2010-03-14 : “How Jelly Beans Become Mitzvahs”

Mar 14, 2010

How Jelly Beans Become Mitzvahs


A week before Purim we had a call from Judy Kuper Jaffe, Director of Education at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. Judy wanted to introduce a new activity at the upcoming Purim carnival--guess how many jelly beans were in a big jar. For $1 a chance, the winner took home the jelly beans but the money raised would go to tzedakah. Did we have any suggestions for where the proceeds could go and really connect her students with other kids?

It took about 30 seconds to suggest that the jelly bean tzedakah would be perfect to underwrite an end-of-school party for the kids at Beit Hayeled in Israel. I explained to Judy that Beit Hayeled is a safe haven for kids who have been removed from their homes by the courts due to abuse. Yitz Feigenbaum and Irit Zucker provide the kids with all of the love and support they could possibly need and a party complete with pizza and ice cream would be a great way to "connect" her students with the Beit Hayeled kids. To top it off, we even offered to match (or raise) whatever they collected just to be sure that a great party would result.

The school's check has arrived and we are looking forward to adding our share to make this special party possible.