JKHA sixth graders were interested in donating a portion of their collections for bar and bat mitzvah gifts to Israel. To select the tzedaka, they began a new initiative entitled “Mitzvah Mania.” The goal is to help the students make an educated selection of which organization in Israel they would like to donate a portion of their bar/bat mitzvah collection to.

Each student was assigned a teacher-researched charity currently involved in efforts to support Israel either in the country or from abroad. Students worked hard to research and present their assigned charity organizations, aiming to convince their peers why their charity deserves their collective donation. The presentations were inspiring and truly showcased students’ commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Each student then received an email with the Google form link to cast their individual vote. With Election Day this week, this is a good opportunity for students to see the benefit of active participation in the decision-making process and understand the significance of supporting organizations in Israel during this time of immense struggle. The results were announced and ZAKA will be the beneficiary of the students’ generous and thoughtful donation.