1. Curriculum:
Although much of our curriculum across the grades focuses on values and ethics, we specifically teach about ethically based mitzvot, gimilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) and social responsibility in both 2nd Grade and 7th Grade. Our students study different aspects of tikkun olam and take part in doing good deeds in this early grade and then again when they are becoming a bar or bat mitzvah.
2. Bar/Bat Mitzvah Projects:
Each bar and bat mitzvah student organizes and fulfills a mitzvah project of his or her own choosing. Often times the students sell items to raise money for a cause or collect items for their mitzvah project at Family School. The students make an announcement about their project at our Family Assembly and create a flyer with information about their cause. This enables our whole school to know about and support the work of our bar and bat mitzvah students.
3. Mitzvah Family Workshop:
Families with a child becoming a bar or bat mitzvah gather together regularly during the 7th grade year for programming about the deeper meaning of the ceremony. This year the families volunteered with the ARK at a Chanukah party for the elderly. Next year we are adding more social action opportunities for our Mitzvah Family Workshop participants to teach and live out the meaning of tikkun olam- repairing the world.
4. Family Tzedakah Days:
Each year our families participate in two mitzvah projects helping the hungry and homeless. Families gather to make hundreds of lunches for the Night Ministry. Families also volunteer at the Chicago Food Depository.
5. Maot Chitim:
Each year Family School participants looks forward to volunteering with Maot Chitim just before Passover. Families meet trucks filled with holiday packages and deliver the food and supplies to elderly Jews (many of whom are from the Former Soviet Union.). We will now be volunteering with Maot Chitim before Rosh Hashannah as well.
6. High School Youth Group - Good News Community Kitchen:
Our high school students put social action at the top of their preferences for youth group activities. This year (2008-2009)our students will volunteer at the Good News Community Kitchen on the 4th Sunday of each month. Students serve food to over a hundred people each visit.
7. Religious Action Center Trip:
On this exciting trip to Washington DC, our High School Youth Group (SuShY) will learn firsthand about how they can make a difference, lobby at the offices of congress on Capitol Hill, experience Havdalah at the Lincoln Memorial, and much more!
