Markham Brings Joy to Seniors

Frances Kraft – Canadian Jewish News

Chabad Lubavitch of Markham has placed a greater focus on its chesed programming for children as young as five to take an active role in helping others.

The shul’s youth director, Rabbi Meir Gitlin, who works with his wife, Esther, said that “getting the kids involved is very important.”

He said parents had expressed a desire for more chesed activities to complement their young children’s educational and social programming.
The shul’s youth leaders Mattie Plotkin and Kiki (short for Rivka) Halperin, both 20, launched the first Kids for Kindness (K4K) event last month, when more than 50 five-to-12-year-olds baked challahs and delivered them to Richmond Hill Leisureworld, a seniors home, where they also sang Shabbat songs for the residents.

Each child started a conversation with a resident, said Plotkin, who like Halperin is a graduate of a teachers seminary in Israel. “It was incredible to see these kids with such confidence… We’re going to try to spread sunshine all over.”

The K4K programs, which will run monthly, will be held at different seniors homes, and each will have a theme. The next one will be Chanukah-related.
“All our programs are not just for us to have fun, but to have an aspect of tikkun olam,” said Plotkin, whose father is the shul’s rabbi.

“It’s important to give back to society,” Halperin said.

Allison Solomon, chair of the shul’s sisterhood, said she thinks one of the biggest challenges parents face is teaching their young children to give back to the community. Most of the food banks, she noted, require volunteers to be at least 16 years old.

She said she wanted her children – three sons, 5, 7 and 9 – to “experience the joy of giving back.”

Solomon said she believes they “really get it” after participating in the program.

“I think everybody found it to be extremely meaningful.