Sunday, January 30, 2011
After having trained over 100 Mitzvah Clowns from 2009 – 2010, Areyvut is happy to announce that it is establishing a formal Mitzvah Clown Program in Bergen County. This program is geared for children, teens and adults to get involved in the mitzvah of bikkur cholim (visiting the sick). Participants will learn how to interact with senior citizens, hospitalized patients and children with special needs. This program will include a training session during which each participant will receive a clown kit, costume, balloons and balloon pump that will be theirs to keep.
At the conclusion of the training session, during which time the participants will engage in role play exercises to prepare them for their friendly visit, learn how to apply clown make-up and create balloon animals, these newest Mitzvah Clowns will go on their very first friendly visit to the Kaplen JCC Center for Older Adults. The participants will visit with senior citizens at a local senior center in Bergen County. On a monthly basis, following the initial training, this group of Mitzvah Clowns will go on friendly visits, continuing to bring joy, smiles and laughter to all those they meet.
The cost to participate in this program is $250. This fee will enable Areyvut to provide each Mitzvah Clown with a kit and costume and perpetuate the program by covering the costs for supplies and operational costs. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
In conjunction with UJANNJ’s Mitzvah Day and the Global Day of Jewish Learning the kick off and initial training will be taking place on Sunday, November 7th.
Information for Initial Training
Date: Sunday, Nov. 7th
Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm
Training & Site Visit Location: Jewish Center of Teaneck
70 Sterling Place, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Tentative Schedule:
* November 7- initial training – participants must attend this session to participate in the program – 10:00 AM-2:30 PM
* November 22- 7:00-8:00 PM
* December 5- 10:30-11:45 AM
* December 18- 7:00-8:00 PM
* January 30- 4:00-5:00 PM
* February 6- 4:00-5:00 PM
* February 23- 7:00-8:00 PM
* March 20- 4:00-5:00 PM
* April 12- 7:00-8:00 PM
* May 6- 3:30-4:30 PM
* May 20- 3:30-4:30 PM
* June17- 3:30-4:30 PM
Please note: The dates listed above are only tentative. Confirmed dates and locations will be distributed at the initial training.
Areyvut would like to acknowledge and thank the Jewish Center of Teaneck for their partnership, help and support.
For more information about Mitzvah Clowning, or this program in particular, please contact an Areyvut representative at (201) 244-6702 or info@areyvut.org.
