Mosad Shalom Religious School Gives Tzedakah for Evacuated Israeli Children

This fall, the Mosad Shalom Religious School of Temple Adat Shalom in North County San Diego raised $360 to provide new equipment in the Children’s Houses at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, located on the Israel Gaza border, which was evacuated during this summer’s violence. When Mosad Shalom Religious School re-convened after summer break, the shelling in Israel had just recently ceased and the summer-long war was fresh in everyone’s minds.

Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Temple Adat Shalom have a long-time partnership and relationship, signified by two friendship gardens— one here in San Diego and one on Kibbutz Nahal Oz— with plaques denoting the heverot (friendship). The friendship began eight years ago between two dedicated educational professionals, Susan Cohn, Director of Mosad Shalom Religious School, and Tami Halevi, Director of Education at Kibbbutz Nahal Oz. The two met through one of Federation’s professional exchanges nearly a decade ago. The colleagues kept in touch, spoke often, and visited each other from time to time, thanks to Federation funded travel to and from Israel. Susan had plans to visit Tami and the children this past July, but was unable when Nahal Oz was evacuated due to terrorist rockets and tunnels in the region.

Plaque on Kibbutz Nahal Oz recognizing the friendship 

The students and faculty of Mosad Shalom Religious School wanted to do something for their friends in Israel. On the first day of religious school, at the 7th Annual Pancake Breakfast, families were shown a brief slideshow of everyday life at and the realities facing families living on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which inspired the children to donate tzedakah to help buy new equipment, supplies, and toys for the children of the kibbutz – to provide comfort on their arrival home from evacuation.

Last week on a trip to Israel, Michael Sonduck, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, had the privilege to act as an emissary to the children of Nahal Oz and hand deliver $360 to the kibbutz.

Kol HaKavod to the students and faculty of Mosad Shalom Religious Day School!