Fourteen TABC juniors and seniors went to Southern New Jersey on a two-day chesed trip led by Rabbi Dovid Einhorn and Rabbi Scott Friedman. They met early Sunday morning for Shacharit and heard from Robert Hoenig who spoke about Project Ezrah and all it does for our local community. The group then headed to JFS Food Pantry in Elizabeth to pack and deliver Yom Tov food packages for families in need. After lunch in Livingston, the group went to the Bikur Cholim house in West Orange for Mincha and to hear from TABC parent, Dr. Joe Rozehzadeh, who spoke to the group about his exile from Iran, his leadership in the world of chesed and all the chesed done in his local community. The impressive contingent then went on to visit the residents at Kessler Rehabilitation Center, to bring them some pre-Purim cheer and to enjoy a Purim dvar Torah by Rabbi Einhorn. Once they all arrived in Long Branch, where they’d be staying the night, the boys enjoyed a Dougie’s dinner, a night swim and a late-night kumzitz on the beach.

Monday got off to an exciting start with Shacharit at the Roberts Shul and breakfast at 4 Corners. The boys then headed over to Bikur Cholim of Lakewood where they helped clean for Pesach. The talmidim brought huge smiles to the faces of students at SCHI (School for Children with Hidden Intelligence) as they visited and played games with them. They had the unique opportunity to hear from the school’s founder, Rabbi Osher Eisenman, about the school and all the miracles he experienced since its inception. After a trip to Beth Medrash Govoha, with a shiur by Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yeruchum Olshin and Mincha, the group volunteered at the Special Children’s center in Lakewood where they did a project and danced with the kids. Following a last-stop visit to Judaica Plaza, the boys headed back to TABC knowing that they had touched the lives of many people who could use extra smiles and feeling great about having done just that.