As part of Jewish Social Action Month, teens will be asked to collect donations of diapers to give to families in need — like these young people did in advance of last year’s Super Sunday. Performing the mitzva are, from left, Michael Riesenberg, Mike Forgash, Rachel Rosenberg, Alyssa Riesenberg, Nikki Koll, Ariel Zaksenberg, and Isabel Lopez.
Photos by Elaine Durbach
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Teens learn how to make a Morrocan delicacy at Central federation’s Super Sunday last year.
Debbie Rosenwein says the month of charitable projects starting in October is part of the federation’s growing emphasis on social action.
September 9, 2009
From Oct. 19 to Nov. 17, volunteers from Central New Jersey are planning to join Jews around the world in a global campaign of doing good.
Those dates span the Jewish month of Heshvan, dubbed Jewish Social Action Month, or JSAM. Individuals and organizations from all denominations plan to feed the hungry, rally for Darfur, clean up the environment, or — as the organizers urge — “do whatever you are passionate about.”
The Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey is launching its own efforts in conjunction with KolDor, the organization established three years ago to run JSAM. It is an international network of Jewish leaders, working with the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel and the Internet site socialaction.com, to promote both social action and Jewish peoplehood.
Debbie Rosenwein, the federation’s director of planning and allocations, pointed out that the time frame also overlaps with Federation Awareness Month, the run-up to Super Sunday, the organization’s major annual fund-raiser and community get-together. This year, Super Sunday will take place on Dec. 6, providing a natural culmination for the JSAM activities.
“There are no Jewish holidays from late October through to the end of November, so it’s a particularly good opportunity to focus our efforts on doing good,” Rosenwein said. “It can be something done for bar or bat mitzva projects, or for the whole family to get involved in. And if anyone is looking for ideas for projects, they can call me.”
So far, federation activists are planning three special collection efforts on three Sundays to aid people in need. Each time, volunteers will be handing out information about federation programs, and asking shoppers to contribute particular items.
- On Oct. 25 in Basking Ridge, volunteers will be inviting shoppers to buy and donate personal care items, like shampoo, skin lotion, and toothbrushes.
- On Nov. 1 there will be a diaper drive, much like the one conducted by teens in support of Super Sunday last year.
- On Nov. 15 volunteers will collect household products like scouring powder and laundry detergent.
Through November, members of the community will also be asked to donate new books and toys. All the items gathered will be distributed by Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey to families they know are facing hard times.
Super Sunday this year is being chaired by Mara Levy and Shari Bloomberg. Together with vice chairs Lisa Israel and Ellen Zimmerman, and their committee, they are planning a day of telephone outreach to donors, but also a day combining social action and family fun.
While they have yet to finalize their plans, Rosenwein, the staff point person for the event, said activities will most likely include making friendship bracelets to share with the people of Arad, one of Central’s partnership communities in Israel; learning how to become a mitzva clown; packing boxes of food to give to JFS; and donating blood. All that will go on while entertainers provide music, games, and activities.
To find out more about Super Sunday, go to www.jewishjerseycentral.org or call 908-889-5335. To learn more about Jewish Social Action Month, visit globaljsam.ning.com.
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