Teaching Kids Loving Kindness

Angels Among Us

by Jill Weinlein

A group of young children at Temple Adat Elohim, in the community of Thousand Oaks, unite once a month to perform a mitzvah (good deed) for other's in need. These children, ages five to nine, experience many positive and rewarding moments. During the school year, they participate in the group Chesed, which means loving kindness in Hebrew. Later, when studying for their bar and bat mitzvahs, they have been exposed to many rewarding opportunities, that it's easy for them to choose a mitzvah project they are passionate about.

Each event draws from 20 to 40 people, and the children have a parent or grandparent with them to teach them about helping the world. Robin and Emily Platt from Camarillo are part of this honorable group. Their favorite Chesed event was visiting the California Wildlife Reserve in Malibu. The group met at the wildlife hospital to see how the reserve takes care of injured native animals. Then they made bat boxes and perches for local owls. They taught the Chesed families that many household items, such as yogurt containers and six-pack plastic holders, are dangerous for native animals.

Another event, which moved both Robin and Emily, was assembling Giggle Bags. Families were asked to buy and gather colorful toys, challenging games, and loveable stuffed animals. Robin fondly shared how her eight-year-old daughter collected eight stuffed animals from her bedroom. She sat at her desk and made eight different "I hope you feel better" and "I hope you enjoy this soft and cuddly duck" cards. Then she lined her animals in a row and said her goodbye to each one. Emily hugged each animal and told them to take care of the child who receives them.

At the Temple, they met other families stuffing bags with fuzzy socks, crayons and coloring books, fun mugs, puzzles, word games and travel games. They made over 80 Giggle bags to be delivered to two hospitals in the Burbank area. These bags go to children in the pediatric unit, ands to children with parents in the hospital. A Giggle bag lifts up their spirits and gives the children fun activities and a soft animal to hold while recuperating.

Deborah Lopez organizes Chesed. One of her favorite experiences was at a senior center. She organized a group to visit and entertain seniors. The seniors and the children decorated Popsicle sticks picture frames. Deborah took pictures of the seniors with the kids. Each child and senior kept a picture in their homemade frame. Deborah recalls a senior who didn't speak English, yet bonded so lovingly with one of the kids. "She seemed to really be enjoying the event." After everyone left, the senior remained to help clean up. "She didn't want to go back to her room and be alone again. Then she sat down and stared at the picture of herself with her beautiful new friend and started to cry." Since she didn't speak English, Deborah doesn't know what she was feeling. But somehow that little girl in the Chesed group touched her deeply. Deborah's goal for the group is to touch one another deeply and create loving and kind memories that last a lifetime.

Jill Weinlein is the mother of two girls and writes about Angels Among Us, travel, dining and family matters. Contact her at weinlein@familymagazinegroup.com.