Packing Purim boxes for American troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq are fourth-graders from Middlesex Torah Links, from left, Alana Sackman, Ariana Pearlman, Shelby Snow, Robert Elkind, and, rear, Brandon Berdoff.
Photo courtesy Middlesex Torah Links
March 18, 2008
Fourth-grade students at an East Brunswick religious school did their part to help American troops celebrate Purim.
The students, enrolled in the Middlesex Torah Links’ Jewish Enrichment Program for Youth, gathered March 1 to box goodies, toiletries, and messages of appreciation to send as holiday gifts to Jewish soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“This was done to teach kids about acts of charity and kindness,” said Rabbi Dovid Gross, Torah Links associate director. “Tzedaka and hesed are things we talk about, and we thought this was a fun way to implement them in a meaningful way.”
Gross said the project helped the students fulfill the mitzva of sending gifts of food to friends on the Purim festival.
“There are many Jewish soldiers stationed in dangerous places — in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “This project was not only about shalah manos, but allowed the kids to express their gratitude to the men and women who are really putting their lives on the line for us back home. You could just see how good these kids felt about being able to provide for the military of the United States.”
Torah Links is an Orthodox-affiliated program offering family and holiday activities and Jewish education courses for children and adults.
The project was coordinated with ToTal, a New York-based Jewish educational program for children and their families. It is affiliated with the Afikim Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering Jewish life.
Gross said the packages have been shipped to Fort Hood in Texas. ToTal arranged with a chaplain to ship them to the troops in time for Purim on March 21.
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