International Mitzvah Day 2013
Kitchener-Waterlooo & Guelph

On November 17, 2013, the entire Jewish community of Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph joined together for International Mitzvah Day - a Jewish-led day of social action dedicated to tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedek (righteousness) and gemilut hassadim (acts of loving kindness).

Spearheaded by the Waterloo Regional Jewish Community Council (WRJCC), cereal boxes were collected for ‘Nutrition for Learning’, a community program that provides meals for over 13,000 students daily across the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Participating institutions included Beth Jacob Synagogue, Temple Shalom, Rohr Chabad Centre of KW, KW Hadassah Wizo, Waterloo Hillel, Beth Isaiah Temple and Guelph Chabad. Many unaffiliated Jewish members of the KW community also participated in this community-wide initiative.  By the time the food drive was over, the WRJCC added 50 new members to its Facebook page.

Each participating organization ran individual donation campaigns. Students at Waterloo Hillel even braved the cold temperature and put on a “Tea for Charity” drive at Waterloo Town Square. The collective total was over 500 boxes of cereal which will provide healthy breakfasts for over 5,000 students.

“In all my years, I have never seen such cooperation by every single Jewish Institution in KW for any cause” said Michael Bierstock, Co-Chair of the WRJCC “it was amazing to see everyone bond together as a community… I would highly encourage all communities across Canada to participate in this event.  I know next year we will be doing it again”

The WRJCC is dedicated to enhancing the quality of Jewish life in Waterloo Region. It seeks to further the welfare of the Jewish and greater community through social, cultural and philanthropic programs.

For more information, contact Zina Lavut, Program director, at zina@wrjcc.com