TBA Teens Volunteer @ Habitat for Humanity

On Sunday, May 4, teens from Temple B’nai Abraham’s Teen Tikkun Olam Group and members of TBA led by Jewish Learning Program Special Projects Coordinator Arleen Lichtenstein volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Newark’s Central Ward. The teens were instrumental in framing the second floor of a newly constructed home. Working from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM , they participated in cutting wood, hammering nails and building a fire wall.

Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity houses are simple, decent, and affordable to low-income families. Whenever possible, they build energy-efficient, sustainable housing. Habitat for Humanity lends no-profit, no-interest mortgage loans to its beneficiary families. Faith based groups, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem―decent housing for all. Today, Habitat has helped build or repair more than 800,000 houses and served more than 4 million people around the world.

Temple B’nai Abraham Teen Tikkun Olam Group, students in grades 9-12, meets a minimum of two times per month. One Tuesday, is a planning session with dinner. Another meeting is centered around giving back to the community in a variety of charitable and volunteer ways. The projects in which the group becomes involved are peer lead, but Melissa Weiner, Director of Jewish Learning  and Arleen Lichtenstein oversee the group as advisors. Some other volunteer events included assisting at a soup kitchen, working with Bridges Outreach and helping at TBA’s Mitzvah Morning with the Pedal for Progress event. For information about Makom, TBA’s High School program, please contact Melissa Weiner at 973-994-3950. Visit the website at http://www.tbanj.org/jewish-learning-program/jewish-learning-program-website