Community Service
Tzedkah and G'milut Chasadim, charity and deeds of lovingkindness are so central to who we are as a people. Providing our students with meaningful opportunities to do and give is one of our school's primary aims.
TELEM
In 2006, CBE began to offer community service opportunities for the synagogue’s teens through TELEM – an innovative program integrating community service, learning and reflection that is organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies. The TELEM program partners with synagogues to offer numerous tracks for community service including hunger and homelessness, working with students with special needs, tutoring reading in public schools and community organization. Thus far, CBE’s participation in this program has consisted of:
- Cooking soup and serving lunch once a month at the Lazarus House soup kitchen in Lawrence (2006-07);
- Joining residents of the Inn at Robbins Brook, a senior living center in Acton, for one hour twice a month in the social hall to play UNO, provide companionship and offer an opportunity for group interaction (2007-08).
The TELEM program is open to any student, whether or not he/she participates in our Midrasha. We keep track of students’ volunteer hours to assist students in meeting public school requirements for community service.
Hebrew Read-a-thon
The annual Hebrew Read-a-thon combines this basic Jewish value of giving with one of the basic Jewish skills we learn at Religious School--reading. Students in grades three through six raise money for worthy causes by participating in an hour-long program featuring a variety of Hebrew reading activities and games aimed at reinforcing and enhancing their reading proficiency. All proceeds go to one or more organizations selected by the students, which have included the Make a Wish Foundation, the Sierra Club, Camp Simcha, a Package From Home and an after school program in Haifa for Ethiopian immigrants.
Mitzvah Clowning
Mitzvah Clowning gives students an opportunity to learn about the art of clowning and then get out into the community to perform community service as Mitzvah Clowns! Mitzvah Clowns don original clown costumes and make-up and visit places such as senior care residences and hospitals to cheer up and entertain residents. Our trained Mitzvah Clowns will use their new skills in one or more organized trips to local sites, including the Inn at Robbins Brook. Interested students:
- Are trained by a veteran Mitzvah Clown
- Learn how to put on make-up and create a clown costume as well as ballooning
- Learn how to put on make-up and create a clown costume as well as ballooning
- Become familiar with hospital and nursing home etiquette
- Role play and learn how to act on a site visit
Reading Buddies
This new program for 2007 represents a joint initiative between the CBE religious school and the on site JCC Preschool. Under adult supervision, interested 7th grade students can volunteer to read stories to groups of 4-6 preschoolers on Wednesday afternoons during regular religious school hours. Participation is on a rotational basis so that class is not missed every week.
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