TBI’s Social Action Committee is launching its new project entitled “Mitzvot Minutes.” Our goal? To boost the performance of low income, low scoring children at two nearby Fresno USD sites, Wolters Elementary and Ahwahnee Middle Schools.
What are Mitzvot Minutes? Volunteerism in a wonderful array of capacities. We are seeking reading buddies, tutors, small group instructors, homework helpers, mentors (Big Brothers/Sisters), office assistants, arts & crafts leaders, music teachers, classroom aides, room moms & dads, sport leaders, fieldtrip chaperones, fundraisers . . . be as creative as you like. We ask each of you to contribute just 60+ “Mitzvot Minutes” a week, to be provided on-site, during or after school. Note: you need not be an expert. The only required “credentials”: consistency, a compassionate heart, and a love for children.
Why volunteer? First, volunteer for the sake of the children. Share our traditional love of learning and our cultural warmth with children who urgently depend upon education to lead them out of poverty. Second, volunteer for ourselves. Exercising Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) through volunteerism offers a means for deepening our spiritual commitment and the opportunity to develop new (and old) ties within our community.
If you can spare 60+ minutes a week, please submit your name and phone number
to Helen Siporin, Social Action Committee Co-chair, through the TBI office
or email to: siporin@comcast.net . No mitzvah is turned away.
If you are looking for a way to honor a blessing in your family, how about donating a book to the children’s library in the Religious School. The children’s library is always looking for new books. We are in short supply of books in the following areas: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Simchat Torah, Tu B’shevat, Tzedakah, Mitzvot, Israel, and phrophets.
Here are some titles that we are looking for:
Oberman, Sheldon. THE WISDOM BIRD: A TALE OF SOLOMON AND SHEBA
Shollar, Leah. THREAD OF KINDNESS: A TZEDAKA STORY
Lester, Julius. PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER
(for older children)
Jaffe, Nina. TALES FOR THE SEVENTH DAY.
Alexander, Sue. BEHOLD THE TREES
da Costa, Deborah. SNOW IN JERUSALEM
Dollinger, Renate. THE RABBI WHO FLEW.
Goldin, Barbara Diamon. A MOUNTAIN OF BLINTZES.
Jules, Jacqueline. THE HARDEST WORD: A YOM KIPPUR STORY
Sasso, Sandy. CAIN AND ABEL: FINDING THE FRUITS OF PEACE
Read a good book lately?
Chai Lights welcomes the submission of book reviews of Jewish
interest
for publication in Chai Lights. Reviews may be submitted by
e-mail to
Karen Podolsky (karensan@aol.com) or Marianne Kast (mk105@csufresno.edu)
or typed on computer disk and left at the Temple office for
the Chai
Lights editors.
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