The greater Miami Jewish community under the auspices of The Shul has embarked on a thrilling, unprecedented venture: the accumulation of a million Mitzvahs. A Mitzvah (commandment) is one of the 613 Divine connections contained in the Torah, a deed that binds the Jewish people with G-d. This historical and inspiring endeavor; named “The Million Mitzvahs Campaign” by Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar, founder and spiritual leader of The Shul; has already touched the lives of thousands of Jews around the world since its launching at the beginning of May 2006. Over 100,000 Mitzvahs were accumulated in the first two weeks the campaign was launched. The campaign, Rabbi Lipskar explains, is a collective effort to make the world a holier, more spiritual place. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, used to say that every good deed begins with one small step. The accumulation of 1,000,000 Mitzvahs and good deeds is that “small step.” It not only helps connect a person to the positive and powerful impact of performing a Mitzvah, but it also helps bring the Jewish community closer together by making every person a partner and earning a portion of the credit of all million Mitzvahs.

Partners in the Million Mitzvah Campaign can choose from an array of options including: visiting the sick, caring for the elderly, and giving charity. Participants can view the Mitzvah list, obtain more information or sign up on line by visiting the campaign’s web site, www.MillionMitzvahs.org. While some participants choose Mitzvahs from the list, others choose to commit to the performance of more personal Mitzvahs or embark on larger scale Mitzvah projects, e.g., one participant chose to start volunteering at a local community food bank.

Rabbi Mendy Levy, a rabbi from The Shul, has been assisting and offering guidance to people interested in participating in the campaign. Upon registration, partners in the Million Mitzvah Campaign receive a “Million Mitzvah Receipt” and a beautiful certificate. A community wide event is being planned to celebrate the accumulation of the 1,000,000 Mitzvahs, including a Million Mitzvah March. Many South Florida Jewish organizations and schools have become partners in this campaign. Other communities around the world and in several states around the U.S. have asked to join the campaign, including communities in Australia, South Africa, Israel, and Canada.

To learn more about this special community project or become a partner in the Million Mitzvah Campaign, please call Rabbi Mendy Levy at (305) 868-1411 ext. 7333 or send an e-mail to MillionMitzvahs@theshul.org. Participation in the Million Mitzvah Campaign is free and open to the public.