on food. The challah station provided challah dough, a printed card bearing the bracha for taking challah, a space to roll and braid, and a tin to take home the dough to bake, thus transporting the extra kavanah to one’s Shabbat table.

The One Stop Chesed Experience was powered by friends of the Shatzkes family and some colleagues of Dr. Joey Shatzkes.

Join or follow the mitzvah campaign on Instagram at https://instagram.com/doitforshira?igshid=5ohmr1l9hvcn.

By Ellie Wolf