It's Mitzvas Day - Beth Or's annual day of giving back! The Social Action Committee has organized several activities and collections that your family can do from your home or in your pod. Take your pick of Mitzvas Day projects to participate in!  Choose from in-person drop offs, self-directed projects and interactive Zoom activities. Join Rabbi Bonder at the start of the day for a spiritual message and close the day with his Lunch 'n Learn session.

9:45am: KICK OFF WITH RABBI BONDER 

Start your Mitzvas Day with Rabbi Bonder on Zoom as he shares a spiritual message with the Beth Or Community.  Click here to join Rabbi Bonder on Zoom! You will be placed in the waiting room until the host is ready to begin.

9:30am – 12pm: COLLECTION DRIVE DROP-OFF AT BETH OR

Please drop off the needed items noted below in the designated bins located outside the main entrance doors. Our Social Action Committee Chairs, Susy Krimker & Margie Chachkin will be there to greet you!

ADULT CLOTHING (OUR CLOSET)  

What is needed? Men and women’s winter coats and casual clothing (e.g., new or gently used jeans, sweats, hoodies, leggings, sneakers), especially plus sizes to benefit Our Closet, powered by Jewish Family and Children’s Services, providing clothing to vulnerable Philadelphians free of charge at pop-up shops. 

Chair: Rachel Steinberg, levinerb@yahoo.com

SUPPLIES & NON-PERISHABLE FOOD (ST. CHRISTOPHER’S HOSPITAL)

What is needed? Paper towels, soaps, tissues and non-perishable food items for families with children on the hematology floor at St. Christopher’s Hospital.

Chairs: Beth & Bernie Johl, bandbjohl@comcast.net

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING (FAMILY MATTERS)

What is needed? Children’s winter coats, boots, gloves, scarves and hats in infant to teen sizes (new or gently used) to benefit children whose essential needs are met by Family Matters (formerly JAFCO), a Jewish organization that provides support services in times of crisis, trauma or life transitions.  

Chairs: Susy Krimker, susykrimker@gmail.com & Margie Chachkin, chachkin@aol.com

WOMEN’S PERSONAL PRODUCTS (DISTRIBUTING DIGNITY)

What is needed? New bras and feminine hygiene products that will be delivered to area shelters by Distributing Dignity serving women in-need throughout Pennsylvania. 

Chair: Shari Coltoff, coltoff@yahoo.com

All Day: SELF-DIRECTED PROJECTS

Below are some ideas of activities you and your family can do on your own.

Create a DIY TZEDAKAH BOX. Find a ‘home’ in your home, or give as a gift. Click here for an instructional video or search on Pinterest for inspiration.

Put BREAKFAST BAGS together for MANNA ON MAIN STREET, whose mission is to end hunger in the North Penn region. Breakfast bags should include pre-boxed/packaged items such as: cereal/granola bars, instant oatmeal, cereal or fruit cups, bagged nuts, raisins, shelf-stable milk, tea and instant coffee packets.  Utensils and napkin are welcome. Please label what you’ve made (attn: Manna on Main) and drop off to Beth Or at outside bins by the main entrance during office hours by Tuesday, December 29. 

Chair: Susan Silverstein, iluv2bfit@msn.com

Buy a box of PRE-PACKAGED COOKIES, and drop off at a LOCAL POLICE STATION with a note expressing thanks on behalf of yourself and Congregation Beth Or. Remember to take a photo for Beth Or to share! Local stations include:

Ambler, 122 East Butler Pike, Ambler

Horsham, 1025 Horsham Road, Horsham

Lansdale, 35 Vine Street, Lansdale

Lower Gwynedd, 1130 N. Bethlehem Pike, Spring House

Montgomery, 1001 Stump Road, Montgomeryville

North Wales, 300 School Street, North Wales

Springfield, 1510 Paper Mill Road, Wyndmoor

Upper Dublin, 801 Loch Also Avenue, Fort Washington

Upper Gwynedd, 1 Parkside Place, North Wales

Whitemarsh, 616 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill

Whitpain, 960 Wentz Road, Blue Bell

BETH OR GOES ZOOM!

The activities below are all interactive and take place at the time listed. Simply click the link to participate!

10am – 11am: SLEEPING MAT PROJECT(INTEGRATE FOR GOOD)

Did you know those plastic bags you have piled up can be recycled to make sleeping mats for people experiencing homelessness?  Come meet new friends via zoom, care for our planet and make a difference for Integrate for Good. For this project, you'll need plastic grocery bags and scissors. Suggested ages: 5 years and up. Please label what you've made (attn: Bev Weinberg) and drop off to Beth Or at the outdoor bins by the main entrance during office hours, by January 8, 2021. 

Chair: Bev Weinberg, bev@integrateforgood.org  

Click here to join the Sleeping Mat Project on Zoom! 

11am – 12pm: FLOWER ARRANGEMENT MAKING (HORSHAM CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE)

Interested in making a flower arrangement to brighten the day for a nursing home resident living at Horsham Center for Jewish Life? Join Mona Gold for our adult workshop and drop-off your finished arrangement to Beth Or at the outdoor bins by the main entrance on Monday, December 28 before 3pm.   

For this project, you'll need:

* 1 container per arrangement, round or square about 4" in diameter, glass, plastic or metal. The dollar store has plenty to pick from.

* Pruners or kitchen shears to cut flower stems.

* One large bunch of mixed flowers from the grocery store or Produce Junction.

* Greens from your backyard or the grocery store. If you don’t have this not to worry we can make a lovely arrangement without it.

Chair: Mona Gold, mgoldgarden@yahoo.com

Click here to join Flower Arranging on Zoom! 

SELF CARE, FITNESS & FUN (CHILDREN’S RIGHTS)

Take time for fitness and fun while giving back!  Join one or both of our 45-minute classes for a suggested donation of $10 which will benefit Children's Rights, an organization that combats violations in the child welfare systems. Please mail your check to Beth Or by December 25 with a note, "For Mitzvas Day-C.R."  

• 10am – 10:45am: THE NEXT LEVEL WORKOUT If you're the type of person who won't let winter break get in the way of your gains, join Beth Or CECE Dad and Board Member, Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach, Paul Brooks, for an advanced level workout. Please have these on hand:
  • a bench, stool or chair to step on
  • either 2 light dumbbells, wine bottles or other objects that are equal in weight and are roughly 8-15 lbs to be used for shoulder raise variations

Click here to work out with Paul Brooks on Zoom! 

• 11am – 11:45am: FAMILY FUN WORKOUT What could be better than spending time with the whole family, doing good in the world, AND getting in a great workout? Join fitness enthusiast, exercise instructor, CECE Mom and Scientist, Jillian Hillman, as she leads an upbeat morning workout.

Click here to work out with Jillian Hillman on Zoom! 

12:30pm – 1pm:  LUNCH 'N LEARN - EAT, LEARN & GROW WITH RABBI BONDER

Grab your lunch and join Rabbi Bonder on Zoom as he explores the idea that there is much more that unites humanity than separates us. Have Jews always felt that way?  Together we'll take a look back at the history of the relations of Jewish communities with their neighbors to better understand our role in this moment of history. 

Click here to join Rabbi Bonder's Lunch & Learn on Zoom! You will be placed in the waiting room until the host is ready to begin.

Help us spread the word about Mitzvas Day and our wonderful community!

Tag @CONGREGATIONBETHOR and #MITZVASDAY2020 on your social media posts to share your family’s Mitzvas Day activities!

OR email your photo to jtrias@bethor.org and we will share it!