Boxes of clothing shipped to Kiryat Sefer and the truck that took the clothing. The girls sent 142 boxes that filled a 20-foot container. There were even 10 boxes that were left behind due to lack of space.

By D. Klein

Since its establishment by Sarah Schenirer close to 90 years ago, the Bais Yaakov movement has become the standard in chinuch habanos. In addition to a Torah education and general studies curriculum, most Bais Yaakov schools also include an extracurricular program featuring special activities, performances and chessed programs.

Bais Yaakov High School of Toronto, established 50 years ago, is one of three Bais Yaakov high schools in Toronto. Rabbi Akiva Stefansky, shlita, who was the principal and guiding light of the school for many years, took this concept to a unique level. At the school, which is under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Silver and currently has a student body of 245 talmidos, chessed is not an extra part of the program but an integral aspect of the curriculum. The goal of the school has always been to produce young women who are not only model mothers and teachers for Klal Yisrael but chessed activists upon whom the Toronto community can rely and whose impact is felt beyond the borders of the city.

Bais Yaakov of Toronto maintains an intensive limudei kodesh curriculum, as well as a demanding general studies program. The kodesh curriculum includes a strong focus on tikun hamiddos and an understanding of what it means to be a true eved Hashem. It is here that chessed comes into play; the girls are taught in a very real way that chessed is an integral part of our avodah.

Mrs. Yitty Weber, assistant principal in charge of extracurricular activities, described the scope of the program. "The integral role that chessed plays in the school is very much due to Rabbi Stefansky. He is a real visionary who had the total person in mind when he established the curriculum for Bais Yaakov of Toronto," she explained. "The school deserves further credit for investing so much time, money, and interest in these programs."

Participation in chessed is a mandatory part of the school program. Every talmidah is required to take on at least one chessed job outside of school hours. If necessary, school time is given to work on a project, but most of it is done on the girls' own time. Often, alumni of Bais Yaakov come back and participate in the programming, which is a very beautiful thing to see.

"We encourage the girls to come up with their own ideas. Then they get a real sense of what they can accomplish," says Mrs. Weber. Some of the best programs originated with the students.

In addition to participating in the myriad chessed projects, the girls organize fund-raising events to cover the cost of the programs. Bazaars, fun fairs on Chol Hamoed, and raffles raise necessary monies to keep the programs running. This year, a girl transferred from public school, and the Bais Yaakov talmidos committed themselves to raising $10,000 to cover the cost of the extensive tutoring she needs. The Toronto community has a real appreciation for the work done by Bais Yaakov and is very supportive of the girls' efforts.

Let's take a closer look at some of these wonderful programs.

The Student Council Chessed Program

The Chessed Committee of the Student Council coordinates year-round activities including weekly visits to the elderly, assistance for busy mothers, tutoring for children, and babysitting at no charge. These are the mainstay projects.

Bikur Cholim of Toronto

Bais Yaakov students are part of the pool of volunteers for Bikur Cholim of Toronto. Upon referral from Bikur Cholim, Bais Yaakov students visit those who are homebound or in the hospital, assist people with shopping, pick up and deliver Shabbos and Yom Tov meals for homebound individuals or hospital patients, and drive seniors to medical appointments, as their school schedules permit.

They also assist Bikur Cholim with regular Rosh Chodesh programs for seniors, and help transport the seniors to and from these programs. Together with Bikur Cholim, the Bais Yaakov students organize and run Chanukah and Purim events at the school, which are usually attended by about 150 seniors.

For Purim, the Bais Yaakov talmidos prepare several hundred mishloach manos packages and deliver them personally to residents of hospitals and nursing homes.

Keren Mitzion Yesodeka

In 1994, in response to the difficult economic climate, Rabbi Stefansky created a special fund for one kollel family. In this program, talmidos pledge a monthly sum for the cause. This project raises over $500 a month and has been a tremendous help to a needy family in Eretz Yisrael.

Extra money in the fund is distributed at other times of the year according to need. This year, there was enough extra money to fund a chasunah and provide basic household goods for another family in Kiryat Sefer.

Kiryat Sefer Clothing Drive

Several years ago, upon the initiative of a student who wanted to undertake a large-scale project, Bais Yaakov began the Kiryat Sefer Clothing Drive.

At the beginning of the project, flyers requesting donations of clothing, shoes, and funds to cover the shipping costs were distributed to the community. Over the next month, a blizzard of donations came in and were stored in a double classroom, where they were piled to the ceiling.

Groups of 20 girls at a time spent hours opening the bags, examining every item to ensure it was in excellent condition, and sorting the items into large packing boxes for men, women, and children.

Finally, with the help of Mr. Philip Davidovits, they organized a lift to be shipped to Eretz Yisrael, where the clothes were taken to a shoe and clothing gemach in Kiryat Sefer.

This wonderful project has continued yearly and has deepened the students' sensitivity to the needs of others, enhanced their appreciation for the blessings they enjoy, allowed them to experience firsthand the generosity of their own community, and given them a delicious taste of the satisfaction that comes from doing chessed lishmah.

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