This past week marked the Shefa School’s 5th and final Chesed Day of the school year! Students dedicated their time volunteering across various organizations aimed at enhancing the greater New York City community. The sixth-grade class collaborated with Partnerships for Parks to engage in gardening and spring cleaning at Thomas Jefferson Park. Meanwhile, the seventh-grade students lent their support to an array of organizations, including Chai Lifeline, Brotherhood Preschool, Holy Apostles, United Jewish Council and Union Settlement. Their activities spanned from delivering meals in East Harlem to reading to young children. Lastly, the eighth-grade class devoted their Chesed Day to preparing bagels for those who are food insecure and un-housed. After volunteering, they embarked on a ferry journey to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to deepen their understanding of immigration and to explore the connection between Ellis Island, immigration and the resonance with the Jewish principle of chesed. It was a day brimming with fulfillment, pride and empathy as Shefa’s students exemplified the core Jewish value of chesed with the broader Shefa community.