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ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
The 2008-2009 Mitzvah Corps program is a wonderful opportunity for seventh and eighth graders regardless of whether they have participated previously in hands-on social-action activities or already have participated in the Mitzvah Corps program. This is a program for compassionate students who seek ways to make Judaism relevant and to learn by doing rather than talking. Mitzvah Corps students put Jewish teaching into practice by participating regularly in hands-on community-service opportunities. At each service opportunity, students will confront directly an important social issue affecting the world today. This program unites two essential pillars of Jewish practice — learning and doing — into a meaningful, age-appropriate and transformative Jewish experience for students who have become or are about to become b’nei mitzvah. In addition to returning to three of our favorite organizations, this year we will volunteer with three new organizations in connection with studying three new mitzvot.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
Our program is divided into six units; each unit has three parts:
- Learning sessions, held during Religious School hours on Wednesdays and Sundays (students choose either day), approximately once each month over the course of the year. (A full calendar will be provided before the start of the school year.) At these sessions, students study texts relating to the mitzvah for the unit and contextualize those texts for contemporary use. Students also learn about the selected cause or community we will help by performing the mitzvah and preparing for the volunteer experience. On those dates when Mitzvah Corps meets, it will be in place of the regular Religious School program for participating seventh graders.
- Action sessions, the service opportunities when students will volunteer as a group with safe and credible organizations to assist their efforts in serving a population in need or a worthwhile cause. Students must attend the learning session to participate in the action session. These sessions may be scheduled outside of school hours.
- Reflection essays, to encourage students to think about their volunteer experiences and to connect them to our Jewish teachings. Students answer short questions that help them frame their experiences and identify ways to continue performing the selected mitzvot. After each unit, select student reflections will appear on the Temple Web site to teach others about the important issues we confront.
RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVEMENT:
The program culminates with participants and their families gathering at Congregation Emanu-El for a Shabbat dinner in celebration of their work toward social justice.
All students who complete at least one Mitzvah Corps unit will be honored at a family dinner in the spring. Students will be applauded for their commitment toward making the world a better place, and families will be joined for a special evening that strengthens our sense of community. Students who complete four or more units will be honored by the community publicly as “Mitzvah Messengers.” These students will receive special recognition at the Mitzvah Corps dinner and on the final day of Religious School.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Complete the Religious School registration form (available in Word and PDF formats) — making sure to indicate your preference for the Sunday or Wednesday session — and return it to the Department of Lifelong Learning. Participation in Mitzvah Corps is available only to students whose families are members of Congregation Emanu-El. For seventh graders enrolled in Religious School, there is no additional fee to participate in the Mitzvah Corps program. For all other students, the fee is $825 for the year.
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