Tzedakah Recipient for May
Temple Emanu-El and the Interfaith Network April 2013
Mitzvah Day January 20. 2013
Social Action volunteers organized and arranged a Blood drive that took place at Temple Emanu-El
on Sunday, January 20, 2013. The Temple Mitzvah Day event was an outstanding success. The
annual blood drive was kept busy. From 32 donors they collected 24 units of blood. The turn out
was very good and the New Jesey Blood Bank advised that in Flu season they normally get only
about 5 units at any given time. Over 120 toiletry bags were prepared and 100 sustainable lunch
packages were put together. Hundreds of pounds of clothing donations were sorted. With knitted
caps and blankets going to Israeli soldiers and the homeless in Essex County. Decorated lunch bags
and placements for food for the homeless were delivered to Bridges for them to distribute. Glued
touch pieces and childrens books were sent to autistic toddlers. The Mitzvah Day participants made
pot holders for a runaway teen home and for a cerebral palsey foundation. Flower pens for women's
and family shelters, plus some were given out to the residents at Brighton Gardens as they listened
to the Temple Choir. Knotted blankets were made for the Eric Johnson House AIDs patients.
We even made rope chews for shelter animals. Letters were written to soldiers and Thank You
notes were made and given to those donating blood. In addition we collected $70 for Operation
Salami Drop to send salami to soldiers by Hobbies Delicatessen of Newark. We decorated three buckets
and filled them with cleaning supplies for families being moved from homelessness into apartments by
the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Other activities kept everyone busy, with many of the activities taking
place in some of the Religious School classrooms.
Members of the Adult Choir, together with Cantor Sharon Brown-Levy, visited and entertained the
residents of Brighton Gardens in West Orange, with a selection of "Golden Oldies".
To see more Mitzvah Day Activities scroll down.
The Clothing Sorters
Rabbi Litcofsky and a crew of 11th/12th grade students selected and sorted books and
clothing that willbe distributed to a needy agency and will also be used for TEMTY mid-night run.
To see photographs of the Mitzvah Day click here
Kosher Food Pantry Jan 20 2013 a Mitzvah Day Activity
First Row: Lenore Lerner, Sue Levine, Barbara Gross, Diane Share, Jeanne Heiber
Second Row: Bob Share, Ed Gross, Karen Solomon, Dick Solomon
A group of volunteers from Temple Emanuel helped out Sunday morning, Jan. 20th, at the Kosher
Food Pantry, which is held at Oheb Shalom in South Orange. The food pantry, which is held once
a month, helps supply groceries to people in need in Essex County. Our volunteers helped sort
and distribute food as well as help some folks out to the parking lot with their bags.
Singing At Brighton Gardens a Mitzvah Day Activity
Bobi Littman, Andy Seltzer, Lenore Lerner, Sue Levine, Helen Freedman, Bonnie Sher,
Judy Cohen with Dick Solomons behind her, Ruby Schrimmer, Steve Werdenshlag,
Cantor Sharon Brown-Levy and Gloria Huegel.
Lenore Lerner with a resident that could not remember her age, we were advised that
she is passed her 100th birthday. Gloria Huegel sings to 104 year old resident.
The Temple Choir presented a program of old songs. Song sheets were given out and the
residents of Brighton Gardens sang along. They had smiles on their faces and the hour
and a half program flew by. The visit to the Brighton Gardens has been part of Temple
Emanu-El Mitzvah Day for many years.,
Turkey Collection Saturday November 17 and Sunday18th. 2012
Turkey collectors Larry Lerner, Steve Heiber and Bob Share were happy to display some of the donated turkeys.
The Social Action Committee of Temple Emanu-El of West Essex organized their yearly Thanksgiving Turkey
Collection that took place on November 17th and 18th. This yearly event is designed to help families in
need celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with a Turkey dinner. We invited the public at large to bring a
frozen turkey to the Temple parking lot. Over the two days over 1000 lbs. of turkey were collected.
At this two day event the Temple Emanu-El Social Action volunteers collected 58 turkeys at Temple Emanu-El
and another 40 at St. Philomena’s Church. The frozen turkey was distributed to local families in need and
also to the Community Food Bank through the Livingston Clergy Association. This annual program has supplied
hundreds of turkeys over the years to those families in need. In addition the Social Action Committee organized,
over the same two days, assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. They sorted and distributed
clothing, coats, food, diapers and more to people affected by the storm. In addition a group of volunteers
made and packed over 100 lunches for those displaced by the storm. Teams were sent to Staten Island and
to Liberty State Park to assist in the clean up efforts. This two day event ended with the
Temple Emanu-El congregation donating over $3000 in gift cards that will be given out to assist those
suffering from the effects of the storm.
We are also working with the Community Hunger Outreach
Each time you visit the Temple, please bring a food item with you,
to give to the Social Action Food Collection.
"And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the
edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them
for the poor and for the stranger. I the Eternal am your God."
Leviticus 23:22
