Monmouth Reform Temple Conducts
Virtual Mitzvah Day to Give Back
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TheJournalNJ.com | JUNE 2020 25
OF MONTH
Enjoy your BBQs but don't forget to
cut the corn off the cobb this summer,
The Monmouth
Reform Temple
(MRT) Mitzvah
Day committee had
been meeting for
the various activities
that bring its temple
members together
to make a difference
in the greater community
one day in
April. While Mitzvah
Day was scheduled
to take place on April
26, early on in the
month it became
apparent that members
weren’t going
to gather to sweep beaches, clean trails or cook at The Center of
Asbury Park. The local senior centers would not be serenaded by
the beautiful voices of Cantor Clissold and her religious school
students; nor would families meet in the social hall for all those
“make a difference” activities prior to the concluding celebratory
barbecue. The temple, as the rest of our world, was closed for
COVID-19.
Refusing to be deterred or derailed by this virus, MRT President
Marjorie Wold suggested that the temple go virtual with
what could be done.
could still do from home and added a few more ideas adaptive to
the current situation,” she said.
Material was purchased and patterns followed for MRT sewers
to make protective masks. With generous mask donations
from other temple members, more than 500 face coverings were
-
ties; Family Resource Association; The Center of Asbury Park and
individuals who needed them.
Spearheading that group, Lynn Shapiro reported, “Everything
I delivered was met with tremendous gratitude.”
donations destined for homeless shelters and food pantries.
For a demonstration of appreciation to local heroes of this
pandemic, the creativity of the religious school was harnessed
with families and children creating art work and cards of gratitude
for healthcare workers.
Temple member and healthcare provider Rickie Kashdan
said, “Over 200 beautiful cards and artwork from our temple
members — adults, children and parents — were delivered to Riverview
Medical Center, Monmouth Medical and Jersey Shore University
Medical Center (JSUMC).”
The activities for the day (which stretched out into the following week)
were coordinated by the MRT’s Social Action Committee under Pam McGovern
with Mitzvah Day Committee chairs Marcia Rachlin and Dean Ross.
McGovern said that while one favorite Mitzvah Day Activity of members,
cooking at The Center of Asbury Park Center, could not take place during the
pandemic, members chose to cook from their own homes instead.
“We were able to make home-cooked donations to The Center, which is an
activity we will continue throughout the year,” she said.
The Social Action Committee is also spearheading an effort for temple
members to grocery shop and deliver food and medications to the more vulnerable
members of their community who must strictly shelter in place for
fear of infection.
way of giving, by donating to select charities that developed special grants and
Interfaith Neighbors, JBJ Soul Kitchen of Red Bank and Lunch Break.
Rabbi Marc Kline said, “A special match donation was offered by a very
donation exceeded $17,500 for the local food pantry! I am incredibly proud to
serve this congregation. They just keep showing up.”
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