The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2024 - Page 24 Education and Youth
Hebrew High “Cozy Mitzvah Night” Helps Those in Need By Eliana Spector On Nov. 15, Hebrew High held a Cozy Mitzvah Night to help those in need. This was especially meaningful around Thanksgiving time because it allowed us to reflect and help those in our community. The Cozy Mitzvah Night was planned and implemented by a group of 10th, 11th, and 12th graders as part of
their first-trimester class: Gemilut Chasidim – Acts of Loving Kindness: Service Projects for the Community. As a class, we met every Wednesday leading up to Nov. 15 to plan the event. The program was developed with four different organizations in mind: The Humane Society of Charlotte, Friendship Circle, Center of Hope, a shelter for women
4Lillie Auslander and her service dog, Shadow, took the “Wear PJs to Hebrew High” assignment so seriously that they decided to match!
and children, and Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte. Each of these organizations was selected based on four different Jewish values of tz’ar ba’alei chayim, kehillah kedosha, l’dor v’dor, and kavod l’zikeinim. To add a little fun to the evening, we added a cozy theme that inspired a hot chocolate bar, a cozy corner to hang out and eat cookies, and the chance to wear pajamas to school. Obviously, the most important part of the evening was the projects put together for the students to complete. The Humane Society of Charlotte believes in working to improve our community by creating new, loving families and building a world where there are no more homeless and unwanted animals. The Jewish value we associate with this project is tz’ar ba’alei chayim, which translates to the suffering of living creatures. At this station we made no-sew dog toys. Our Hebrew High students brought in gently used but clean t-shirts that were cut and tied to make the dog toys. Friendship Circle is an organization that helps children and teens with special needs create
Shane Peterson, Cabell Philpott, Avery Jurusik, Daniel Shore, Ruby Pesakoff, Maddie Friedlander and Asher Schreibman hanging out in the cozy corner, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate! They love being together and wearing PJs to Hebrew High!
genuine friendships and enjoy inclusive social experiences. This organization is affiliated with Chabad of Charlotte so it was especially meaningful to support a Jewish organization. Friendship Circle pairs Jewish high school student volunteers with children and teens with special needs. The Jewish value we associate with Friendship Circle is kehillah kedosha, which means holy community. At this station we made
friendship bracelets to be given to the participants as Chanukah gifts. Salvation Army Center of Hope for Women and Children offers shelter to women and children who have nowhere else to go. This program provides emergency shelter, three daily meals, case management, intervention (Continued on page 25)
