More than 600 Grade 1-5 students from Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s beneficiary day schools gathered on the Federation campus for Chesed Day on December 9^th. The students, from Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Hillel Day School of Boca Raton and Torah Academy of Boca Raton, enthusiastically embraced the concept of Chesed, the Jewish obligation to be responsible for those around us.

Following a program for all in Zinman Hall, they demonstrated their commitment through six hands-on helping projects in break-out groups. They also heard from the organizations and agencies that distributed the efforts of the morning to those in need: ChaiLifeLine, JAFCO, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service Homebound; Yachad; JARC and Mae Volen Adult Care Center.

The careful planning of school representatives convened by the Federation Department of Jewish Education’s School Education Services, and the synergy of bringing the schools together, led to a remarkable morning of  learning, and action on behalf of others. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Students Learn Meaning of 'Chesed'
By David A. Schwartz, Staff Writer |South Florida Jewish Journal
Published: 8:30 AM EST, December 14, 2010
http://www.floridajewishjournal.com/news/palm-beach-county-news/fl-jjps-chesed-1215-20101214,0,4420598.story?track=rss

Itai Radberg was deep in concentration as he wrote a note that will be given to an unknown child in a hospital.

The 10-year-old 5th grade student at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy in West Boca Raton was joined last Thursday by about 600 1st through 5th graders from Donna Klein, the Hillel Day School of Boca Raton and Torah Academy in Boca Raton.

Students met in classrooms at Donna Klein for Chesed Day, program to teach them about acts of kindness. They worked on projects to benefit ChaiLifeline, JAFCO, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service Homebound, Yachad, JARC and the Mae Volen Adult Care Center.

Radberg and other 5th graders from Donna Klein wrote notes that ChaiLifeline, which has an office in North Miami Beach, will give to children with cancer or chronic debilitating diseases.

"I think it's important that they know we appreciate them and know the conditions they are in and we won't turn our backs on them," Radberg said.

Justin Hier, writing a note a few tables away, added, "When you do something nice for someone, it's likely that they will do something nice for someone. And it goes around and it will have an effect on the whole community."

In another classroom, Michah Getz, a 10-year-old 4th grader at Donna Klein, decorated a flower pot pen holder for Yachad, an organization that works with special needs children and adults. Jews practice chesed "to make other people feel good about themselves," he said.

All of the students learned about chesed earlier in the morning.

"Today you're going to do a mitzvah of giving," Hadassah Smolarchik, Hillel Day School of Boca Raton Judaic coordinator, told them.

"Chesed literally means kindness, doing an act of kindness," Smolarchik said. "Chesed is wonderful because when you do chesed, our rabbis tell us, you benefit too. You get something back."

"You can make a difference, one act at a time, one act of kindness," added Yafa Levit, lower school principal of Judaic studies at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy.

"It's truly remarkable for children of Jewish day schools to come together and learn and perform chesed as one," said Rabbi Reuven Feinberg, dean of the Torah Academy of Boca Raton.

Children who receive a Jewish education learn the foundation of Jewish identity and living, he said. "Chesed is one of the cornerstones of Judaism."

Photo Caption:
From left, Yaacov More, 10, of Boca Raton, a fourth grader at Torah Academy of Boca Raton and Ari Lev, 9, of Coral Springs, a fourth grader at Donna Klein Jewish Academy, team up to make a flower pot pen holder during Chesed Day.