Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 100, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 20, 2008 Page: 5 of 28
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Page 5
Jewish Herald-Voice
November 20, 2008
Volunteers Laura Klein, Lauren Brookner, Mindy
Klein and Ellen Friedman helped prepare lunches at
Temple Emanu El during Mitzvah Day.
Mitzvah
From Page 1
thankful to be able to do something
meaningful to help others. Many of our
volunteers bring their children along
to teach them the importance of com-
munity service and social action.”
Mitzvah Day’s partner agencies,
and the people and communities they
serve, are very appreciative of the
assistance and love they receive from
the volunteers, Arnold noted.
“One of the tenants of Judaism is
tikkun olam, and this is what Mitzvah
Day is all about - going out to do what
you can to help others in need, Jew’s
and non-Jews alike,” she said. “For the
greater Houston community, I think
seeing Congregation Emanu El out
there en masse really shows that we
put our words into action.”
Emanu El congregant Terry Stukalin
has been volunteering for Mitzvah Day
since the event began in 1992. This year,
she and her daughter, Lauren, helped
make sandwiches at the synagogue for
the Kids’ Meals project.
“We’re here today because it’s impor-
tant to give back to the community,”
stated Stukalin, whose nursing career
enables her to perform mitzvot - and to
help save lives - on a daily basis. “We’ve
been doing Mitzvah Day for as long as I
can remember, and we love it.”
Natalie Baker was another con-
gregant working on a project at
the synagogue. She helped pack
boxes alongside Alan Martay of the
Emergency Aid Coalition, and with
dozens of other volunteers, during
the Mitzvah Day clothing drive.
“It’s just good to take time to help
other people,” Baker commented.
“And, it’s a lot of fun to do with a big
group of people.”
David Silverman was one of many
volunteers who worked on projects
outside the synagogue. Silverman
has been a member of Emanu El’s
volunteer choir for the past three
decades. As in years past, he and
his fellow volunteer choir members
spent Mitzvah Day singing for elderly
residents at Seven Acres.
“The residents love having us
perform for them,” he observed.
“Many of them sing and clap along,
and it really cheers them up. Seeing
them enjoy the music so much, in
turn, makes us feel really good.”
Betsy Goodfriend and Paige
Robbins are fourth-graders at Emanu
El’s religious school. Their class trav-
eled to the Houston Food Bank to
volunteer for families in need.
“We all brought bags of canned
goods to donate,” Betsy pointed out.
Paige added: “We’re going to the
Food Bank, because there are people
who need food, and we want to help
them.”
Emanu El’s seventh-graders per-
formed an Israeli dance routine for
residents at the Richmond State
School. The students also gave the
residents “blessing trees,” which
they made from colored
paper in an arts-and-
crafts project.
“It was fun, really
fun,” seventh-grader,
Jeremiah Leventhal,
remarked during the bus
ride back to the syna-
gogue. “It was definitely
worth getting up at 8
i o’clock this morning.”
I Caty Arriaga, another
% seventh-grader, added:
“Today’s trip made me
feel good inside, because
we did something good
and made another person’s day.”
Both Caty and Jeremiah noted that
their class’ Mitzvah Day project was all
the more meaningful, since they per-
formed a good deed for many people
who are unable to say “thank you.”
During the opening ceremony
of this year’s Mitzvah Day, Steve
Weingarten, Emanu El president,
encouraged his fellow congregants to
make every day a mitzvah day. Before
sounding the shofar to kick off the
event, Emanu El Senior Rabbi Roy
Walter called upon the congregation
to lead by example, and to help make
the world a better place for all.
Mitzvah Day co-chair, Arnold,
expressed gratitude for being given
the opportunity to help provide others
with the opportunity to perform
mitzvot and community outreach.
“I really feel good about what
we’re doing,” reflected Arnold, who
was joined by family volunteers,
husband Mark, and their three chil-
dren, Alyssa, Jacob and Braden.
“On a personal level, for my own
family, I feel like my kids seeing me
involved in something like this shows
them that Mom really cares about
doing mitzvahs and good deeds, and
really getting out there in the com-
munity and helping others,” she said.
“Modeling that behavior means a lot,
because Judaism teaches that it’s not
just what we say, but it’s the things
that we do, that are so important.”
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Samuels, Jeanne F. Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 100, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 20, 2008, newspaper, November 20, 2008; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth544188/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .