Andrew Guckes | Staff Writer
There is always a good time for a mitzvah.
At the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, they even have a day dedicated to them. On Feb. 2, the annual Super Sunday and Community Mitzvah Day Event saw more than 300 volunteers gather at the Federation for a day of community building, service and fun.
Chief philanthropy officer for the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey Leah Wolf said in an interview that the tradition has been going for years and is beloved by the community. Years ago, Jewish federations began holding “Super Sunday” the week before the Super Bowl as a day of giving.
“Now our community knows it’s coming every year because it is a tradition. In addition to the phone-a-thon portion, which is traditionally Super Sunday, we have added Community Mitzvah Day. During that part of the day, volunteers participate in hands-on mitzvah projects to benefit community members,” she said.
This year, the mitzvot included a blood drive with Magen David Adom, as well as blanket making for the Lions Gate senior living community. The event was lively and fun, and Wolf said that the appeal is in its variety. Anyone can contribute as long as they can do something, she said.
“The whole idea is that whether you are on the phone fundraising, giving a donation or doing a project, you are doing a good deed for the community,” Wolf said.
The event, in addition to including acts of service, raised more than $750,000. Those donations were matched by the Marvin Samson Foundation.
“It’s a very high-energy event as people make calls all together in our boardroom. You can feel the excitement when someone gets a donation because they know from that call they have helped to make a difference in our community by raising much-needed dollars,” Wolf said.
The funds will go to various causes. The Federation says that those include combating antisemitism, racism and hatred; increasing security across the Jewish community; feeding those who experience food insecurity; providing comfort and care to the elderly; helping aid physical and mental fitness; and responding to crises.
At this point, the event is entrenched in the local Jewish community and has become a tradition of its own, albeit a smaller one than the Super Bowl. It is, however, the largest annual fundraiser for the JFSNJ’s annual JFund campaign. That program sees funds directed to critical services around the Delaware Valley, Israel and the world. Wolf said that within the different areas of need that the Federation looks to impact, there are connections made that reinforce that all of us are woven together.
“It’s always really special to see family members spanning multiple generations working together on this day. I saw toddlers here with their parents and grandparents all doing their part to help the community,” she said. “The idea of L’dor V’dor, from generation to generation, is really important to us. We want to leave the community better than we found it for the next generation, and seeing people of all ages come together to help do that is really a highlight of the day.”
The event is a full community effort, Wolf said. A number of Jewish and secular businesses and community members support and sponsor the event. In the past few years, Jewish communities have rallied in the face of increased antisemitism and hate around the country and the globe. Events like these bring together Jews of all types, but also non-Jews.
The goal for next year is just more of the same.
“We always strive to engage the entire community,” Wolf said.
