On Monday, May 22, 2023, Bernard Zell students, faculty and staff will come together for our ninth annual Day of Service. Each year this special event highlights the changemakers and leaders within our community who have devoted themselves to performing acts of tikkun olam (repairing the world), while providing opportunities for our students to model this same menschlichkeit (behaving as a good person) and learn how they too, can bring healing to our world.

Created in 2014 in memory of Dr. Alyson Horwitz's late husband, Judd Horwitz, the Bernard Zell Day of Service will honor his memory while bringing ruach (spirit) to the work of giving tzedakah (charity) and lifting up those from underserved communities. 

Lower School & Middle School Students
On Wednesday, May 17, Lower School and Middle School students will learn about the work of youth social entrepreneur, Jakhil Naeem Jackson and his organization Project I Am, which has created over 7,500 blessing bags for those in need.  

Senior Kindergarten - 8th Grade
Building off their learning from Jakhil, students in SK through 8th grade will be assembling blessing bags on Monday, May 22 to donate to StreetWise, a program near and dear to Judd Horwitz. StreetWise—a YWCA program—exists to elevate marginalized voices and provide opportunities for individuals, who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, to earn an income or gain employment providing a ‘Hand up’ and not a ‘Hand out’ (learn more). Before they begin assembling blessing bags, students will listen to a message from Dr. Alyson Horwitz about the importance of doing service and the great work that StreetWise does to support individuals experiencing homelessness in the city of Chicago.

Items to Purchase & Bring to School for Blessing Bags
Our goal is to create over 613 blessing bags as a school community, in recognition of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah. Please support our plans by making a donation from the Day of Service Registry on Amazon - donations will be sent to your home and then should be brought to school between May 8 - May 18 and dropped in the corresponding bins in Makom Kehillah. If you choose to buy from somewhere other than Amazon, you can still note your contribution on the Registry to help us with tracking donations.

Please reach out to your Division Head(s) with any questions.