This year, due to stay at home orders, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah took a new tack on the synagogue’s popular Mitzvah Day. The day, normally held the first Sunday in May, typically brings together 600-plus members of the congregation for a day of volunteering throughout the city. To honor the sentiment of the day, B’nai Jehudah decided to turn the focus on a month-long focus on mitzvot, called May Mitzvah Minutes.
Beginning May 3, which was the scheduled date for Mitzvah Day, B’nai Jehudah asked members to reach out and perform their own Mitzvah Minutes throughout the month of May. More than 150 B’nai Jehudah families gave a total of 45,105 minutes to help others in Kansas City. These minutes are the equivalent of 31.3 days — just over one month’s worth of donated time.
“It was a fun way for all of us — toddler to teenager — to engage with our community and bring a smile to those who may need it during this uneasy time,” said Shannon Maker, who, along with children Hannah, age 3, Ezra and Noa, age 7, Eli, age 14, and Asa, age 16, created cards that they delivered with care packages to homebound congregants around the city.
“Even while we have remained safe and close to home, we know the element of human connection is important to living a full life. And giving of oneself is a wonderful way to create those connections. We were unable to come together as a large group for Mitzvah Day this year, yet we still man-aged to keep the essence of the tradition alive,” said Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff.
The premise was simple: During May 2020, B’nai Jehudah members had the opportunity to participate in the mitzvah challenge by selecting one of the synagogue’s 36 mitzvah ideas, or selecting their own mitzvah to perform. Members were then asked to log their Mitzvah Minutes. Popular mitzvah opportunities among members included donating blood, working in Mitzvah Garden KC, and doing random acts of kindness to brighten up someone else’s day.
“My 13-year-old daughter, Lucy, was inspired by Mitzvah Day. She wanted to make sure area high school graduates knew she was thinking of them. After reaching out on Facebook to find deserving graduates, Lucy prepared gift bags to celebrate their achievement. When she didn’t have enough gift bags, another B’nai Jehudah member reached out to donate to the cause. I think Lucy received as much as she gave when she created and delivered the gifts,” said B’nai Jehudah member Rachel Warner.
“The power of this collective effort is astounding. B’nai Jehudah staff and members got creative, keeping an eye on creating those connections, and our community reaped the rewards. It has been inspiring to witness the power of our collective, positive actions,” said B’nai Jehudah board President Jocelyn Fry.
“We thank everyone who gave of their time, their skills and their kindness during May Mitzvah Minutes,” said Rabbi Nemitoff.