Bnei’s mitzvah movies

MODERN Orthodox youth movement Bnei Akiva members have followed up on an initiative started at their recent winter camp.

Aimed at the senior students, the camp program saw the group learn about eight different charities before separating into groups to each film and edit an ad for the chosen charity.

“The children’s dedication was extraordinary, with most of them editing through lunch, choosing to eat by the computers, and into their free time to ensure the movies would be perfect,” shaliach Oded Stern said.

“After the screening session later that day, the groups voted for which advertisement they thought was the best. And here’s the catch: $1000 that was kindly donated by an anonymous donor actually went to the charity that won.”

Known as Movie Money Makers, the program culminated last week when Bnei held a presentation evening for winning team Zichron Menachem — a charity that supports Israeli children and families.

“The event was well attended and Baruch Levy from Zichron Menachem in Israel honoured our chanichim [members] with certificates recognising their efforts,” Stern said.

“We are proud that this tochnit [program] gave our chanichim the chance to learn the balance between keeping for themselves and giving to others. We learnt that you care most about a cause when you put effort into it — a lesson that will hopefully stay with chanichim and madrichim for life.”

DALIA SABLE