Don’t rely on miracles during Hanukkah

/R.I. Jewish Historical AssociationThis Hanukkah, let’s celebrate in a meaningful way. True, kids expect presents, and marketers take full advantage of that fact by forcing parents to buy into the consumerism surrounding the holiday. However, a memorable observation of Hanukkah doesn’t have to be synonymous with spending. Why not engage your children by making them feel good about themselves while simultaneously helping others? This doesn’t mean that you should abstain from gifts altogether – merely that these gifts shouldn’t become the focus.

Rabbi Sarah Mack of Temple Beth-El suggests celebrating Hanukkah by exchanging presents during the first four nights and giving back during the next four. If that’s too much for your little ones, you can reserve the eighth night for giving back. She says, “I think that the important thing is to find a way to weave tzedakah and g’milut hasadim into the holiday in a way that is organic to one’s own family life so kids know that you can’t have one without the other.” 

Rabbi Elan Babchuck of Temple Emanu-El agrees with that sentiment. He says, “There is no better way for parents to convey the importance of giving back than by pairing the experience of receiving Hanukkah gifts with a hands-on volunteer experience.” Babchuck suggests that parents “work with their kids to create their own unique giving and volunteering traditions.”

Not sure to which organizations you should devote your time and funds? Read on to learn about the places our Rhode Island rabbis deem worthy. Below are eight possibilities for making every night of Hanukkah count. L’hayyim!

The Kesher Program, Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island, 959 North Main St., Providence.

Since 2007, in collaboration with the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, this program has been connecting communities and providing support for congregations. Through partnerships with local synagogues, the program’s social workers offer their services – case management, information and referrals, classroom observation, workshops, short-term counseling, support groups and family life education – free of charge to staff, synagogue committees and members of synagogues with which JFSRI has established partnerships. They include Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro, Temple Torat Yisrael in East Greenwich and Temple Am David in Warwick.

To support the program, call 401-331-1244.

Mitzvahs and Miracles. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

The Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Alliance, PJ Library and Camp JORI, is throwing this special Hanukkah party on Dec, 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. to put “the miracle back in Hanukkah” by emphasizing the mitzvot, as their flier proclaims.

Michelle Cicchitelli, director of Jewish Life at the Alliance, explains that the purpose of the festivities is to help children realize that there is more to Hanukkah than just presents, while also remembering that performing mitzvot is always a good time. She says, “This event will provide families an opportunity to help a variety of people and causes in one location, while also rejoicing in the holiday of Hanukkah.” The fun will include eight social action activities for all ages, volunteer opportunities, glitter tattoos for a cause, Hanukkah foods, live music from JCDS parent Rabbi Aaron Philmus and a cappella sensation Pastrami on RI.

To advance the cause, please bring non-perishable kosher food items, clean, gently used coats and cans of cat/dog food. The suggested donation is $5.

The Fifth Night. Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave., Needham, Mass. or Temple Shalom of Newton, 175 Temple St., West Newton, Mass.

Rabbi Babchuck suggests this organization as an aide to families “to frame the holiday in the light of tzedakah and g’milut hasadim.” An annual event that teaches children to make a difference by donating one night’s Hanukkah gifts to their chosen charity. By learning about the families who will be receiving the presents, kids understand and appreciate more fully the significance of their mitzvot. Also, because their tzedakah occurs in a group setting, their enthusiasm is greater and their act of kindness – more rewarding.

Started by Robert and Rachel Glazer and Amy Finn – Needham parents – the Fifth Night extends the spirit of giving beyond family. Children contribute to the benefit of their community. Now, other cities, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, have caught on to the idea, hosting their own events. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, email the founders at info@fifthnight.org.

Ask your child to choose a gift for a child of the same age or gender and come to the free event. In Needham, it’s held on Dec. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m. In Newton, it’s held on Dec. 20, 4-5 p.m. Make sure you reserve tickets in advance. To register for either event, go to eventbrite.com and search for Fifth Night.

Crossroads Rhode Island. 160 Broad St., Providence.

Founded as Travelers Aid of Rhode Island in 1894, the nonprofit changed its name in 2004. Crossroads is the largest homeless services organization in the state. In addition to offering a place to sleep, the program ensures that folks in need gain independence as soon as possible.

Since holidays are a particularly difficult time for the homeless, now is especially important to help them look forward to a better future. Your support would facilitate the organization in assisting the homeless to secure stability. Out of every dollar you donate, 80 cents goes directly to the Crossroads’ clients. The funds are used for necessities such as transportation, shoes, operating expenses for the Family Center, services at the Women’s Shelter, showers and kids’ winter clothing.

Other ways to help include: setting up a recurring donation and asking your employer to match it, volunteering, sponsoring an event, making a legacy gift or an in-kind donation (soap, detergent, cleaner, sponges, mops, brooms, buckets, towels). Call 401-521-2255 or contact Ronny Figueroa at RFigueroa@CrossroadsRI.org for more information.

Judy’s Kindness Kitchen. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence.

This 10-year-old Sunday soup kitchen is a nonprofit supported by grants and donations, providing warm kosher meals for Crossroads Rhode Island clients. Judy Mandelbaum, a family therapist at what was the Jewish Board of Family Services, who died in 1980 at the age of 56 and for whom the kitchen is named, was a legendary cook and a gracious host, according to the organization. Both, her father Murray Weber and her son Dr. David Mandelbaum – a current major supporter, along with Vic Werber, – lived in Providence, nearly a hundred years apart.

Various groups collaborate on a joint goal – to ensure that people in need don’t go hungry. Rabbi Barry Dollinger of Congregation Beth Sholom is proud to say that “Judy’s Kindness Kitchen is the most important program in our synagogue, actualizing the lessons of a God who kindly feeds us all by sharing the gift of delicious food with those in need.”

Volunteers prepare vegetarian soup, and tuna and peanut butter sandwiches at Congregation Beth Sholom from 8:30 until 10 a.m. They serve the food at the Crossroads’ downtown location from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. The organization seeks to emulate patriarch Abraham, whose tent had four entrances, offering relief from every side. If you would like to volunteer, please email the coordinator at JudysKindnessKitchen@gmail.com. Those wishing to donate may send checks to Judy’s Kindness Kitchen c/o Congregation Beth Sholom.

Southside Community Land Trust. 109 Somerset St., Providence.

This nationally recognized leader in agriculture provides access to land education and resources to residents of Greater Providence, allowing them to grow food in environmentally sustainable ways. Local healthy and affordable produce is possible through urban production.

The organization succeeds by: teaching people to grow food, as well as locate, secure in trust and manage land; providing resources, skills and markets; offering support in a community that emphasizes sharing; modeling programs and practices. Through simple technology and renewable resources, abandoned lots, parks, farms and landscapes are transformed into gardens. No spot is too small – even backyards and rooftops are used to grow food.

If you’d like to support SCLT’s initiatives, send a check to the address above. To contribute by volunteering, become an educator, translate content, perform office tasks, offer graphic design services, staff a table at an event or put up posters, contact Michelle at michelle@southsideclt.org or fill out a form on southsideclt.org/volunteering.

People’s Power & Light. 2 Regency Plaza, Suite 8, Providence.

Rhode Island’s nonprofit advocate for consumers and the environment has been making energy more affordable and sustainable for more than 30 years. Their discount heating oil service boasts 14,000 members, and their Green Power programs – New England Wind FundSM, which supports development of community wind turbines, and New England Green StartSM – enable 7,000 members to choose electricity from local renewable sources. Unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power, the organization argues that these resources are better for the environment.

The organization’s charitable programs offer heating assistance to those Rhode Islanders who need it the most. Together with Mass Energy Consumers Alliance, PP&L comprises the Energy Consumers Alliance of New England.

If you would like to be a climate hero, arrange your volunteering opportunity by calling Priscilla at 401-861-6111 or emailing her at Priscilla@RIPower.org.

Fair Trade Gelt Campaign. kavana.org

Rabbi Aaron Philmus of Temple Torat Yisrael suggested this cause. Since it’s customary for children to receive chocolate gelt as a Hanukkah treat, this time of year offers a great opportunity to familiarize them with fair-trade practices and make them aware that not all chocolate is produced in conscionable ways. This campaign is a reminder of hard-won freedom and a chance to prevent trafficking of young children who are forced to work on cocoa farms with zero pay in unsafe conditions in the Ivory Coast.

By supporting Kuapa Kokoo, a fair-trade cooperative in Ghana with 65,000 members, who are co-owners of Divine Chocolate, you would be sustaining the only fair-trade chocolate company owned by its farmers. Its practices allow people to receive a better price for their cocoa, provide an additional financial premium to invest in their community and maintain improved working conditions.

If you would like to further the cause, you can write a letter to your local store, requesting that they sell fair-trade chocolate. For a large-scale project, organize a fair-trade chocolate tasting, during which you can show “The Dark Side of Chocolate,” a documentary that can be purchased on FairtradeJudaica.org, along with a comprehensive event-planning guide, handouts, resources, activities and contact information.

As Talmud instructs, don’t rely on miracles – support the causes that are important to you. Rabbi Naftali Karp believes that this is the essential idea of Hanukkah. He says, “A small group of people did not give up and did whatever they could, and God acted in response, and things worked out.”

IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.