DIY: Have a family mitzvah day
Spread Hanukkah light with an act of kindness
These aren’t just any stuffed animals! They’re extra special stuffed animals because they were made by children for children as a way to spread light and love during Hanukkah!
One way we can spread light is by doing an act of loving kindness, the Jewish value G’milut Chasadim, and if you look at the smiles on these kiddos faces, you’ll see that you’re never too little to be a light for someone else.
I think it’s so wonderful when children can be intimately woven into an act of kindness too. Over the years, we’ve had a tradition to make stuffed animals for children at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been lucky enough to share this special day of caring and friendship with many families in our community plus one additional warm and generous person, Rabbi Rick Sherwin - who's also a chaplain at the hospital.
At our family mitzvah days, Rabbi Rick gets right on the floor and sits criss-cross applesauce to talk to the children and their parents. They have a conversation about what it’s like to be a patient in the hospital, to feel unwell and how their special stuffed animal will bring friendship and smiles to a young patient. He tells the children that their stuffed bear, bunny or puppy will become part of the entire family’s healing journey and part of the the child’s caring team of family and friends.
It’s not all seriousness though! Rabbi Rick also makes them laugh, which is incredibly special when you’re talking about something so important.
After talks and stuffing the animals, the children are invited to say a wish or a bracha sheh b’lev, a prayer from the heart, for the child receiving their bear. You can see all the good intention and the love in their hearts that go into these prayers. It’s just so special.
Before saying goodbye to the stuffed animal and sending it on its way with a final hug and kiss, the children pour all their kindness into a card too.
When kiddos receive so much for the holidays, it’s so special when they have the opportunity to do something loving and kind for someone else. These children may not realize it, but they’re also receiving a priceless gift in return - happiness and pride. You can see from all their smiles that they’re spreading so much light into the world and making it a better place, which happens to be another Jewish value Tikkun Olam (repairing our world)!
What would an act of kindness look like from your family? This can be a wonderful conversation to have with your kiddos during the holidays. I particularly love making and delivering the stuffed animals. This resonates with me because my sister spent three Hanukkah’s in a hospital when we were young, and I know when people showed love and care, it helped her get through long days and nights, and made my parents feel supported and loved too.
I hope the memory of these mitzvah days of making stuffed animals will fill these kiddos and their parents with warmth, like the light of the Hanukkah candles.
If you have a special way to be the light for someone else during Hanukkah, please let us know in the comments! You can read more about mitzvahs here, and we have more ways to spread kindness at Hanukkah too! Be sure to read about:
And for more Hanukkah DIYs, food crafts, recipes and activities, be sure to visit our Hanukkah Round-up and for more activities to keep you warm and cozy all winter long, visit our Winter Round-up!
Wishing you love and light at Hanukkah!
~Jennifer
