Saturday, February 22
Tikkun Olam Minyan with Rabbi Aklepi & Cantorial Soloist Jessica Bass
10:30 AM
Temple Beth Am Chapel
Sunday, February 23
Mitzvah Day*
8:00AM-9:00 AM: Join us at TBAM in the Social Hall and grab a nosh or head straight to your project.
8:00AM-12:00 PM: On campus projects including donations.
9:00AM-5:00 PM: Off campus projects.
*Start and end times are project specific. Please confirm scheduling details online or with project captains directly. All donations to be left at TBAM must be at TBAM by 12 PM.
Friday, February 28
Tikkun Olam Shabbat: Honoring Mitzvah Day Leaders and Participants!
Temple Beth Am Sanctuary
6:00 PM Pre-Neg
6:30 PM Shabbat service and honors
Our annual, flagship day of mitzvot is coming!
While we as Jews serve our communities year-round, Mitzvah Day is an opportunity to act together as a congregation to make positive change. On February 23rd, learn about new ways to help, share your passion for service, or reignite prior volunteer commitments all the while meeting and connecting with your fellow congregants. With dozens of organizations to support and opportunities both on- and off-campus, there’s an opportunity for everyone at Mitzvah Day!
Questions about a specific project? Contact the captain (emails are included in project descriptions).
Questions in general? Contact [email protected].
Mitzvah Day is made possible by Tikkun Olam at Temple Beth Am (tbam.org/tikkunolam) and has been an annual event since 1989.
Instagram/Facebook: Follow & tag us @tbam_tikkunolam
INAUGURAL MITZVAH DAY HONOREE
THE LEGACY OF TINA FORSTER
April 7, 1970 – February 10, 2024
As a Mitzvah-Day leader, Tina Forster was responsible for coordinating and organizing all of the dozens of captains and projects–an effort that starts months in advance of Mitzvah Day and is critical to its success. Upon her passing, Tina bequeathed to Tikkun Olam the largest single donation Tikkun Olam has ever received, which continues to make much of our programming possible. At this year’s Tikkun Olam Shabbat on February 28th, we invite you to join us as we recognize the individuals and families who have been and are instrumental to the success and growth of Mitzvah Day and specifically honor Tina and her contributions by making a $1,000 donation in Tina’s name to Lighthouse For the Blind, an organization she loved deeply.
Project Captain Contact Information
Captains: Susan Rosenthal ([email protected]) + Pam Misrahi ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Parking Lot- Big Red Bus
Time: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM
Ages: 16+
Donate blood (whole blood and platelets) to enhance the health and well-being of others and facilitate scientific research through OneBlood’s work with blood and stem cell products.
Captains: Brenda Kilmer ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Overhang
Ages: All ages
Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Donate your gently used books (baby/children’s, young adult and adult) to support various adult and child-development organizations, including The Children’s Trust, Books for Free, the Jewish Home for the Aged and many more. No Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Text books, Magazines and most importantly, no Religious books
Recipients
Adult centers
1. Senior Lift Center
2. East Ridge at Cutler Bay
3. Jewish Home for the Aged
Children Centers
1. Voices for Children
2. Gibson Bethel Community Center
3. One More Child
Captain: Gaby Kushner ([email protected]) and Jeanne Kushner ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Social Hall
Time: 9AM – 10AM: prepare sandwiches, 10AM: Load cars, 10:30A: deliver to community fridges
Ages: All ages (parent supervision req’d for kids under age 13)
Support Buddy System’s initiative to combat food insecurity by making sandwiches and restocking multiple community fridges around Miami.
MAX: 30 volunteers (+ 5 drivers)
Captains: Jeffrey Rosenberg ([email protected]), Jay Koren ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Overhang
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Ages: All ages
Donate hygiene necessities for residents of Chapman Partnership, which manages two homeless assistance centers in Miami and Homestead for vulnerable populations. Our goal is to help provide essential items for the 600 individuals currently residing in their shelters, including many families with children.
ITEMS REQUESTED
• BOOKS FOR CHILDRENS & ADULTS (new or gently used)
• MEN’S AND WOMEN’S UNDERWEAR (only new)
• PULL-UPS FOR TODDLERS (only new)
• PILLOWS (only new)
• NEW SHEETS (Twin/Full)
• NEW TOWELS
• COOKWARE (new or gently used)
• FLATWARE/UTENSILS (new or gently used)
• KITCHEN/COOKING UTENSILS (new or gently used)
• NEW SHOWER CURTAINS & RINGS
• BROOM, MOP, BUCKET (only new)
• CLEANING SUPPLIES (Bath scrub, Clorox, Lysol, wipes, etc.)
• DINNERWARE (New to gently used – full-size plates)
• DRINKWARE (only new)
• LAUNDRY DETERGENT & DISH SOAP
Captains: Lindsey Wolfson ([email protected]) + Randi Wolfson ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Chapel
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Ages: All ages (registration required to participate!)
It’s never too early to start planning for hurricane season! Enjoy a family friendly morning to support The CLEO Institute, a non-profit whose mission is to educate and empower communities to demand climate action, ensuring a safe, just, and healthy environment for all. In this two-part activity, you’ll first grab your shopping bag and stock-up on essential supplies to create hurricane kits for vulnerable community members. Once you find everything and purchase the supplies, you’ll bring them to TBAM and join the assembly line to package the kits with other items collected from the community!
Hurricane kits will be shared with community members who participate in CLEO’s climate education programs.
Captain: Robyn Abrams ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Terrace
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: 8+ (younger kids must be accompanied by an adult; registration required to participate!)
Create mosaics, which will later be applied to benches in the TBAM garden. The benches will provide a place for quiet contemplation.
Captain: Brittany Adams ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Social Hall
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (will end when materials run out!)
Ages: 8+
Support Israel Defense Forces (IDF) via the Friends of the IDF (FIDF) by writing cards and decorating pillowcases to send to the soldiers. The FIDF is a non-political, non-military organization that provides for the wellbeing of the IDF, veterans, and family members.
Captains: Ali and Perri Calinoff ([email protected])
Location: Target, 7800 SW 104th St.
Ages: All Ages
Join us for a meaningful and fun-filled morning to support JAFCO! In this special activity, families will shop for “Birthday Boxes” from wishlists created by the children of JAFCO. Bring joy to kids in need by selecting items that will help make their birthdays extra special! Once you finish shopping and pay, bring the items back to Beth Am where they’ll be collected and delivered to JAFCO.
Captains: Rooney Brodie ([email protected]) + Laura Greer Haim ([email protected])
Location: Milam’s Market, 11701 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest Plaza
Time: Various (see online)
Ages: All ages
Enjoy a family-friendly morning to support JCS and the Kosher Food Bank with this two-part activity perfect for families with young kids. First, grab your Milam’s grocery cart and go on a scavenger hunt to stock-up on essential groceries to replenish the KFB. Once you find everything and pay, package the items at Milam’s in a basket to distribute to local families in need.
MAX: 40 families, 20/shift
TIMING: 2 shifts; 9AM and 10AM
Captain: Nessia Kushner ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Social Hall
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: All ages
Create book care packages for 1st-5th graders of ACHIEVE Miami, an organization helping underserved families realize their full potential through reading and writing based activities and college-access programs. Bring in gently used books appropriate for Pre-K through 5th Grade readers, then create the care packages together.
Captain: Caroline Miller ([email protected])
Location: Miami Children’s Museum (980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132)
Time: 2:30 – 5 PM
Ages: Families with children 3-12 years old will have the most fun! Lotus House attendees will primarily be 4-10 years old.
Lotus House aims to improve the lives of women, youth and kids experiencing homelessness by providing sanctuary, support, education, tools and resources. Come be a kid again at the Miami Children’s Museum alongside our Lotus House neighbors as we explore and enjoy the magic of the Museum through a craft activity, playtime in the museum exhibits and pizza.
Participant fee: $40 per Beth Am family (this covers entrance into the Miami Children’s Museum for a family of 4, playtime in the Museum exhibits, a craft activity, and pizza).
Capacity limited to 20 families of volunteers.
Captain: Anne Becker ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Social Hall
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: All ages
Bring your knitting needles, yarn, or whatever crafting project you’re working on, which once completed is donated to our Clergy who give your works of art, love and comfort to congregants and local organizations to let them know that TBAM cares.
Captains: Lindsey Friedman ([email protected]) + Todd Friedman ([email protected])
Location: Virginia Key
Time: 9:30 AM – 12 PM
Ages: All ages
Volunteer with Miami Waterkeeper, a non-profit dedicated to clean water, ecosystem protection, and sea-level-rise resiliency, to clean up our beaches and learn about the negative impacts of marine debris and microplastics.
Miami Waterkeeper will provide all materials but volunteers can bring their own gloves (not required).
Participants should wear proper sun protection, closed toed shoes, and comfortable clothes that can get wet and dirty.
Captain: Brett Rubin ([email protected] + Emily Eaglstein ([email protected]) + Yonah Janowitz ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Garden
Time: 9 AM
Ages: All Ages (registration required!)
Join the TBAM Garden as we pot plans and decorate planters and cards for residents of The Palace, a home offering independent and assisted living and rehab to seniors. Plants will then be delivered to older adults in our community to let them know we care!
Captain: Jennifer Resnick ([email protected]) + Susan Malca ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Social Hall & Overhang
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: All ages
Tap into your creative and artistic spirit by painting colorful designs on ceiling panels that will later be installed at PATCHES to brighten their facility. PATCHES is a home away from home for children and their families receiving medical care. Diaper donations are greatly encouraged as well.
Capacity limited to 12 families (approx 40 people)
Captain: Kadie Black ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Overhang
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Ages: All ages
Help ensure dignity for the children of Miami-Dade’s foster system with the Voices For Children Foundation by purchasing and donating full-size hygiene items. Your donations will later be assembled into comfort kits for each child.
ITEMS REQUESTED:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Deodorant
Hair products
Feminine products
Soap
Lotions
Toothpaste.
You can also help by purchasing items off of their Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2F31HTYZY3IDM/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
Captain: Steven Safren ([email protected])
Location: 25800 SW 182nd Ave and TBAM (drive-thru)
Time: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Ages: 9+ (parental supervision required for volunteers ages 9-17)
Redland Dog Sanctuary is a no-kill, nurturing animal shelter in Homestead that works diligently to rescue and rehab dogs so they may be adopted into forever homes. Spend time with the dogs and participate in facility clean up, organization and improvement projects.
Participants are also encouraged to bring the following donations to the shelter:
Towels, blankets, dog beds
Wee-wee pads
Dry and wet food for cats and dogs
Cleaning supplies
Captain: Judi Gampel ([email protected]), Alyssa Gold ([email protected])
Location: 1145 NW 14 Terr.
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Ages: 11+ (kids must be accompanied by a parent)
Prepare a home-cooked lunch and participate in a craft project for out-of-town families with children receiving treatment at Jackson Memorial Hospital. RMHC supports the well-being of critically ill children and their families by providing lodging, meals, activities and care.
MAX: Limited to 15 volunteers
Captain: Jennifer Warren Medwin ([email protected])
Location: TBAM Social Hall
Time: 9 – 12 PM
Ages: All ages
Create handwritten cards for the children from TiKVA Children’s Home who’ve been displaced by the war in Ukraine. We’ll also make video messages offering words of encouragement to Tikva graduates living in Israel and serving in the IDF.
Quick References and Guides:
Mitzvah Day Leadership
Rabbi Rachel Greengrass, Clergy Liaison
Jessica Steiner, Mitzvah Day Chair, Tikkun Olam VP
Rebecca Holljes, Tikkun Olam President
Caroline Miller, Tikkun Olam Rambam – PATIO Liaison
Jessica Goldberg, Tikkun Olam – YERS Liaison
Alexis Brody, Tikkun Olam VP Programming
Ashley Tinstman, Tikkun Olam Marketing Chair
Phylicia Cook, B’nai Mitzvah and Auxiliary Groups Coordinator
Sharon Socol, Tikkun Olam VP, TBAM Board of Directors
Summary:
What we accomplished during Mitzvah Day 2024!
- Served lunch to 500 people at Camillus House
- Made a homemade lunch for 63 residents at the Ronald McDonald House.
- Enjoyed fun and food at the Miami Children’s Museum with over 30 moms and kids of Lotus
House. - Prepped and donated 85 tote-bags-worth of hygiene-products for Chapman Partnership
- Prepped and donated 50 hurricane-preparedness kits for CLEO’s Empowering Resilient Women
program. - Purchased and collected tons of food donations for JCS’s Kosher Food Bank.
- Improved the facilities (and spread love to newborn pups!) at Redland Dog Sanctuary.
- Fostered awareness and educated ourselves about:
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- Food insecurity
- Global warming and sustainability
- Clean water
- Unhoused and displaced populations
- Shelter animals and rescues
- Children with varying learning and processing abilities
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- Collected and donated:
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- Art supplies and sports equipment for the Kendall Boys & Girls Club
- Sneakers for Sneaker Impact
- Hundreds of books for the Everglades Men’s Correctional and Homestead Women’s
- Correctional facilities
- Pillows for the foster children of Voices for Children
- Hygiene products for the residents of Chapman Partnerships
- Pet supplies for Redland Dog Sanctuary
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- Cleaned our beaches and supported clean water advocacy with Miami Waterkeeper.
- Sold self-published books and jewelry to support pet shelters, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and
FIDF. - Wrote cards, decorated pillowcases and sent supportive video messages for the soldiers of FIDF.
- Wrote cards and sent supportive video messages to the children of Tikva House.
- Knitted and crocheted items for our clergy to gift to sick community members and made “plarn”
to be used as mats for people experiencing homelessness. - Donated lots of blood and platelets.
- Planted gardens for the children of PATCHES.
- Planted a sensory garden and food forest for neurotypical children at Sylvania Heights Elementary.
- Beautified the TBAM Garden while centering ourselves with Sisterhood as we decorated mosaic stones with messages of solidarity for Israel.