With the conflicts in Israel at the forefront of their minds, concerned Brooklynites are lending a hand to the children of Israel.
Alan Levitt of Congregation Beth Shalom of Kings Bay, Brooklyn is leading the synagogue's book drive for the war-torn country's youth.

Beth Shalom's involvement in helping Israeli schools with books began
in January 2003 when Alan Levitt read about the Books for Israel Project in a local newspaper. Alan and Cell Toffel conduct the
children's services at Beth Shalom. Alan told Cell about what he'd
read concerning the Books for Israel Project and she agreed that
a book drive could be launched. Cell Toffel made the flyers which
were distributed at the shul and at the Hebrew school. Congregation
President Howard Weber made many announcements about the
Book Drive over the upcoming weeks and books began pouring in
from the congregation.

Alan Levitt wrote to Rena Cohen, Books for Israel's international book drive coordinator to get information. He then led a book drive together with a team of dedicated volunteers at Congregation Beth Shalom, which included, Alan's wife, Elaine, whom Alan says "is always my partner in everything." In addition to the books donated from the congregation and community, the book drive received a large boost when Alan, Elaine, Cell and Marty Kaiserman (who took the above picture) went through the books at the Shul's discontinued library and chose a treasure of items to send.

To date, hundreds of books have been sent to the Tzorah high school flagship, which shares books with other schools in the center area of Israel. The synagogue's first shipment was sent in June and arrived
three months later in September. It is sometimes an anxious wait until the the books have been safely delivered!
Levitt, however, is not deterred by the delivery time, so long as the books reach their destination. The community has been keen to get involved, with parents donating favorite books that their children have outgrown. But books come from other sources as well: "One lady that teaches in Bay Ridge donated 300 books from her school," says Levitt.

In return for their efforts, the book drive organizers and the Beth Shalom community have received thank you letters from Israeli children. With many letters adorned with hearts and smiley faces, all notes began, "Dear Friends."
These letters mean so much to everyone at congregation Beth Shalom.

Alan Levitt and the book drive organizing team will continue collecting books in the future, helping more and more schools in the center area to link up to the Tzorah area flagship so they too, will be able to initiate and enrich in-school English language libraries for all their children. Alan reports that he continues to hear from the rabbi whenever a large collection of books has been amassed, "Come to Shul, I have some books for you." The book drive organizers also hope that young people in their congregation will choose to run bar and bat mitzvah book drives to contribute further to this meaningful project.

Alan Levitt with some of the children from Beth Shalom in Brooklyn with some of the books they will send to Ron Perry in Israel.