Social Action

“At Beth Hillel Day School, I learned to help other people. That’s why I donated my hair, two times, to a charity that helps children who have lost their hair.”

– Sarah, Beth Hillel Day School Class of 2008

At Beth Hillel Day School, students learn to put Jewish values into action. Throughout the year, students have opportunities to participate in tzedakah (righteous giving) projects that enrich our local community and the world. In addition to participating in our Temple Mitzvah Day, our students have baked goodies for local firemen, donated school supplies for children who are victims of domestic violence, and collected books for public school libraries. They have contributed money to plant trees in Israel and Los Angeles, held bake sales to benefit disaster survivors, provided solar ovens for refuges in Darfur, and sent mishloach manot (baskets of Purim goodies) to Israeli troops. Through these actions, our students learn to care about others and to give back to our local community and the world.

In each class, students adopt a cause and learn about one way they can help repair the world. Students in TK and Kindergarten work in the Interfaith Food Pantry and in the Temple Mitzvah Garden; first graders visit the elderly and perform at Hanukkah and Purim; second and third graders learn about animal care; and fourth and fifth graders work to take care of the environment, including a beach clean up. Our program culminates in sixth grade, where students create, design, and implement their own Social Action project.