Buttons and Baskets

Two opportunities to do good today:

First up is a project that the 7th grade class at my daughter's school has undertaken with the goal of collecting 1.5 million buttons corresponding to the approximately 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. 

Why buttons?

• A button is a basic component for clothes; however each button has a unique shape and color.  This reminds us of the special uniqueness of every child who perished.
• A button can close a jacket and protect us. This reminds us of the protection which was lacking for those children who perished.
• A button is circular, which reminds us of the life cycle and that these children ending their cycles too soon.
• A button is whole and complete. The Nazis uprooted children from the families and home and made their lives torn and incomplete.

The kids in my daughter's class are about two-thirds of the way to realizing their goal and are broadening their search for buttons to the international community for the final push.   

That's where you come in.

Please check to see if there are buttons attached to any of those old shirts and dresses that you've consigned to the rag bin at your house (or which you are about to throw away).  Even a few buttons will be welcome!

Please send the buttons to:

Asseh Chayil Elementary School
1 1/2 million buttons project
The Gefen Hill
Efrat 90435

The next project is perhaps a bit less esoteric... but every bit as important:

You may remember last summer that I was involved in the great Zionist Underwear Drive which delivered much needed underwear and socks to reservists who had been called up to fight in the Lebanon war but who had no way to wash or replace their, um, soiled skivvies. 

You guys came through in a spectacular way... resulting in several car/truck loads of these essential undergarments being delivered to staging points along the northern border.  This program was managed by the very worthwhile organization; Standing Together.

Well, Standing Together is up to good things again... this time in the form of a very ambitious Mishloach Manot drive this Purim for our young men and women serving in the IDF:

This campaign, known as 'Purim Together', serves as a practical and simple way to demonstrate your solidarity, support and appreciation of Israel's young soldiers. This is a wonderful way to show Israel's young heroes how much you care.

Just as with the Zionist Underwear Drive, I will be volunteering to drive some of the goodies.  I'll be dropping off some of the Mishloach Manot baskets to the troops stationed along my drive to work (Gush Etzion, South Hevron Hills and northern Negev).

The goal is to send 50,000 Mishloach Manot packages. About 30,000 have already been committed by the 'Friends of the IDF in Israel', and they are looking for the support of your schools, synagogues and communities for the additional 20,000.

This project provides a terrific opportunity to express your support and commitment to Israel, her people and her defenders. It is operated by Standing Together and the Friends of the IDF in Israel, as a philanthropic project, and is not a business venture [Ed. note: Unlike some of the ads you may see on various websites].

There are a couple of  ways you can help:

Click here to download the Purim Together Color Flyer.  Click here to download the Purim Together Black and White Flyer.  These are ready for you to distribute to your synagogue, organization and all your contacts.

Click here to make your donation for Purim Mishloach Baskets.

OK, that's it for today.  Whether you pick buttons or baskets (or both), I applaud you for your generosity.