Today I volunteered for an organization called WePAC (West Philadelphia Alliance for Children).  As a woman with a Doctorate in Reading/Writing/Literacy, this was right up my alley.  According to their website, WePAC offers two volunteer-driven programs, each designed to enhance literacy skills for young students:  School Library Opening/Staffing (read aloud to classes, engage students in literacy activities, catalog books, check them in and out, and maintain the library as a welcoming environment) and Library Buddies (working one-on-one with students on literacy skills through games, reading aloud, and activities, typically in the library setting, during literacy instruction time).

My mission today was to help build a library at the  Global Leadership Academy West (4601 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia).  Located in West Philadelphia, Global Leadership Academy serves approximately 700 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in a retrofitted industrial building.  They have been there for many years and they have a “library” but it was mainly used for students doing research on the computers.  None of the books on the shelves were being used!

Thus, enters WePAC.  Today’s goal was to continue categorizing all of the books.  I spent a few hours this afternoon putting stickers on the bindings and writing the type of book (E for Easy Reader) and the first three letters of the author, so the books can be shelved in alphabetical order.  There was also some weeding out, removing books that were old/torn/dated.  Next, the books will be shelved.  Then, they will have to come up with a system in which the kids can take books out and bring them home – hopefully this will be an electronic system!  Finally, WePAC will staff the library with volunteers.  They hope to have the library up and running by November.  This will be their 15th library that they are running.  What a great organization with an important mission!!

The mikvah, or ritual bath, is one  of the most important cornerstones of the Jewish religion.  It is a “living water,” often collected rainwater.  Most Jews see the synagogue as the central institution in Jewish life, but Jewish law states that constructing a mikvah takes precedence even over building a house of worship. Both a synagogue and a Torah scroll, Judaism’s most venerated treasure, may be sold to raise funds for the building of a mikvah. In fact, in the eyes of Jewish law, a group of Jewish families living together do not attain the status of a community if they do not have a communal mikvah (http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1541/jewish/The-Mikvah.htm)

Immersing in the mikvah, as part of the Laws of Family Purity,  is one of three classical women’s mitzvot. (The other two are lighting the Shabbat candles and separating some dough from the challah, Mitzvah #37).  This mitzvah for women is directly tied to the body cycle.  Traditionally, from the onset of menstruation and for seven days after its end, until the woman immerses in the mikvah, husband and wife may not engage in sexual relations. Immersion takes place after nightfall of the seventh day and is preceded by a requisite cleansing.  The woman bathes, shampoos, combs her hair and removes from her body anything that might impede her total immersion.  The immersion is valid only when the waters of the mikvah envelop each and every part of the body and, indeed, each hair, and there is a “mikvah lady” present to make sure that each of the three dunks is “kosher.”

Today, there are many reasons for visiting a mikvah besides the purification after menstruation.  Entering the mikvah is often seen as a spiritual separation, changing from one spiritual state to another.  People who are being converted dunk, women dunk before they get married or even after a divorce or illness, people dunk before major life milestones such as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or a 50th birthday (!), and even silverware can be dunked to make it kosher.

I went to the mikvah as part of my preparation for turning 50.  For me, it’s a spiritual practice, connecting me to my foremothers before me and my daughters and granddaugters who will come after me.  It’s one of only three mitzvot that are ascribed to women, and thought I don’t follow the Laws of Family Purity, I respect their origins in the Torah.  And as a bonus, my mitzvah lady was one of my closest friends, and that made it even more special.

We belong to Congregation Beth Am Israel. One of the things I love about my synagogue is that at the heart of Beth Am Israel’s values is a commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the world. There is a wonderful G’milut Chasadim committee, responsible for providing meals for families who have illnesses or are in mourning.  As a result of my Challah Baking Class, I had MANY extra challot!!  I packaged them up and brought them to the G’milut Chasadim freezer at Beth Am.  Hopefully the recipients will be just as happy receiving these challot as I was making them!

The first portion of your kneading, you shall separate as a dough offering (challah) . . . In all your generations, give the first of your kneading as an elevated gift to G‑d. (Numbers 15:20–21)

When the Jewish people first entered and settled the Land of Israel, one of the gifts they were commanded to give to the kohanim, the priestly tribe, was challah—a portion of dough separated from their kneading bowl every time they baked bread.  Today, we do not actually give the challah to the kohen. However, we still observe the mitzvah by burning the challah portion, as its sacredness prohibits us from using it (http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/2689640/jewish/Womens-Special-Mitzvot.htm).

The mitzvah of separating challah is one of the special mitzvot entrusted to the Jewish woman, who is so influential in shaping the values and attitudes of her family.  I really connect with the idea that baking challah is like raising children.  They won’t “rise” like the yeast unless there is a lot of “sugar” added (praise, joy, laughter and fun).  After you add the sugar, you can add a pinch of salt (criticism, discipline, seriousness).  Notice that there is a lot more sugar than salt, but both are critical in balance.  Next, you knead the dough, pulling and pushing and shaping.  And then you leave it alone!!  You’ve already put in the right ingredients and shaped it with your hands – time to let them learn, develop and grow on their own.  Every blob of dough is different, even when I use the same ingredients.  Sometimes it rises easily, other times it takes longer to rise, or it rises and falls and rises again — just like children.  Finally, you separate the dough, remembering that it’s really out of your hands and into G-d’s hand, and with this sanctification you have completed the mitzvah of Hafrashat Challah.

For this mitzvah, I taught my girlfriends how to bake challah.  There was a huge interest, and I ended up teaching three separate classes to a total of 16 friends.  We had fun getting messy and learning a bit of Torah in the process.  And if each of these women teaches it to her daughters, the tradition will continue through the generations.  How rewarding!

One of Ethan’s friends from high school started a business selling Cutco knives.  He called us on Saturday and asked if he could practice his presentation on us, and sell us some knives.  I have knives that I love, but I also wanted to support him so I agreed.  He came over yesterday and did a great job presenting his business to us.  Of course, I bought eight steak knives, which cut through leather so they must be good!  I will also send him names of friends who will listen to the presentation as well.  Always happy to help an entrepreneur!!

Moving a freshman into college is no easy feat!  There is a ton of shopping to do, following lists that are six pages long, deciding what they need and what isn’t really necessary.  Then, there’s packing everything up and getting it to the dorm.  Finally, it’s move in day, complete with anxiety about the new school and sadness about leaving your child.

When we moved Ethan in, the first thing I did was make his bed.  First, there was the “Bed Bug Prevention Mattress Cover,” a plastic zipped up cover for the gross plastic mattress.  Then, we put on the foam pad, so that it would be comfortable.  Then, the mattress pad, to protect the foam pad and provide extra cushion.  Then the fitted sheet, followed by the flat sheet and comforter.  Yes, it was probably overkill, but I’m a Jewish mother and I want my boy to be comfortable!

When we finished making the bed, Ethan’s roommate said that he needed to go somewhere to get sheets.  He had arrived a day earlier and slept on the BARE MATTRESS.  He did not come with anything for his bed, not even a pillow.  He had no soap or toothpaste.  He did not have parents to move him in and take him shopping for snacks and the few things he forgot.  He had nothing.  Then another “new friend” also said that he had nothing.  Of course, Jordan and I offered to be their parents for the day and take them shopping.

We piled into the car and headed to Bed and Bath, where they got sheets, towels, pillows and all of the necessities.  We helped them pick out what was most necessary, and ensured that they received the best prices on those items.  Then we took them to the supermarket, where they got their toiletries.  We made sure that they filled out the paperwork to get the store discounts on those items.  We squeezed all of us and all of their purchases in the car in every free space and brought them back to the dorm.

A reminder that not everyone has the same resources – both financial and human – and that when we can, we’re obligated to help.

While researching opportunities for hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive, I came across CityTeam in Chester, Pa.  It’s a few miles from my CASA family, yet they have not utilized the services offered there.  They have a men’s shelter, where my CASA mom’s boyfriend lived for some time.  They have Food Programs, where people can pick up boxes of food, or come to the cafe and sit at tables with tablecloths and be served meals.  Through their food programs, they also have a Thanksgiving Food Drive, where they provide 900 meals for families.  They have a Mother and Baby Care program, where they provide clothing, formula, diapers and all other baby products at no cost.  They also have a backpack drive, and provide toys for Christmas.  They have a long term residential recovery program, a GED program, healthcare, and job assistance.  I signed up to work in the Mother and Baby Care program, having no idea what to expect.  I drove there, parking in a very sketchy neighborhood, not at all comfortable with this decision.  But it was great.  I was so impressed with all that CityTeam has to offer the residents of Chester.  I spent most of my time sorting and hanging clothes, and packaging diapers, wipes, Q-tips for the participants.  The clients were treated with respect and kindness, and I really felt like I made a dent in their to-do list.  I will definitely be back, and I would love to get my CASA family to start taking advantage of all that they have to offer.

What a great day with my mom and sestra!  First, mom and I met for a yummy Greek lunch.  Then Wendy met us at Beautiful, a terrific Broadway show about Carol King.  We wanted to prolong our visit, so we headed to Bryant Park for some iced coffee on a hot summer evening.  We stopped at the kiosk “wafels and dinges.”  The woman in front of us on line ordered a waffle with Nutella.  When they handed her they waffle, she paid with a $100 dollar bill.  They did not accept $100 dollar bills and she didn’t have anything smaller.  I was so happy to help, and I told her it was my treat.  She said that she’d get change for her large bill, but I handed the clerk my credit card and told her to just enjoy her waffle.  She left to get change and we sat in the park with our beverages.  On the way out, we stopped to see if she came back for her waffle.  She did not.  The clerk asked if I wanted them to refund my credit card and I said no, just give someone on line a free waffle and tell them to pay it forward.  I hope I made someone’s day!

One of the most rewarding aspects of this mitzvah project is that I am always, every day, on the lookout for mitzvot.  Fifty mitzvot are a lot, so I need to push myself to do things that I wouldn’t ordinarily do.  Like a Barre class.  I love my Tribe, but Barre isn’t really for me.  Lisa invited me to this class that her daughter Olivia put together to raise money for the Live Like Blaine Foundation.  The class was free, but they were collecting donations for the Foundation in memory of Blaine, a friend of Lisa’s family.  And I did it!  It was different, and challenging, and fun.  And I helped raise money while exercising – what could be better??

I purged!!  I did the KonMari method of taking every single item out of my closet.  I held each one up and asked, “does this bring me joy?”  Turns out that there weren’t many pieces that brought me joy.  I got rid of about 50% of my closet – including the dress I wore to my rehearsal dinner, the nightgown that I wore on my honeymoon and other sentimental but outdated items.  This time, I put a lot of thought into where I wanted to donate these items.  I decided on Big Brother Big Sister.  Their mission aligns with my own, mentoring young people with your time and energy.  I felt good about my donation!