Loaves and Fishes Ministry Soup Kitchen
On the first Monday morning of each month our group meets at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen in the Immanuel Church on Farmington Avenue in Hartford. We prepare and serve lunch to our neighbors in need. We arrive at 10:00 a.m. to prepare and begin the preparations. We serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.. If you would like more information about our group, please call Ellen Solomon at (860) 648-0300.

 

Charter Oak
MITZVAH DAY IS EVERYDAY! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Volunteering for the Charter Oak Cultural Center is a wonderful opportunity to make a "hands on" difference to families in need. Once a month, along with the Charter Oak Cultural Center, Beth El volunteers prepare and serve dinner to about 50 Hartford children and their families. The Center is used for their after school program. These families also rely heavily on school meals for their food. Cooking is done on a Sunday morning (usually around 8:00 a.m.), and takes about 2 -3 hours at most. Then, on Monday at the Center, we set up, serve and clean up. Set up is at 4:00 p.m. and serving begins at 5:00 p.m. The Charter Oak Cultural Center is located at 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT. For more information please contact Marci Alter at mbajba1@yahoo.com or Ronit Shoham shokids@hotmail.com.

 

Jessie's Community Garden
The mission of Jessie’s Community Garden at Beth El Temple is to raise vegetables for donation to food banks and food service organizations serving the hungry throughout the Hartford community. Our garden is only one of a larger network of Jessie’s Community Gardens. The project was founded by the Kostin family, long time Beth El members, in memory of their daughter Jessica. We are looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of tending the garden and delivering crops when ready. No experience is needed to enjoy this wonderful project and perform an important mitzvah. For more information contact the Beth El Temple office at (860) 233-9696.

 

T'Green Olam
Beth El Temple of West Hartford endeavors to make a positive impact on the environment by implementing responsible practices for the conservation of energy and natural resources and Baal Tashchit, the reduction of waste. We seek to educate all who come through our doors about Tikkun Olam, Repairing the World, through environmental responsibility and to foster an understanding of the importance of making environmentally responsible decisions.
“One generation goes and another generation comes; but the Earth remains forever. Ecclesiastes 1:4” Click here to View the 2010-2011 Program. For more information contact David Brandwein davidib@att.net.

 

Knitzvah: Beth El Knitters
Knitzvah is a group of Beth El Temple women who enjoy a knitting or crocheting get-together. We make squares which are then sewn or crocheted together to create lap-afghans. They are colorful, useful and brighten dreary rooms. When finished, they are delivered to places like homeless shelters, hospitals, orphanages, special-needs care facilities -- anywhere they are needed. They are most welcome in the Greater Hartford area and many have made their way to Israel.

In addition to afghans, we also make and deliver hats, scarves, mittens, and gloves -- in sizes from infant to young teens. Creating these items has been a joy, but the comradery and friendships that have developed at our knitting sessions is just as meaningful.

We generally meet once a month on a Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. at Beth El Temple. We do not meet during the summer.

For more information contact Annette Gavens sygavens@aol.com.

 

Food Pantry
Beth El has a long history of involvement with and support for the Kosher Food Pantry, including collecting food annually during the High Holidays. Volunteers help sort the food after the holiday and transport the food to the Pantry. We are always looking for volunteers to help.

Every year the Hebrew School sponsors a cereal drive. Students are urged to bring one or more boxes of cereal when they come to school as a way of helping to feed the hungry. Everything is donated to the JFS Kosher Food Pantry.

Sisterhood created a program for the Bat/Bar Mitzvah families. For $150.00, Sisterhood will decorate food baskets in place of traditional flower arrangements. We do the food shopping, decorate the baskets and place them on the Bimah. The baskets are delivered to the pantry after the Simcha. This is the best Mitzvah, for you are feeding the hungry, decorating the Bimah, and sending a powerful message all at the same time!

Many families have been making food baskets their centerpieces for their Simchas and then donating them to the food pantry.

Children are so mindful and conscious that lately they have been requesting cans of food in lieu of gifts for their birthday parties. As part of the birthday celebration, the children all go over to the pantry and deliver the food. It’s so heartwarming, photographs are taken and lessons are learned which last a lifetime!

It would be great if everyone who enters the Temple could bring at least one can of food for the food pantry. With the daily meetings and comings and goings, we could certainly feed a lot of people and keep the shelves stocked at the pantry.

All the above mentioned Beth El Mitzvahs are truly helping to feed the Greater Hartford area, including West Hartford. Let’s try to end hunger right in our own back yard!

Now that you know what Beth El is doing for the Food Pantry, let me tell you why we are doing it.

The Kosher Food Pantry was founded in 2002 when it became apparent there was a need in the community for members of our community who keep kosher to have a place to go if they needed food assistance.

The Kosher Food Pantry distributes thousands of dollars of food each month. Supermarket gift cards, cash and checks in all denominations are gratefully accepted. 100% of your donations are used directly for the pantry items purchased.

Below is a list of foods, cleaning & household products & toiletries that are needed. All food has to be unopened & KOSHER. A large box is located at the entrance of Beth El for the collection of these items. About ¾ of all prepackaged food products are kosher. Look for the hechsher symbol. Some of the popular ones are shown below:

Canned vegetables & Canned fruit – preferably in juice or light syrup
Juice – Apple or Grape, Gatorade (fruit punch flavor)
Coffee reg. & decaf, Flavored reg. & decaf tea bags
Cereal, Crackers, Cookies
Pasta Sauce -  (Most Barilla, Emeril’s & Scalafini sauces are kosher.  Francisco Rinaldi (marinara & tomato & basil) and Price Chopper Vodka marinara are kosher).
Macaroni & Cheese Mix (Fould’s, Tradition or Wacky Mac), Pasta
Near East or Manischewitz rice, Couscous mixes
Peanut butter
Solid white Tuna fish in water, canned salmon, tinned sardines
Canned soup
Baking mixes & frosting
Salad dressing, mayonnaise & oil 

Cleaning & Household Supplies
Glass cleaner, All-purpose cleaner (Fantastic, 409, etc.)
Toilet bowl cleaner, Bathroom cleaner
Scrubbing powder (Bon Ami, Ajax, etc.) Sponges, Brillo, SOS pads
Dish detergent, Laundry detergent
Toilet paper, Papertowels
Toothpaste, toothbrushes
Disposable razors, deodorant

Thank you for your Mitzvahs and helping out your neighbors. For more info please call: Sharon Levine-Shein ms.lib@comcast.net (860) 677-9704