Tikkun olum is a core value that compels the Jewish community to make the world a better place through action.
With Passover celebrations fast approaching, many Jews are focused on social injustices and searching for ways to help. Enter Good Deeds Day.
The annual event taking place throughout South Florida encourages locals to volunteer and participate in a variety of good deeds. The Jewish federations of Palm Beach County and Broward County are hosting events, which mostly take place on Sunday, April 6 (though some will extend throughout the month).
The concept of Good Deeds Day was created by Israelis in 2007. This year, the Palm Beach County branch is partnering with Palm Beach Atlantic University, with the aim of making their event bigger than ever.
“We decided to expand our events this year just due to the number of people who want to participate in hands-on volunteerism,” said Michael Hoffman, president of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “We are witnessing one of the most dynamic and growing Jewish communities in North America and this is a great way to dip your toes in the water and connect with the local community.”
There will be about seven different Good Deeds Day locations throughout Palm Beach County, with an expected 800 volunteers. Locals can opt to pack meals to deliver to soup kitchens and food banks, volunteer with seniors, participate in a beach clean up, and more.
“For us, it’s a great way to give back to the community,” Hoffman said. “We all share the value of giving back; it goes across states and across ethnic groups.”
On April 6, families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade can participate in the federation’s Sundays Together program at Manatee Lagoon, which combines volunteering with lessons on Passover. High school students can participate in a phone-a-thon on behalf of the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Children of all ages can help glean produce at a local farm in West Boynton Beach (location given upon registration), and adults can donate blood at Canyon Town Center in Boynton Beach.
From April 1-18, there will be meal-packing events at The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach in Palm Beach Gardens, and volunteers are needed for food delivery on April 11.
Those who can’t attend an in-person event can also participate by donating items such as baby essentials and school supplies via Amazon wish lists, formalwear for teens to Prom Beach in West Palm Beach or animal enrichment toys to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter.
The monthlong event will conclude with its first annual community Pride Shabbat on April 25 at the Lake Pavilion in West Palm Beach, honoring the LGBTQ+ community.
“Leading up to the holiday of Passover, [Good Deeds Day] allows people to come together under the anticipation of celebrating our exodus from Egypt, but also as a community coming together,” Hoffman said. “It’s really rooted in the values of Gemilut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness), Tikkun olam and making the world a better place.”
Meanwhile, the Jewish Federation of Broward is hosting its first Good Deeds Day this year, partnering with 10 organizations throughout the county.
“We do our Mitzvah Day every year, and this year we decided to be part of something bigger,” said Lital Donner, director of community engagement at the Jewish Federation of Broward County. “We see this as a beautiful opportunity to bring unity to the Jewish community.”
With different times and locations, the Broward federation hopes that all community members will have a chance to participate on Sunday, April 6.
For families with children age 12 and older, the Friendship Circle of Greater Chabad in Fort Lauderdale is hosting a scavenger hunt with special needs teenagers, while the Florida Broward Hadassah is hosting a kosher food drive event for adults 55 and up. Other Broward County events include packing Passover seder boxes with Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center in Fort Lauderdale, a diaper drive for expectant mothers with EFRAT C.R.I.B in Hollywood, and a community service station event with Temple Bat Yam of East Fort Lauderdale, where families can garden or write cards to soldiers.
Broward’s Jewish Federation already sees Good Deeds Day becoming an annual event.
“We are going to be part of Good Deeds Day and keep the model for future years,” Donner said. “Organizations who didn’t join this year are expressing strong interest in participating for next year. We are hoping that we are starting a tradition.”
For more information on getting involved with Good Deeds Day, visit Jewishpb.org for Palm Beach County or Jewishbroward.org for Broward County.
Originally Published: