“Rabbi Shimon says: It is not what one says, but rather what one does, that makes all the difference in the world. ”
Sunday, April 25, 2021
Religious School Mitzvah Day!
JOIN US!
Our Jewish tradition teaches that we have an obligation to partner with God in Tikkun Olam, in repairing the world. The Temple and our Religious School have been engaged in this sacred task for decades. This year, in this time of uncertainty, we have the opportunity to come together and strengthen our commitment to repairing with a day focused on doing good!
We invite you to join us on Sunday, April 25, when we reach out as a religious school to our neighbors in need with acts of loving kindness.
Mitzvah Day is:
- Religious School families joining together to help those in need.
- An opportunity to choose from 10 projects that benefit both our Temple and the wider Nashville community.
- One way to fulfill our sacred obligation to repair the world.
- All inclusive – there’s something for everyone - Kindergarten -12th Grade Families
- People helping people – children, adults, seniors.
- Fun and fulfilling - a celebration of what is possible!
Urban Housing Solutions - Feeding the Hungry
Help prepare a meal for residents at Urban Housing Solutions. The meal will be prepared in your own home and then dropped off at the Temple on Saturday, May 29th at 4 PM.
Please note that due to the pandemic, you are only expected to prepare the meal, not serve.
Whichever item you choose to prepare, we ask that you prepare a total of 15 servings. More guidance on the recipes will follow.
Nurturing Minds: Caring for Children - Literacy
Donating Children’s Books – New and Used - Partnering with 2 Great Literacy Organizations!
Project 1:
Clean out your gently used children’s books and bring them to The Temple on 4/25 and they will be donated to Book ‘Em. You can also download bookmarks and decorate them to include in some or all of your donated books!
Students will gather on Zoom at 10:00 AM on 4/25 to share some of the books they plan on donating and decorate bookmarks together
Project 2:
Virtual Book Drive benefitting Book ‘Em
The mission of Book ‘Em is to create a more literate Nashville and ignite children’s passion for reading through book ownership.
Click here to purchase and donate new books from their wishlist on Amazon
Project 3:
Virtual Book Drive benefitting Nashville Book Connection
Nashville Book Connection supports a culture of readership by building home libraries full of meaningful, intentionally chosen, diverse texts for K-4th graders in MNPS.
Click here to purchase and donate new, diverse books from their wishlist through Fairytales Books in East Nashville
Nurturing Nature: Helping the Environment
Building Bird Houses from Kits - ALL SPOTS FILLED!
Families will construct and decorate bird houses to be later hung around Abe’s Garden & The Temple grounds.
Sponsored by the Social Action Committee of The Temple
Families will work together to build and decorate the birdhouses on 4/25 on Zoom together starting at 10:30 AM
Completed birdhouses can be dropped of at The Temple during the week of 4/26
Ages 5+
Nurturing Souls: Feeding the Hungry
Project 1:
Food Drive for Hungry Families in the Metro Nashville Area
Bring the following much needed items to The Temple on 4/25
Peanut Butter, Canned Meat (chicken or tuna), Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Pasta, Cereal
Project 2:
Sort Food and Assemble Lunch Boxes for Metro Nashville Students at Second Harvest: Ages 12+
Saturday, April 24 - 9:00 AM -12:00 PM - you will receive a waiver and separate link to sign up after your RSVP
Saturday, May 8 - 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM - you will receive a waiver and separate link to sign up after your RSVP
Project 3:
Host Your Own Virtual Food Drive Through Second Harvest
Click here to find out more!
Ages 5+
Nurturing Hearts: Caring for Seniors
Record a short performance for seniors at Park Manor!
Kids will have the opportunity to show off their creativity by submitting a recording of a special talent (singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, storytelling, etc.) that will be combined with other Temple student videos and sent as a virtual performance for the residents at Park Manor to enjoy in the dining hall or their room televisions.
Parents: please make sure your child’s video is appropriate for all ages to view and keep the time at about 2 minutes.
Detailed instructions on how to record and where to upload the file will be sent upon sign up!
Students will preview everyone’s videos on Zoom on 4/25 before they are sent to Park Manor.
Ages 5+
**involves preparation before April 25!
Nurturing Souls: Caring for Others
ALL SPOTS FILLED FOR THIS MITZVAH PROJECT!
Bake a fresh challah and deliver it to a special member of our congregation who lives alone or might be recovering from an illness
Pick up the kit at The Temple from 4/18 – 4/23
Kit will include a packet of yeast, a plastic bag for the challah, a recipe (if you need it!), a blank greeting card and the name/address of the recipient of the challah.
Plan to deliver the challah on 4/25. Some recipients might like a sweet 5-minute visit upon delivery, so be prepared to say hello as well as wear your masks and stay socially distant!
Ages 5+
**involves preparation before April 25!
Mitzvah Day Opening Celebration!
We will gather on Zoom for a special assembly and celebration to sing, share and mark this special day of mitzvah making!
Click here to access the Zoom link. Remember to use the passcode: shalom615
Habitat For Humanity Build
A NEWLY ADDED PROJECT FOR STUDENTS AGES 16+
On April 25th, a group of Unity Build volunteers will be working to “Raise the Walls” at Habitat’s Sherwood Commons development. We are looking for 6-7 volunteers 16 years old and over for this effort. This is an INCREDIBLE opportunity to be a part of a special mitzvah project!!
7:15 AM - 3:30 PM - lunch/snacks/water will be provided!
Students ages 16+
Parents: If you are interested in being a chaperone, please register as well! (we need at least one parent to be a chaperone for our kids!)
Thank you to our amazing leadership team who have been working tirelessly to create these special mitzvah opportunities for all of our students and families!
Amy Katz, Jay Lefkovitz, Abbey Benjamin, Clare Clarke, Shari Green & Rabbi Michael Shulman
“How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment to start to improve the world.”