Jewish Community Center of Paramus

Community Affairs

			Many Diverse Outreach Projects
			In keeping with Jewish teachings and the tradition of Tikkun Olam (healing the world), our Community Affairs Committee participates in many diverse outreach projects all year long. Starting off our Jewish calendar year, we encourage our members to bring a bag of non-perishable food to Synagogue on Kol Nidre Eve for Operation Isaiah, which provides much needed help to the local food banks. Last year we contributed nearly 200 bags of food and other necessities for distribution within Bergen County. Our collections for the local food banks continue throughout the year.

			Feeding the Hungry
			In conjunction with the Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless of Bergen County we provide meals for their Walk-In Dinner Program. Additionally, our fall and spring Turkey and Food Drives help ensure that people are not forgotten at holiday times, no matter what their religion. Chanukah finds us assembling and distributing gifts to Jewish patients in area hospitals.

			A Wonderful Group of Knitters
			Our Synagogue has a wonderful group of knitters. The clothing items they make are sent to the Tikvah Home in Odessa, a Jewish orphanage. Our knitting bees meet each month at members’ homes where we knit and chat. Experienced or not, you are welcome to join us. If you need instruction we will gladly help you or even teach you how to knit!

			Overflow Shelter Hosts
			As part of another project run in conjunction with the Interreligious Fellowship, our members serve as hosts one night a week in June and July as our building becomes a welcoming overflow shelter for the working homeless. In addition to a clean, safe place to sleep, we provide dinner, breakfast and a brown-bag lunch generously donated by local Kosher establishments. The summer of 2007 was the 17th year that we hosted the Overflow Shelter.

			Every Day is Mitzvah Day
			We are continuing with our successful initiative, begun in 2006-2007, the Every Day Is Mitzvah Day project, which involved documenting the community service of our members. We set ourselves a goal of 613 mitzvot and had our members report their volunteer work to us. The JCCP community is so caring – we easily collected our 613 mitzvot and more. Our brochure will once again list volunteer opportunities in the greater community and ongoing projects of our JCCP community. Be sure to see our beautiful Mitzvah tree indicator, which will be on display in the synagogue lobby after the High holidays.

			Solomon Schechter Award in Social Action
			We are proud that the JCCP has been chosen to receive a Solomon Schechter Award in the Social Action category. Our entry highlighted our Every Day Is Mitzvah Day project.

			Our Caring Community
			The Jewish Community Center of Paramus takes great pleasure in knowing that our members are special people, evidenced by how generous they are with the time and effort they devote to all our projects. It is most gratifying to see such a wonderful cross section of our membership, our youth, our seniors, and all those in between, participating so enthusiastically.

			To Contact Community Affairs
			Please contact Roz Gerard for more information.
			(201) 262-7691 - Ext. 0

	Jewish Community Center of Paramus
	E. 304 Midland Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
	Phone: (201) 262-7691 - Fax: (201) 262-6516
	© 2007 Jewish Community Center of Paramus