Over the next few weeks in Hashavua, 5th graders will share community service projects from Jewish Studies ramping up towards our milestone. This weeks project is on animal homelessness:
Hello Yavneh Community!
Our names are Colin and Liat. As a 5th grade project, we chose to help end animal homelessness. This cause matters because cats and dogs reproduce quickly, so strays can get out of control. This also affects the cleanliness of towns and cities. According to Jennifer Flick, who runs her own animal shelter called
Scritch Kittens in San Jose, only 1 in 3 cats on the streets survive. That means that 66% die.
The Torah teaches us about
Tsa’ar ba’alea hayim, a law that requires us to help animals that are suffering or in need, even if it is your enemy’s animal (
www.humanesociety.org). It is a mitzvah to help animals, for example, by giving stray animals care and a home. We have already sent donations to Scritch Kittens. We donated a number of items, like cat food, toys, blankets, towels, treats, and dog food.
If you want to help, here are some options:
1) If you are dropping your child off at Yavneh next week, you can send them into the office where there will be a donation box with Jennifer. Feel free to donate sanitized cat food, toys, blankets, towels, treats, and dog food, or any other animal items. Used items are fine too.
2) Research and donate to any of these organizations:
3) Call a shelter in your community if you see a stray that needs help. (Injured or looking Ragamuffin-like) You can call these shelters:
- San Jose Shelter: (408) 794-7297
- Adobe Animal Hospital: (408) 357-8000
4) Volunteer at your local shelter.
Thank you for your time.
Best Regards, Colin and Liat
P.S.There is still time to donate to "Fight World Hunger" and win a t-shirt from last week's 5th grade community service project. Here is
the link to last week's Hashavua to get the donation links. Email
Mr. Sleep once you have donated for a chance to win a t-shirt.
