Random acts of loving kindness

Temple Shalom Preschool

Temple By Rabbi Ariel Boxman

Earlier this week, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts to pick up a coffee on my way to school. As I was handing my credit card to the cashier, she informed me that the woman in front of me had already paid for my coffee. Feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude, I said, “Ok, well please use my card to pay for the person behind me.” I drove off with a huge smile on my face and heart full of love. Not only was I a recipient of a random act of kindness, I had the opportunity to pay it forward.

The next day at Dunkin Donuts, I asked the cashier how long the kindness train lasted, and she reported that for over four hours, each car paid for the car behind them. While paying for someone else’s coffee or donut is a small gesture, it has a huge impact. A random act of kindness is surprising and meaningful and has the ability to change the world.

In the movie, “Pay It Forward” featuring Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osmont, a young boy is tasked by his teacher to change the world. After much brainstorming and self-doubt, the main character, Trevor, decides that he can impact the world by simply helping one person at a time, well actually, three people at a time. Trevor’s idea is to perform one act of kindness for three individuals, who would then be asked to “pay it forward.” Those three people would then each help an additional three people and the chain of good deeds would be set into action. The Dunkin Donuts kindness train was a perfect example of this “pay it forward” concept.

At Temple Shalom Preschool, we teach our students about random acts of kindness and the impact they can have on others. We not only talk about random acts of kindness, but we model them for the students. When we see a child engage in an act of kindness, we mark it and celebrate it. This has led our students to not only happily “pay it forward,” but to actively search for opportunities to make someone else smile.

In the midst of this pandemic, there is a lot of darkness around us. Depression rates are higher than ever, and many are walking around feeling anxious and agitated. With a small act of kindness, we can brighten the world and, even just for a moment, bring a smile to another’s face.

We hope that you, like our precious preschool students have an opportunity to perform a random act of kindness, and God willing, also be a recipient of one!

Aviva Gostin enjoying a warm day on the playground

Hayley Grant mastering the monkey bars

Ari Feldman and Jacob Saida painting in our new outdoor classroom