TEMPLE AKIBA’S 18TH ANNUAL MITZVAH DAY

Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM

Mitzvah Day is a joyful community-building day of service, in support of Temple Akiba’s dedication to Tikkun Olam. Join the nearly 300 participants who come together to lend our talents, time & generosity to make the world a better place. We support 20 non-profit organizations to directly help people facing hunger, lack of housing, isolation and illness. Additional projects focus on improving and beautifying our own campus and supporting the Akiba community. Whether you like crafts, cooking, advocacy, or connecting with others, there’s a project for you that enables our light to shine brighter together at home & beyond! Choose from a variety of in-house and off-site projects. All are welcome! Be a part of the magic!

8:30 AM - Registration & Bagel Breakfast

9:00 AM - Service

9:30 AM - Projects

11:30 AM - Lunch

IN-HOUSE PROJECTS

1) Lunches for Those in Need
Make sandwiches, decorate bags and assemble lunches for people served by St. Joseph’s Center, Upward Bound House, Grace Diner, Abundant Blessings, and (SPY) A Safe Place for Youth, Safe Hands Youth Center and Sustainable Futures Project

2) Artistic Mitzvot Round Robin
You can participate in any/all activities.
A) Make Shabbat kits for Seniors at Jewish Family Service. Decorate & fill boxes with prayers, candles, juice and challah.
B) Challah for Hunger – Prepare and decorate challah to be sold; proceeds benefit Mazon
C) Draw pictures and write notes of gratitude and encouragement to our local first responder heroes and our own great security team
D) Bring a smile to the faces of the students displaced from the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center after the Eaton Fire by decorating kippot with messages of love and support. The kippot and school supplies will be given to these kids on their first day of Religious School in September.
E) Assemble New Member Gifts.
F) Assemble Activity Kits for children at Children's Hospital.

3) Outdoor Art Collaborative
You can participate in any/all activities.
A) Decorate placemats for residents of Upward Bound House.
B) Decorate Book Bags for LA County Library Teen Program, fill with books and supplies.
C) Decorate “Treasure Boxes” for kids at Richstone Family Center.

4) Flower Pots for Cheer
Paint clay pots and plant flowers in them. Our creations will be given to residents of West Hollywood Community Housing Corp, an affordable housing project.

5) Kindness Rocks
Paint encouraging words or designs on rocks to give to Temple members or anyone else you know who needs comfort and support.

6) Hats for Good
(Ages 8 & up) Using circular frames, we will knit hats that will be distributed to those in need at PATH & SPY and for children at Santa Monica/UCLA Hospital. Learn how to make these hats Sunday, May 6, 11am-12:30pm. Hats started during this time can be completed on Mitzvah Day.

7) Scarves & Dog Toys
A) (Ages 8 & up) Make no-sew fleece scarves that will be given to people at PATH & SPY.
B) (Ages 10 & up) Make dog toys with tennis balls & t-shirts; to go to Underdog Community Project

8) Comfort Bears & Bunnies
(Ages 9 & up with sewing experience) Make and decorate small stuffed animals for donating to the Culver City Police Department. Officers give them to children in stressful situations.

9) Non-Certified CPR Training
(Ages 10 & up accompanied by adult) Learn how to save a loved one in this short course that covers basic CPR for all ages. 9:45-10:45 a.m. You can also sign up for another on-site project.

10) Donate Blood
8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sign up at www.RedCrossBlood.org. Enter sponsor code “TempleAkiba” or contact Toby Milavski at tobytt@gmail.com. You can donate blood and also sign up for an on-site Mitzvah Day project. Allow one hour for donation.

11) Care Kits for PATH & SPY
Decorate bags & assemble care kits for residents of PATH Westside Center and A Safe Place for Youth. Please bring travel size toiletries.

12) Caring Community Project
Make phone calls to our isolated home bound members who would appreciate and love to hear from our Akiba community. A script and list will be provided to complete this Mitzvah!

13) ECC Improvement Project
Remove the wooden deck in the Keshet yard and rebuild a new, safer deck for our ECC children.

14) Temple Planting Project
Beautify our Walkway-Plant trees and other greenery in the Alley planters. Tasks will include hauling soil and filling the planters. Bring gloves and planting tools and shovels, if you have them.

15) Write letters to elected officials or comment on current bills or propositions that Temple Akiba has endorsed

OFF-SITE PROJECTS

16) Annenberg Pet Space
8th-12th Graders Only accompanied by a parent or Leah Penso, Youth Group Director. Volunteer for various tasks, then have a pet encounter.

17) Sing at Playa del Rey Care Center
Join our Cantor Lonee Frailich & Music Director Michael Rothbart to bring song and cheer to the elderly residents of this skilled nursing facility.

Register for a 2025 Mitzvah Project

Register by April 29 to be guaranteed a Mitzvah Day t-shirt. $18 per individual or $36 per family donation reduces expenses. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Mitzvah Day Sponsors $180: Your name will be publicized at Mitzvah Day, in our bulletin, on our website and social media.

Please Donate the following items to make our projects successful:

Even if you can’t be there in person, you can make a difference by donating supplies. Drop items in the Mitzvah Day donation Bin at the Temple in advance, or bring that day.

Books and School Supplies for Teens: New and gently used books, notebooks, pens, pencils and pencil sharpeners for LA County Library teen program. No adult books please.

Travel Size Hygiene Items: (new and sealed) All kinds of hygiene products, brushes/combs, band aids, tissues, shampoo, conditioner, soap, socks, disposable razors & feminine hygiene products, etc.

Survival Bags for Youth: Small water bottles, juice boxes, granola bars, pudding/fruit cups, travel size detergent, and small hygiene items - deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, body wash, & feminine wipes.

Household Cleaning Supplies: Paper towels, dish rags, dish soap and other household cleaning supplies for Abundant Blessings.

Pet Supplies: Dog & cat food, treats, toys, blankets, towels, stainless steel bowls, leashes, collars, harnesses, pet beds, carriers, crates and cat litter, wee wee pads, shampoos; to go to Underdog Community Project. Bring on Mitzvah Day.

New Socks: to be donated to PATH & SPY

Children's Items: New toys & Board books for children at Santa Monica/UCLA Hospital.