Tzedakah
Contribute to a CBI Fund
A contribution to a CBI fund is a special way to
remember friends or loved ones who have passed away,
to honor people or special occasions, or express
wishes for recovery from an illness.
Click
here for the Contributions Form. (Scroll down for a list of CBI funds.)
Mitzvot You Can Do
| Bar Mitzvah Project
|
| |
Sponsor: |
Ethan Bravin |
| Description: |
For his Bar Mitzvah project, Ethan is collecting dog collars and donating them to a rescue group that has saves the lives of many dogs. The rescue group uses the collars to identify dogs as innoculated against rabies. Ethan is collecting used or new collars, in any size, color, shape, or form. |
| Contact: |
bethisrael@cbict.org |
|
Support Jewish Troops |
| |
Sponsor: |
Jewish Chaplains Council |
| Description: |
Provide Jewish chaplains with supplies needed for our Jewish troops, to observe the Jewish holidays and to stay in touch with loved ones at home. |
| Contact: |
www.jcca.org/chaplaincy |
|
 |
Habitat for Humanity
|
| |
Sponsor: |
Jewish Community Relations Council |
| Description: |
Build basic, affordable housing for Greater Hartford families in need. |
| Contact: |
Betsy Richards |
|
|
Secure the Call Foundation
|
| |
Sponsor: |
Secure the Call Foundation |
| Description: |
Takes old cell phones, inspects them, cleans them, charges their batteries, and then reprograms them to be used as free 911 emergency phones. Prepaid mailing labels are available on the website. |
| Contact: |
Secure the Call Foundation |
|
|
Van Needed
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| |
Sponsor: |
Congregation Beth Israel |
| Description: |
The Temple is looking for a van in good working order. We would like to try to address the ongoing problem of providing transportation to our services and events for our seniors who do not drive at night. |
| Contact: |
860-233-8315 |
|
Preschool Pals
|
| |
Sponsor: |
Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy |
| Description: |
You can make a difference! Read with a preschool student for 1/2 hour per week. |
| Contact: |
Elana Hoffman Larson |
|
|
| Got a Green Thumb? |
| |
Sponsor: |
Silver Garden Committee |
| Description: |
Help keep our beautiful new Silver Garden looking its best. |
| Contact: |
Lea Rubenstein |
|
|
| |
|
|
Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen
|
| |
Sponsor: |
Social
Justice Committee |
| Description: |
Fourth Monday
of every month |
| Contact: |
Carol
Fine through our office, 233-8215 |
|
|
Kosher Food Pantry |
| |
Sponsor: |
Jewish Family Services |
| Description: |
Donate items to the Kosher Food Pantry. Needed items are listed on the website. |
| Contact: |
Jewish Family Services |
|
|
Support our ongoing Food
Drive! |
| |
Sponsor: |
Social
Justice Committee |
| Description: |
We need:
Macaroni & cheese, Cereal, 100% Fruit Juices,
Tuna, Rice, Spaghetti & Sauce, Chunky Soups, Canned
Fruit, Beef Stew, Beans, Canned Meats, Oatmeal,
Canned Vegetables, Peanut Butter |
| Contact: |
Jim
Friedman |
|
|
|
A Light Among
the Nations |
|
Sponsor: |
Social
Justice Committee |
| Description: |
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.
Pick up a brochure on the table outside the office, fill out the order form and
leave it in the office. You'll be conserving energy, help stop global warming,
and make the earth a safer and healthier place in one simple step. |
|
| Mobile
Foodshare |
|
Sponsor: |
Foodshare and
Congregation Beth Israel |
| Description: |
Continuing Beth
Israel’s long-time commitment to feeding
the hungry and our long-term association with
Foodshare, the regional food bank, the Temple,
through the Social Justice Committee, will be
hosting Foodshare’s food pantry truck every
four weeks. If you know of people who need a food
donation, please let them know about our program.
If you would like to volunteer in helping with
the distribution of food contact Marlene Wenograd
through our office. |
|
|
Make
a donation to Foodshare |
|
Sponsor: |
Foodshare |
| Description: |
While most of us
are enjoying the holiday season, many of our hungry
neighbors are going without. As the cost of living
continues to rise, growing numbers of the working
poor here in greater Hartford simply cannot provide
for themselves and their families, even if they
work two jobs. Your gift will ensure that your
hungry neighbors have something to celebrate this
holiday. |
|
|
Bring
in the Food of the Month |
|
Sponsor: |
Social Justice Committee |
| Description: |
Bring in the Food
of the Month every time you come to Temple! |
|
|
| Balloon
Twisting & Face Painting |
|
Sponsor: |
Mitzvah Jugglers |
| Description: |
The Mitzvah Jugglers
entertain at various functions. |
| Contact: |
Eric
Schneider |
|
|
|
| Backpack
Program |
|
Sponsor: |
Youth Education
Program |
| Description: |
Fill backpacks on
a monthly basis with non-perishable, child-friendly
food items |
| Contact: |
Pamela Siskin |
|
|
| Adopt-A-Grandparent
Program |
|
Sponsor: |
Amy Selzer Mitzvah
Fund |
| Description: |
Create a personal
relationship with a senior citizen at the Hebrew
Home in West Hartford |
| Contact: |
Pamela
Siskin |
|
|
|
| Caring
Visits |
|
Sponsor: |
Caring Committee |
| Description: |
Visit or make phone
calls to our sick or homebound congregants |
| Contact: |
Beth Dworkin |
|
|
|
| Save
a Child - Save the World |
|
Sponsor: |
Social Justice Committee |
| Description: |
Make contributions
in the boxes in the lobby: Clothing, books, food,
toys for children; Toiletries for children and
families. |
| Contact: |
Jim
Friedman |
|
|
|
| Mentor |
|
Sponsor: |
Nutmeg Big Brother/Big
Sister Program |
| Description: |
Become a mentor
and receive more than you give. |
| Contact: |
Laura
Green |
|
|
|
| Recycle
TechnoTrash |
|
Sponsor: |
Social Justice Committee |
| Description: |
Cell phones, pages,
PDAs, CDs, DVDs, Video, audio tapes, Rechargeable
batteries |
| Contact: |
Jim
Friedman or Green Disk |
|
|
|
| Jewish
Family Services |
|
Sponsor: |
Jewish Family Services |
| Description: |
Various Volunteer
opportunities |
| Contact: |
Read
the list |
Others in need
Nothing But Nets
Each year, 350-500 million people are infected with
malaria. In Africa, more than one million of those
infected die each year. Ninety percent of deaths
caused by malaria occur in Africa where the disease
is a leading killer of children. Every 30 seconds
a child dies from malaria. Children who are able
to survive the disease are faced with physical and
mental impairments, such as poor growth and development.
Every day 25 million pregnant African women risk
severe illness and harm to their unborn children
from a malaria infection. Malaria incapacitates people,
it keeps them from working, it keeps countries poor.
“NOTHING BUT NETS” is a global campaign to save lives by
preventing malaria. The Union for Reform Judaism has joined this initiative
with the hope of providing 50,000 nets to save lives.
Each anti-malarial bed net costs $10. That donation goes directly toward
the purchase, distribution, and education about the proper use of an
insecticide-treated bed net. Bed nets work in two ways: they stop mosquitoes
from biting during the night and spreading the disease, and the insecticide
on the net kills the mosquitoes when they land on it, stopping them from
flying to their next victim. Bed nets can prevent malarial transmission
by 50 percent. They are distributed through the Measles Initiative -
a partnership of the United Nations Foundation, American Red Cross, U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization,
UNICEF, and local country governments and ministries of health.
To make a donation: either (1) send a $10 check for every net you would
like to purchase to Congregation Beth Israel, noting “Nothing But
Nets” on the information line OR (2) make a donation at www.nothingbutnets.net.
(If you do (2), please let Jim Friedman at jpf7332@comcast.net or Andy
Packer at ajpacker@aol.com know so we can keep track of the number of
nets Beth Israel members are purchasing.) REMEMBER: If you save a life,
it’s as if you save the world!
A CHANCE TO HELP THE REFUGEES IN THE DARFUR
REGION OF SUDAN
Just $25 provides one family with two solar cookers,
two pots, and training for the women, which greatly
reduces the need to collect firewood and the danger of attack. Jewish
World Watch, a coalition of synagogues in Southern California, is working
with Solar Cookers International to purchase and provide cookers. For
information about how you can contribute to this project, see
Jewish World Watch.
Crisis in Darfur
Much has been done, but there is still more work to
do. Take the next steps! Visit the
American Jewish World Service website to learn more.
