Mitzvah Day at KDHS

MICHELLE DODEK

If you saw high school students out in the community wearing purple T-shirts on May 22, you were seeing part of King David High School's (KDHS's) third annual Mitzvah Day.

The 200 students from KDHS, as well as a class from Surrey's Frank Hurt High School, pre-registered for one of 24 different volunteer activities in both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities. They worked from 9 a.m. until 1:45 p.m., when they headed back to the school for a barbeque and some fun.

Last year, Surrey teacher Dave White bought a Mitzvah Day T-shirt at the Hadassah Bazaar. He was intrigued that a high school would have T-shirts with something about Darfur and so he Googled KDHS when he got home. Mitzvah Day appealed to him so much that he got in touch with KDHS and arranged for his students to join in the day's events. They came on a school bus from Surrey and worked alongside their Jewish counterparts. Organizer Shoshana Burton said, "Many of these students chose to work in Jewish organizations such as Louis Brier or the JFSA because they wanted to learn who we are. There was a beautiful synergy between the students." Co-chair of Mitzvah Day Gabrielle Isserow said she loved having the kids from Surrey participate: "The spirit and atmosphere in the school that day were absolutely amazing."

Burton said she started a form of Mitzvah Day 11 years ago at Maimonides High School and, since Maimonides evolved into KDHS, the event has grown and become a huge part of the culture at the school. "The preparation for Mitzvah Day happens all year long, including a Purple for Peace in Darfur Day and a Magen David Adom Day.

Grade 12 co-chair Dan Blumenkrantz echoed Burton's sentiments. "It was incredible to give back to the community locally and work out from there," he said. "Personally and spiritually, we helped Israel and, internationally, Darfur."

The focus in Darfur is an example of how these students are making a concrete contribution to improving lives. In Darfur, Burton explained, women live every day at great risk of being abducted and/or raped. When they leave their villages to collect firewood, their risks increase. In conjunction with Jewish World Watch, KDHS students have been raising money to buy solar cookers so women need not leave the relative safety of their villages as often. The students feel that it is their obligation as Jews both to raise awareness and to help these people.

People suffer in Vancouver as well. Five homeless shelters were on the list of options for volunteers. Being from sheltered backgrounds, most of the students are overwhelmed by the stories and the situations of the people they meet as they serve lunch or help with gardening. "The shelter was an inspiring experience. It was amazing to give food to people who don't have it and it made me think about all of the things I take for granted," said Grade 8 student Samantha Levin.

Enthusiastic student Raffi Friedman listed other options for the day as he sold me a challah to raise money to buy an ambulance in Israel. "Canuck Place, garbage collection, cleaning up graffiti, animal shelter, visiting sick people, food bank, car wash, garage sale ... there are so many activities." Challah seller Maya Perry commented, "It's a great thing that the school does every year – a great thing to be a part of."

On a complete high, the day after the wildly successful event, Burton said she has big plans for Mitzvah Day. She hopes other schools will team up with them next year and perhaps the Ministry of Education will become interested as well.

Michelle Dodek is a Vancouver freelance writer.

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