Organized by the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey the Religious School of Fair Lawn Jewish Center participated in Mitzvah Day on Sunday, November 24. Younger grades participated in a joint mitzvah day activity at the Paramus JCC, while children in grades four-seven, participated from the school’s home base, The Fair Lawn Jewish Center. First the children learned Chanukah songs from Rabbi Dina Shargel. They will perform for the residents of Daughters of Miriam nursing home in just a few short weeks. It is a special opportunity to be able to honor the elderly and bring joy to the older generation.

The second part of the morning, the children learned about tikkun olam, ways to repair the world. The children focused on hands on projects like the fleece blankets they made that will be brought to needy children. The school finished the day with a focus on gratitude and an appreciation for what we have. This is a perfect lesson for Thanksgiving and an important mindset to maintain throughout the holiday season.

The FLJC Sisterhood and MPC donated all the money to pay for the fleece material, and members of the Social Action Committee helped bring this project to fruition. Special thanks to Beth Perlman, Ilene Laufer and Rich Flanzman—and to Neil Garfinkle, who encouraged the school to carry out its own Mitzvah Day.