According to the website of the Greensboro Jewish Federation, the "Federation has been supporting, sustaining and revitalizing Jewish life for nearly a century." They help the 13 million Jews around the world by working with local and oversees partners to see what is needed in the community and for families and individuals. The above photo features their van that drives people around town to complete errands who otherwise would not have transportation. Located at 5509 West Friendly Avenue, the local Jewish Family Services/Greensboro Jewish Federation does so much to help in our community. They have senior services, social services, family programming; they provide Jewish overnight camp grants and scholarships, and more. It doesn't matter if you are an immigrant, new to the United States or someone who has been in Greensboro for a very long time, the notion of mitzvah runs deep.
Mitzvah is a multi-faceted word, related to doing good deeds, is not easily reduced to a short definition. Here is a website that explains the idea of mitzvah, and starts by reminding us that the word is mentioned about 300 times in the five books of Moses. One of the biggest acts of mitzvah that will happen in Greensboro this weekend is that more than 100 Jewish volunteers will staff Moses Cone on Christmas Eve and Day, so that Christian families can enjoy the holiday. This year, that is an especially great act of mitzvah as the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins tomorrow, plus tomorrow is the Jewish Sabbath and it is the weekend. The greatest acts of "mitzvah" are deeds that cannot be bought or sold. Honk if you love mitzvah! Better yet, find some good deed to perform.
Ah, so that's the definition of the word!
Posted by: William Kendall | Friday, December 23, 2016 at 11:05 AM