Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education

Moral Education

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Mitzvah-thon
A Project for School and Home

Bonni Kraus

Goals of Project:
The goals of this project are to teach both students and their families about selected mitzvot and to encourage them to become active participants in making the world a better place.

Materials Needed:
A List of Selected Jewish Value Concepts, large chart and sheets from the Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education. Special Mitzvah Tzedakah Boxes (made by the students from patterns available in the Caplan LAB at ACAJE). The Seidman Educational Resource Center also has supportive materials about mitzvot.

Method:
Students will perform mitzvot and earn tzedakah money for each mitzvah performed.

Procedure:

1. Classroom
   
   The teacher should introduce the concept of mitzvot and suggest ways that the students can perform them. The large chart should be displayed in the classroom. Students will make the special Mitzvah Tzedakah Boxes to bring home, along with an 8 1/2 X 11 version of the chart. The teacher should explain to the students that they will be raising money by performing mitzvot and can suggest good tzedakah causes. Students can either vote for which cause their tzedakah monies will be designated or decide to choose a personal cause within their own families.
   
   
2. Family
   
   Children perform mitzvot from the list (which is, hopefully, displayed on the refrigerator or other central place in the home) and talk about them with their parents, using both the English and Hebrew terms. Parents then donate a quarter per mitzvah performed, putting the money into the Mitzvah Tzedakah Box. If families have chosen a personal cause, they may visit the classroom to talk to the class about their cause and the mitzvot the student has done to earn money for it. The tzedakah boxes are to be returned to the classrooms by a specified date.
   
   

Age Group:
Elementary school students

Children learn about and perform mitzvot and raise tzedakah by doing so. Parents reward their children for doing the right thing and also learn about mitzvot. Hopefully, the entire family will become involved in performing some of the mitzvot with their children. A good cause is supported. It's a win-win-win project!

From Highlights, Fall 1998/5759