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The ESP of the Jewish Way of Life 
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Tzedakah in Action An article in last year’s High Holiday Being Jewish (www.beingjewish.org/magazine/fall2003/article9.html) had a major impact on Laura Gewurz, Assistant Early Childhood Director at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hills, New York. The story, written by Steve Baumwald, a pilot and Navy Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves, talked about how Jewish servicemen in the U.S. Navy were in need of religious items. With Chanukah approaching, Laura, and Gale Kaplan, the Director of Early Childhood, used this opportunity to educate the 4-year-old nursery-school students with a hands-on lesson in tzedakah. With the cooperation of the JCC’s Marcy Pugatch Judaica Boutique, the children used the tzedakah money they had collected each Shabbat to shop for items to send to the servicemen. They picked out menorahs, dreidels, challah covers, Shabbat candlesticks and candles, kiddush cups, and items needed for Havdallah. Each class also created a book of Happy Chanukah cards with their own words and drawings. Two weeks after they sent the items to the U.S. Navy, Laura received a call from Rabbi Irving Elson, Commander, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy, who is now stationed in California.
He personally thanked the Early Childhood Center and told Laura how wonderful he thought the gifts were and how moved he was by the cards and books the children constructed. He said the troops he was on his way to see would be deployed back to Iraq with most of the items the school had sent. In addition, he told Laura that a female Marine Captain serving on the U.S.S. Peleliu would now be able to celebrate Shabbat with the new candlesticks. The cards and books were shared with new recruits who arrived at boot camp and spent their first Chanukah away from home. Over the past two years, Americans have come to greatly depend on the armed forces and many of our soldiers have not been home in months. This was an opportunity for the children to support their troops and give them a little taste of home during the holidays. Often, it is the children who see their parents give tzedakah,but this time, rather it is the parents watching their children perform the wonderful mitzvah of tzedakah by helping and supporting our troops.
If you would like to follow Laura’s example and send letters, cards, mezuzas, or other ritual items (no food please) to Jewish soldiers, contact: Rabbi David Lapp, JWB Chaplaincy Council, 15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010. 212-532-4949x260 or x287. |
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