For many of us, nothing in the news has been more disturbing than the scandal coming out of Penn State. Our friend, Rabbi Adam Feldman of the Princeton (NJ)Jewish Center, spoke of that tragedy a few weeks ago during his Shabbat sermon. Rabbi Feldman reminded his congregation of "how people in authority need to be responsible for their actions especially when they have the lives of young people in their hands."

Sitting in the pews that morning was Gil Gordon, a congregant who accompanied Rabbi Feldman and others on an Israel trip a few years ago. For that trip we arranged a meeting with Yitz Feigenbaum who co-runs Beit Hayeled, the group home that provides safe haven and love for kids removed from abusive homes by the court system. The Princeton community has interacted with Beit Hayeled on other occasions but Gil felt that one very powerful antidote to the tragedy of Penn State would be to tell the entire congregation about Beit Hayeled’s beautiful work with abused kids and request donations for Hanukkah gifts for the kids.

This morning we heard from Rabbi Feldman who shared this story as well as the good news that his congregants had contributed more than $3500 to the effort. As he wrote, "With Chanukah approaching, we have an excellent opportunity to make life a bit brighter for these fragile children whose lives are being put back in order at Bet HaYeled."

We could not agree more! Yasher koach to everyone at Princeton Jewish Center. The Good People Fund is pleased to act as the shaliach in this very special tzedakah mission.