In the midst of the pre-Pesach whirlwind of April, RYNJ carved out time to help our brothers and sisters in Israel.

This past fall RYNJ’s eighth graders were tasked with selecting a chesed project for the year. The students were divided into groups that proposed various chesed projects. Ultimately, the eighth graders chose to join forces with Yad Leah, an organization that collects new and gently used clothing and sends it to needy families in Israel.

As one of the teams said in their original pitch, “Think about how many times you’ve been to the mall in the past month. Think about the families in Israel who live in poverty. This is the purpose of the organization Yad Leah.” The girls collected clothing throughout the winter. On April 14, the eighth grade visited the Yad Leah Volunteer Center to sort and box the clothing.

Head teacher, Leah Silver, commented, “It was amazing! They would have packed all day. My peers were so impressed with [Yad Leah’s] system and sensitivity with details. I am so proud of my girls for implementing their chesed initiative, seeing it through from start to finish, and I am ecstatic that Yad Leah is the recipient of our efforts. It is truly a worthy cause.”

The girls displayed passion and enthusiasm. A Yad Leah representative said that their energy was “palpable and contagious” and that their hard work sends a clear message of care, love and support to Jewish families in Israel. The girls walked away beaming with pride and a sense of accomplishment. Many of them are booking family packing days at the Yad Leah Volunteer Center in Passaic, New Jersey.