Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/143399
RELIGION BRIEFS The second-grade students created a puppet show about kindness. Contributed photo TEMPLE SINAI STUDENTS ACT ON LESSONS ABOUT KINDNESS Throughout the past school year, Temple Sinai students engaged in many discussions about mitzvot (their Jewish obligations) and g'milut chasadim (acts of loving kindness). In the fall, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, youngsters in the entire school dedicated their weekly tzedakah (money collected for others) — which totaled more than $300 — to the American Red Cross, a news release says. In the spring, second-graders created a puppet show that contrasted a day in the life of a child their age who went through a day not being kind and thoughtful with a day in which the same child showed respect to parents and teachers, helped out a friend and cared for animals, the release adds. choosing the ones that would receive the additional $448 that had been collected for tzedakah. Under the guidance of their teacher, Joni Mandel, the students decided to support several projects, the release continues. Learning about the critical shortage of safe drinking water in many parts of the world, the students decided to give half of the tzedakah to Clean Water Action, the release adds. After the youth heard about lobbying efforts to pressure supermarkets and restaurant chains to support farmworkers, the decision was made to contribute the other half of the tzedakah to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Inspired to do something more hands-on as The fifth/sixth-grade class was charged with well, the class organized a used book drive researching non-profit organizations and for Oasis Elementary and was able to collect