HMJDS Responds to the Crisis in Haiti

Dear HMJDS Parents,

We know that each of you has been considering how to respond to the heart wrenching humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Many of your children have also expressed a desire to act on behalf of the many people in need in Haiti. We at HMJDS have been trying to determine an effective response that will both have impact on the people of Haiti and be meaningful for our students. We’re pleased to report that we have found a project that we believe will achieve both goals.

Many of you are familiar with Kids Against Hunger (KAH) as we’ve packed meals for them during the VOICE programs. KAH works in collaboration with a number of organizations to assure that food is delivered. They’ve been coordinating with the United Nations and have arranged for their food to be shipped with water so that recipients have the water they need to prepare the meals—which are one pot meals that don’t require a kitchen. Meals they have packed have already been shipped to Haiti.

We feel assured that meals we would pack will go to Haiti and will reach people with the necessary supplies to assure that they can be used. Therefore, we will be working with Kids Against Hunger to involve our students in Haiti relief work. This means that they will actually be able to help in packaging meals. We will be doing this work on Monday, February 15th. This is Yom Ruah (Spirit Day) at HMJDS and we believe that this effort will contribute to our sense of community and purpose as we engage in a critical tikkun olam undertaking. We plan to pair older students with younger children so that the work can be done effectively and efficiently. It is also Presidents’ Day and this work will also represent our participation in the larger American efforts to provide humanitarian assistance where it is so badly needed.

Of course, this work is not simply about packing food. It is also about purchasing the food that we will need. KAH charges 17 cents per meal, and those of you who have participated in the food packing work before know, we can pack a lot of meals in a relatively short period of time. Therefore, we are asking your children to speak with you about how they might gather money to contribute to the cost of the food. We ask that this money be from the children’s savings or money they earn. For the older students this might involve babysitting or shoveling snow for neighbors. For the younger children, it might involve completing some extra chores that you might ask of them—perhaps a “10 Chores for $10” effort. Our hope is that each child can help raise approximately $10. We know that some students may contribute more and some less. The amount is less critical than the children’s involvement. We will collect money towards the meals in the main office. Should your family wish to send your contribution in the form of a check, please make the check payable to Kids Against Hunger.

Our Torah portion this past week reminded us that “There shall be one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you," (Exodus 12:49) a reminder that our obligations extend beyond our immediate community. We trust that this project—raising the money to purchase food and then packing meals for those in need in Haiti will offer a tangible way for our students to actively participate in a response to humanitarian crisis.

B’shalom,

Ray Levi, Ph.D.



IN THIS ISSUE Snapshots of the HMJDS Experience The Art of "Oughtness" Are We Going to Blow Anything Up Today? Fun With Numbers HMJDS Responds to the Crisis in Haiti HMJDS HAPPENINGS EVENTS CALENDAR THE BACK PAGE THE LIONS' PHOTO DEN COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Core Value for November Judge all people favorably (kindly). (Mishnah Avot 1:6) Give people the benefit of the doubt and don't jump to conclusions.	HMJDS Responds to the Crisis in Haiti Dear HMJDS Parents, We know that each of you has been considering how to respond to the heart wrenching humanitarian crisis in Haiti. Many of your children have also expressed a desire to act on behalf of the many people in need in Haiti. We at HMJDS have been trying to determine an effective response that will both have impact on the people of Haiti and be meaningful for our students. We’re pleased to report that we have found a project that we believe will achieve both goals. Many of you are familiar with Kids Against Hunger (KAH) as we’ve packed meals for them during the VOICE programs. KAH works in collaboration with a number of organizations to assure that food is delivered. They’ve been coordinating with the United Nations and have arranged for their food to be shipped with water so that recipients have the water they need to prepare the meals—which are one pot meals that don’t require a kitchen. Meals they have packed have already been shipped to Haiti. We feel assured that meals we would pack will go to Haiti and will reach people with the necessary supplies to assure that they can be used. Therefore, we will be working with Kids Against Hunger to involve our students in Haiti relief work. This means that they will actually be able to help in packaging meals. We will be doing this work on Monday, February 15th. This is Yom Ruah (Spirit Day) at HMJDS and we believe that this effort will contribute to our sense of community and purpose as we engage in a critical tikkun olam undertaking. We plan to pair older students with younger children so that the work can be done effectively and efficiently. It is also Presidents’ Day and this work will also represent our participation in the larger American efforts to provide humanitarian assistance where it is so badly needed. Of course, this work is not simply about packing food. It is also about purchasing the food that we will need. KAH charges 17 cents per meal, and those of you who have participated in the food packing work before know, we can pack a lot of meals in a relatively short period of time. Therefore, we are asking your children to speak with you about how they might gather money to contribute to the cost of the food. We ask that this money be from the children’s savings or money they earn. For the older students this might involve babysitting or shoveling snow for neighbors. For the younger children, it might involve completing some extra chores that you might ask of them—perhaps a “10 Chores for $10” effort. Our hope is that each child can help raise approximately $10. We know that some students may contribute more and some less. The amount is less critical than the children’s involvement. We will collect money towards the meals in the main office. Should your family wish to send your contribution in the form of a check, please make the check payable to Kids Against Hunger. Our Torah portion this past week reminded us that “There shall be one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you," (Exodus 12:49) a reminder that our obligations extend beyond our immediate community. We trust that this project—raising the money to purchase food and then packing meals for those in need in Haiti will offer a tangible way for our students to actively participate in a response to humanitarian crisis. B’shalom, Ray Levi, Ph.D.

IN THIS ISSUE

HMJDS Responds to the Crisis in Haiti