My kids, Moshe (6), Leora (3) and Shoshi (1) and I had an incredibly inspiring and meaningful CommUNITY Mitzvah Day Plus last Sunday. (My wife Rivki would have been there but was working as a pediatrician, taking care of children).
We started off our day at our home in Springfield, New Jersey and headed to the Aidekman Jewish Community Campus in Whippany, New Jersey to pack Passover food boxes for those in need. My kids absolutely loved the packing. My son Moshe was so proud of the fact that he packed 10 boxes all by himself (and we were proud too!). Even Shoshi, our 1-year-old, was putting all the items in the boxes herself (with a little help).
We then went for pizza at Jerusalem Restaurant in Elizabeth and ended our meal by giving tzedakah, reiterating the day’s theme of helping those in need.
We met up with others at Temple Beth O’r Beth Torah in Clark and all went together to visit individuals with special needs in Linden. It meant so much to the individuals. They were so happy to see and interact with my kids and my kids enjoyed interacting with them. I felt exposing my kids to these individuals was very important. It taught them that we must be kind and respectful to everyone, even if they act, or look, a little different than us.
We played a little at a playground nearby and then made our way over to the JCC of Central NJ in Scotch Plains where we packed bags of school supplies for Israeli families in need. After the packing we danced to the upbeat music of Joanie Leeds, had ice cream and just had lots of fun!
My kids then went home to play with their grandparents while I went to Newark to deliver the boxes we had all packed in the morning. Finally, we concluded the CommUNITY Mitzvah Day Plus at our home by packing bags of snacks for patients with cancer. As a final personal touch, we decorated the bags with a sticker that reads “I hope this makes you smile.”
It was a community mitzvah DAY … so I thought, why limit the mitzvot to just a few hours, to just one activity?! I felt the whole day should be filled with mitzvah activities!
Seth Huttel is a community member of Greater MetroWest New Jersey.
