(Courtesy of JKHA/RKYHS) The second graders at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy (JKHA) are currently reading the book “The Hundred Dresses,” which is a story about a young girl who wears the same faded blue dress to school every day. During a class discussion on the book, many students were bothered by the fact that she didn’t have any other clothing to wear. The students discussed that thankfully, they do have clothing and other basic needs, but there are others who cannot afford these items. The class brainstormed together, and drawing upon their values curriculum, decided that they wanted to create kindness and collect clothing for poor people.

The class reached out to Rabbi Richard Kirsch, who runs the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (RKYHS) Homeless Awareness club, to ask if they could collect warm clothing for his Thanksgiving clothing drive. Rabbi Kirsch brought his high school students to the second grade classroom, where the members of the club relayed their past experiences and explained how selfless acts of kindness can have a huge impact on others.

Please spread the word and bring in any clothing (preferably warm clothing; blankets are acceptable, too) by November 23. The clothing can be dropped off either at Rabbi Kirsch’s office in RKYHS, or at the JKHA security desk.

In addition, as in past years, JKHA/RKYHS is collecting new, unwrapped toys for Chai Lifeline. You can also purchase toys through Amazon and have them shipped directly to JKHA at 110 South Orange Avenue, Livingston. To do so, please write “Attention: Chail Lifeline” when placing the order. Toys must be brought in no later than November 22.

For more information on either of these collections, please contact Channie Lundner at [email protected]