HATZILU B'NAI MITZVAH PROGRAM
Some years ago, Rabbi Michael Katz of Temple Beth Torah in Westbury designed a B'nai Mitzvah Program for Hatzilu.
This is a program for 6th and 7th grade students. Here are the four cornerstone elements of the project.
1. COLLECT: Students collect food at the school, and/or ask their friends/family to bring canned food and/or other nonperishable food goods to the service or party. Arrangements are then made for the family to bring the collected food items to the Hatzilu warehouse.
2. DELIVER: At some point just prior to, or just after, the ceremony, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah delivers food packages to Hatzilu clients. This will be done with a Hatzilu volunteer and one or both parents.
3. TEACH: The students would be encouraged to speak about their Mitzvah project at their service, have it referenced by the Rabbi, or have it written up in a program to be handed out. Additionally, they would be encouraged to speak at school about their experience to inform other students who might follow their example.
4. DONATE: B’nei Mitzvah and their families would be encouraged to make a financial donation to Hatzilu from a portion of their gifts ($180, $500, $1000).
5. A representative of Hatzilu or a representative from the synagogue will present a certificate at the service that recognizes the Bar/Bat Mitzvah for their mitzvah work.
This is a program for 6th and 7th grade students. Here are the four cornerstone elements of the project.
1. COLLECT: Students collect food at the school, and/or ask their friends/family to bring canned food and/or other nonperishable food goods to the service or party. Arrangements are then made for the family to bring the collected food items to the Hatzilu warehouse.
2. DELIVER: At some point just prior to, or just after, the ceremony, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah delivers food packages to Hatzilu clients. This will be done with a Hatzilu volunteer and one or both parents.
3. TEACH: The students would be encouraged to speak about their Mitzvah project at their service, have it referenced by the Rabbi, or have it written up in a program to be handed out. Additionally, they would be encouraged to speak at school about their experience to inform other students who might follow their example.
4. DONATE: B’nei Mitzvah and their families would be encouraged to make a financial donation to Hatzilu from a portion of their gifts ($180, $500, $1000).
5. A representative of Hatzilu or a representative from the synagogue will present a certificate at the service that recognizes the Bar/Bat Mitzvah for their mitzvah work.
Since his original conception of the program, students from all different synagogues have participated in the program and have found it to be very meaningful. There are many variations of the basic program that is outlined above. One student did a bake sale and raised $ 500. He donated the money from the bake sale for his donation. Another student collected her donated money from her father's law firm. Some students collect supermarket gift cards instead of actual cans of food. Those gift cards are then used to purchase whatever foods are running low in the warehouse.
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One student chose to use the canned food that was collected to make up unique table displays and room decor for her party. Whatever variation a student chooses, they have all said that the program provided an experience they will never forget!
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