The members of Congregation Ohr Saadya got together on Sunday, July 27, to assemble 100 packages of toys and art supplies to be sent to children in Israel. Ohr Saadya’s rabbi, Rabbi Daniel Feldman, who is participating in the Ahavath Torah Emergency Mission to Israel led by Rabbi Goldin of Englewood, distributed these packages to children in the areas most affected by the recent violence in Israel.
Given the goal of reaching children who have been displaced from their homes and who are spending time in safe rooms and shelters, the packages contained a variety of items chosen specifically for their usefulness in entertaining children indoors in relatively confined spaces. Colorful paper, crayons, mosaic art kits, paddle balls, modeling clay, Chinese jump ropes, and other toys filled the packages taken on the Emergency Mission.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for children in the community to feel a real connection to the current events in Israel and to do their part to help,” according to Josh Weinberg, president of Ohr Saadya.
The children first got to work creating cards. These home-made cards—each with a picture and short message—lent a personal touch to each of the packages. The children also assisted in decorating the bags with sparkly and colorful stickers, and then helped fill each decorated bag with the assortment of toys and art supplies.
As one participant remarked, “It was great to see the enthusiasm shown by the children as they participated in this initiative, and we hope that the arrival of these packages will be met with similar enthusiasm by the children in Israel. We would love to know that we are putting smiles on their faces and giving them a distraction from the scary events going on around them.”
