The Talmud says, “When a person gives even the smallest coin, he or she is privileged to sense God’s presence” (Tractate Baba Batra 10a).
Students at Milwaukee Jewish Day School get the chance to do that every Shabbat when they contribute tzedakah.
Through the third week in March, that tzedakah will benefit J-Help, the local initiative that raises money for local Jewish families in financial crisis.
Rick Ruvin, chair of J-Help, recently spoke to MJDS third-eighth graders as a kick-off to a school-wide tzedakah project. The project is part of “Living Green, Giving Green,” the school’s coming spring fundraiser, which will be held at the JCC on Thursday, March 22.
“This is a remarkable school with a history of getting together and helping one another,” Ruvin said. “It was inspiring to see how important tzedakah is to these children and how seriously they take it.”
MJDS students will have the opportunity to fill a large tzedakah box constructed by MJDS parent Jim Salinsky and decorated by MJDS students. Each grade will take the box for one week with the challenge of collecting as much money as possible.
Head of School Brian King added, “MJDS is proud to challenge our students to raise money for J-Help, which is filling basic immediate financial needs for families in our community. Our students will take that task very seriously, and I look forward to seeing how they use their intelligence, creativity and commitment to Jewish values to meet that challenge.”
King will present the box and the accumulated funds to Milwaukee Jewish Federation representatives at the MJDS Living Green Giving Green fundraising event on Thursday, March 22, at the JCC. In addition, a percentage of the proceeds from the event’s online auction will also benefit J-Help.
For more information or to purchase tickets to Living Green Giving Green, contact MJDS Director of Development Elizabeth Neubauer, 414-967-8312 or eneubauer@mjds.org.
See a video of Rick Ruvin’s presentation to MJDS students at www.milwaukeejewish.org.
As of Jan. 13, the J-Help Campaign raised $663,436 from 601 gifts.
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