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MITZVAH DAY 2020

Sunday, February 23, 2020 28 Sh'vat 5780

9:00 AM - 12:00 PMLevin Social Hall & Monsein Community Court

 

Join us for our annual Mitzvah Day from 9:00am to noon on Sunday, February 23. We will begin with a convocation in the sanctuary at 9:30am, then disperse to sites at JRC to begin our project work at 10:00am. 

A variety of projects means that there will be a fun and meaningful activity for all ages and abilities. Projects include preparing meals for Urban Ministries of Durham, making cards for Passover, creating signs for the annual CROP Walk Against Hunger, advocating for justice and kindness for refugees, donating blood, and more! 

Mitzvah Day is a wonderful opportunity to engage and work together in helpful and meaningful projects of direct action and advocacy to better our community, by doing mitzvot for our neighbors and non-profit community partners.  All are welcome – whether you are a member of Judea Reform or not!  

3 Things You Can Do!

  • Sign-up for a Mitvzah Day Project! Click HERE  to register. See descriptions below; the project titles are links to the sign up page.

  • Please, also, consider registering for a 15-minute slot to donate blood.* The Blood Connection Bloodmobile will be on site from 10:00am - 2:30pm and is in urgent need of blood donations! Sign up  HERE. 

  • Donate much-needed Mitzvah Day supplies, whether for your project or another, and drop off in advance at Judea Reform. Click HERE for the supply list and to sign up to donate.

Mitzvah Day Schedule

9:00am Check-in, day-of registration, and name tag pick up

9:30am Meet in the sanctuary for T’filah and blessing for Mitzvah Day  

10:00am Mitzvah Day Projects begin

11:30am -12 pm Wrap up, clean up, and reflection 

12- 2:30pm Extended time for Blood Connection blood drive with greater community (the Lerner School and the Levin JCC)

Religious School will be in session on Mitzvah Day. Students will be participating with their classrooms/teachers in a pre-assigned project; Religious School parents can register for any project of their choosing.

Mitzvah Day Projects

The following projects align with some of Judaism's highest values, including Ahavat HaGer (Loving the Stranger), Bikkur Cholim (Caring for the Sick), G'milut Chasadim (Acts of Kindness), and Iyyun Tefillah (Making Prayer Meaningful).

Refugee and Immigrant Advocacy 

Welcome the Stranger. Many of our relatives were lost because no one spoke up for them in the 1940s and before. We'll write cards to our federal, state and local elected officials to advocate for humane, just and welcoming policies for refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants. We'll share an update and provide guidance on specific messages. We will also write cards and messages of support to immigrants detained - many from NC - at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA.

Activity includes: Letter writing, picture making, advocacy and education 
Appropriate for: all ages and abilities including middle and high school students
Project Leaders: Tom Wolf and Susan Dennison

Books for Book Harvest

Bring books (new and used) for young readers as a donation to Book Harvest and learn about the program that gives books to kids.  

Project Leader: Isabel Geffner

Blood Connection

The Blood Connection blood mobile unit will be on-site at Judea Reform from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Sign up for a 15-minute time slot to donate blood at this link 
Project Leader: Doug Fein
Appropriate for: must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs.

Passover Greeting Cards for Older Adults

Join us in crafting Passover greeting cards that Judea Reform will send to our older congregants. Participants will decorate cards, write their own messages, and prepare the cards for mailing.

Activity includes: card making and decorating  
Appropriate for: all abilities and older children
Project Leader: Steve Weiss

Casserole Cooking for Urban Ministries of Durham

Join us in the Weiss Family Kitchen to prepare casseroles for our monthly mitzvot. For many years, JRC has worked with Beth El Synagogue to provide a monthly meal for the homeless and poor at Urban Ministries in downtown Durham. We provide 12 large tuna casseroles, green beans, drinks, cookies and some sandwiches. Our congregants are invited to help with the prep crew, the serving crew and with ingredient donations. Our dinner is the 4th Sunday of each month. You can donate ingredients from this link.

Activity includes: opening cans, stirring, mixing, spooning and cooking
Appropriate for: Adults and mature children with an accompanying adult. Participants will be standing, working with food (hot and cold ingredients) and need to be able to follow directions. 
Project Leader: Judy Holland 

CROP Hunger Walk Sign-Making 

Join us in preparing for our annual participation in the CROP walk which happens on Sunday, April 5.  Judea Reform volunteers to provide posters intended to teach walkers and others about hunger in Durham, the US and the rest of the world. These posters are placed along the Durham CROP Hunger Walk route where upwards of 2000 people view them during the CROP Hunger Walk. Your participation in the project involves the design and preparation of posters, and the opportunity to sign up for the walk. https://www.crophungerwalk.org/durhamnc/Team/View/125398/Judea-Reform-Congregation

Activity includes: Drawing, designing, block lettering and coloring
Project Leader: Chip Carnathan
Appropriate for: all ages and abilities; especially older children and teens

Lunches for Urban Ministries of Durham 

Join us as we make sandwiches and provide other lunch items for people experiencing homelessness who receive services from Urban Ministries in Durham. Please also sign up to contribute supplies at this link.  

Activity: making cheese sandwiches and packing snacks
Appropriate for: all ages; kids, teens, adults
Project Leader: Valerie Flax

Meals on Wheels for Dogs and Cats

Join us in providing a meal for the pets of home-bound Durham people who receive a dinner from Meals on Wheels. Sign up to donate dry pet food.  Activity includes: Scooping and repackaging kibble in to meal size zip-lock bag
Appropriate for: all ages and abilities
Project Leader: Cheryl Denardo

No Sew Flannel Blankets for New Babies

Our Caring Community provides a basket with goodies for our newest congregants as they come to our families. Please help make that basket even more welcoming as we add no-sew lap blankets for new babies and parents.

Activity includes: measuring and cutting fleece, knotting fleece tabs
Appropriate for: dexterous older kids, teens and adults
Project Leader Laura Ades

Prayer Books & Sanctuary Clean-Up

Join us in the Judea Reform sanctuary to examine sanctuary books to find ones in need of repair and inspect prayer books for have markings that should not be there, or have inserts that should be removed.

Appropriate for: Adults
Project Leader: Lila Singer

Climate Change Discussion: What Can I Do?

Join a continuing group discussion of how we can each respond to climate change as policy advocates on the Federal, State, and local levels; how we can change our own lifestyles; and how we can join with our fellow congregants to improve Judea’s climate footprint, to expand our climate mitigation partnership with other congregations, and to initiate community-wide solutions. 

Appropriate for: Teens and adults
Project Leader: Martin Feinstein

Recycle Your Specs - Used Eyeglass Donation

Please bring eyeglasses that you no longer use and drop them in the box in the Judea Reform Lobby. They will donated to Lions Club of Durham who collect eyewear to distribute to needy recipients free of charge. Prescription glasses, sunglasses, goggles, and other visual aids that are suitable for immediate use after cleaning are accepted.

Project Leader: Lloyd Comstock

Questions? please email socialaction@judeareform.org.

 

*Special notice from the Blood Connection

All eligible donors, especially platelet and blood donors with type O blood, are urgently needed to help restock the shelves for hospital patients.

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Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784