projectsarah.org

Project S.A.R.A.H. Bat Mitzvah Project Ideas

1. Put together Kosher Kits for a women’s shelter.

When a woman needs to leave an abusive relationship, she can go to a shelter specifically designed for this purpose. In New Jersey there are no shelters specifically for Jewish women. However, part of the work Project S.A.R.A.H. does is to make it possible for an observant Jewish woman to reside in a shelter as comfortably as possible. One way in which we help is by providing Kosher Kits to all the shelters in the state containing kosher food and a few other necessities (see list below) enough to last for 24 hours for a woman and up to three children. (During that time the shelter contacts us to help provide kosher food for after that period.)

You can help by collecting these items to make one or more Kosher Kits to be delivered to an abused women’s shelter. This can involve any or all of the following:

• Soliciting donations to buy the materials.
• Soliciting donations of the actual foods and other items.
• Toveling the can opener (as well as learning about or delivering a dvar Torah on the meaning of this mitzvah).
• Creating/decorating an appropriate box for the Kosher Kit (which can be used as centerpieces).
• Delivering the Kosher Kit to a shelter.

A kosher kit must contain enough food for a woman and three children. Here is a sample kit:

• 1 box of matzah
• 1 bottle of water
• 1 bottle of grape juice
• 1 box of instant cholov yisrael milk (dry)
• 4 cups of cereal
• 1 jar of gefilte fish
• 1 box of tea biscuits
• 6 cans tuna (pop-top is best)
• 1 jar apple sauce – Season
• 2 canned meatless soup
• 1 jar of jelly
• 1 Traditions meal in a cup (e.g., spaghetti with sauce)
• 4 fruit cocktails
• 3 packages of candy
• coffee /tea
• dried fruit
• mayonnaise
• paper goods and plasticware (including hot cups and regular cups)
• 1 can opener (must be toveled)
• 1 siddur (Artscroll)
• 1 Tehillim (Artscroll) – OPTIONAL
• 2 electric candlesticks

If you are substituting items in the kosher kit, please be sure that the items all have a widely accepted hechsher, such as OU or Star-K. All dairy products should be cholov yisrael.

2. Raise funds for victims of domestic violence.

Victims of domestic violence are often controlled financially by their abusers. If they have to leave the relationship, they frequently leave penniless and in need. Project S.A.R.A.H. helps them in any way possible, from finding housing to getting the kids to school to providing free counseling. A donation to Project S.A.R.A.H. helps us provide all these services, and can be earmarked for a particular purpose if desired. We can be a part of your ceremony by presenting a certificate at your bat mitzvah.

All of these projects can be accompanied by a dvar Torah that addresses issues of healthy vs. abusive relationships and the obligations that we have to those around us. Project S.A.R.A.H. staff are available to you for consultation on any part of the process.

info@projectsarah.org

973-777-7638

Comments are closed.