Since 1999, Congregation B’nai Israel has made “magic” happen in Baton Rouge with its annual Mitzvah Day. Each spring, congregational members of all ages unite to engage in tikkun olam, the repair of the world. Family and friends participate in projects both on-site and throughout the Baton Rouge community aimed at contributing to our local and global community. Our membership is active in contributing time and donations to this meaningful day. Early in the year, the Mitzvah Day Committee begins identifying work-sites and projects for the upcoming spring. If you would like to be a part of this magical group, have a project idea that you would like to see included in this day, or would like to participate on Mitzvah Day contact our Religious School Director, Julie Tepper.

Since 2009, members of Congregation B’nai Israel have joined together to donate turkeys for those less fortunate at Thanksgiving. Matherne’s Market at Kenilworth has partnered with us to make each Turkey Train a success. This year, we collected 122 turkeys and brought them to St. Vincent de Paul’s kitchen, helping them to feed thousands of people throughout the Thanksgiving weekend. To learn more about the Turkey Train or to find out how you can be a part of this important project, contact our Religious School Director, Julie Tepper.

Each year a group of our congregants donates part of their weekend to help with this  annual mitzvah project as we join with Habitat for Humanity in building a home for a needy family in Baton Rouge. Recently, we participated in helping a family who lost their house in the devastating 2016 flood.

Held in early December, this is a wonderful opportunity to help underprivileged families who are not be able to experience the holiday season like most of us. This “shopping spree” helps to provide meaningful and essential gifts like clothes, shoes, kitchen appliances and other things that help make everyday living a little easier. Partnering with Macy’s, the Big Buddy program, and our volunteers raise money to purchase gift cards that are used by the children to purchase holiday gifts for everyone in their families. This program has been going on for over 40 years.

It takes a village! Our office volunteers prove that many hands make light work as they answer phones, prepare mailers, manage our information, and much more.