Cohen school students inspired to ‘fill a bucket’

Sixth graders, Jordan Kalinsky, Jennifer Berman and Samantha Finder play Hebrew Bingo. /COURTESY | TORAT ISRAEL

Inspired by the book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud, the Cohen School at Temple Torat Yisrael spent Jan. 18  improving the well-being of others in the Rhode Island community. Through acts of tzedakah, the students could feel how rewarding it is to help those in need of food and toiletries.

The book uses the metaphors of “bucket filling and dipping” to explain the effects of our actions on the well-being of others and their positive impact on ourselves. When we are kind and do nice things for others, we fill their “invisible bucket” and our own, which enables them to feel loved and valued. When we use mean words, or do unkind things to others, we dip their “invisible bucket” and cause harm to them and ourselves.

Combining this concept with the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing and healing the world) we, at the Cohen School, have  accepted the challenge and responsibility as a community to heal and repair the world and its people through human actions. Each one of our students can work toward the betterment of himself, others and, most important, the lives of our future generations.

 Encouraging positive behavior, such as acts of loving kindness, and providing opportunities to feel how rewarding it can be to change, improve or fix someone else’s day or life story are Jewish values that we respect and honor.

This is why the Cohen School, this year, has developed a new monthly Community Tzedakah/Mitzvah program, facilitated by Barbara Dwares, that focuses on social action and meeting the unique needs of the community in  Rhode Island.

This month was dedicated to helping the East Greenwich St. Luke’s Food Cupboard and the Warwick Family Shelter. The school day, with assistance from the teachers, was filled with many exciting activities. Students made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as part of “Max’s Lunch Bunch program,” and decorated beautiful brown bags for each sandwich. This personal touch was appreciated by the recipients at St. Luke’s Food Cupboard. It brought a smile to their faces to see the artwork of the students.

Students played Hebrew bingo, Hebrew number basketball and bean bag toss to win small toiletries that would be donated to the Warwick Family Shelter.

This MLK Day program also provided students with the opportunity to create thank you cards for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and make delicious Israeli salad in the kitchen. Rabbi Aaron Philmus and Education Director Dori Adler engaged in discussions about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his similarities to Moses, including what we, as Jews, can learn from his passion, struggles, life vision and bravery.

To complete this amazing day of tikkun olam and “bucket filling,” many families enjoyed a school lunch that included the delicious Israeli salad prepared by the students.

DORI ADLER is Education Director of the Cohen School at Temple Torat Yisrael in East Greenwich.