June 03, 2008

Going to Israel?

Now that school is closing for the summer and everyone is gearing up for camp or trips, an email I received this morning from Dawn Steirn in Florida reminded me of something any of us could do to make an Israel trip even more meaningful. Dawn and her family are leaving for the Holy Land shortly and in preparation Dawn was in touch with me awhile back to discuss possible ways they could do something that would benefit people in Israel. It didn’t take long for them to decide that they would like to collect school supplies which will be distributed to Ethiopian children in Netanya through the good work of the Forgotten People Fund, an all-volunteer group working to help the very poor families that have settled in that city after arriving from Ethiopia. (http://www.fpf.org.il) Before too long, Dawn’s kids (one had just celebrated his Bar Mitzvah making this even more meaningful) had sent letters to their classmates at the David Posnack Hebrew Day School and the collection started to grow. By the time the Steirns leave for Israel in a few days, they will be carrying a duffel containing precious school supplies.

One phone call to Israel was all it took for me to arrange for pickup at a Jerusalem hotel and the mitzvah was complete!

Nesia tova (a good trip) to the Steirns! You have done a fine thing with this effort.

If others would like to be "mitzvah messengers," (as our good friend George Greene called those who took on this special effort) please be in touch with me. (Naomi@goodpeoplefund.org). We have lots of ideas to share.