These past two months have been filled with opportunities to give back. It’s sometimes hard to find the energy or the mind space as we are just trying to manage our own lives, our children’s learning, our family’s anxieties and uncertainties. But, the outpouring of support for our community has been so inspirational. With my children, we made a yard sign to post on a main road to show our support for essential workers, we’ve donated money to send meals to hospital and other essential workers and made cards to go with the meals, we decorated a paper square for a kindness quilt for The Kindness Connection. Personally, I’ve been making phone calls to congregants at my synagogue and to recipients of the Home Delivered Meals program through CJE Senior Life. That has been incredibly rewarding. People are so appreciative to hear a friendly voice and to know that people outside of their circles care about them and are taking the time to make sure they are ok. I look forward to making my calls each week and know that it is a bright spot not only for the person on the other end of the line, but for me, as well. No deed during this time is too small. Every little bit helps, and each mitzvah helps to create a balance in our world that we so desperately need.

-Submitted by Rachel Stein