Mitzvah Mania Offers Teens a Chance to Help

As the Days of Awe, a period of reflection, draw to a close with Saturday's Yom Kippur holy day, local teens can reflect on the good works they achieved this summer. Mitzvah Mania, the Jewish Service Learning program, offered 25 teens the opportunity for daily service and learning opportunities in conjunction with 13 organizations. The program, sponsored by the Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life, an agency of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ, took place daily for some ten days in August.

Michal Greenbaum, Assistant Director of Teen Initiatives and Coordinator of Jewish Service Learning, explained that the teens were able to choose volunteer assignments that accommodated their schedules, which allowed teens to hold summer jobs and still participate. Among the places the teens did service were the JCC MetroWest Senior Department, Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey's Horizon School in Livingston, Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest in East Orange, and the WAE (Wellness, Arts & Enrichment) Center, a project of the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled, in West Orange.

The program was created in response to a request by synagogue educators for local teen volunteer endeavors, and the response was positive and dramatic.

"I enjoyed participating in Mitzvah Mania, particularly volunteering with senior citizens. It was a great opportunity to make a difference in my community," said Karen Fich, now a freshman in high school.

 "My favorite part of Mitzvah Mania was learning about the organizations with which we were volunteering, like Homefront Hearts, Jewish Vocational Services and Smile on Seniors. I hope to volunteer with these organizations again during the year," said her sister, now a senior.

"Helping people learn English for the first time was fun, and reaching out made me feel good," reflected Evan Cassak, a high school junior.

Parents agreed. One mother, Nancy Yacker, considered the program's value.  "Adults are used to writing checks," she said. "That's fine and necessary, but impersonal.  I think it was great that my son was exposed to several venues where a simple donation of time and willingness could make a difference to someone."