TORONTO — More than 60 Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni spread out across Toronto last Sunday for a tikkun olam day.

Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni made beaded butterflies with Reena clients last Sunday during a tikkun olam day.

Started in the spring of 2005, tikkun olam day takes place twice a year and is sponsored by Toronto’s Birthright Israel Alumni Community (BAC). It is a chance for Birthright Israel alumni to reconnect to the Jewish community, in Toronto and Israel, through various volunteer projects.

Volunteers participated in six events throughout the Greater Toronto Area, some of which included working alongside Reena clients; playing bingo with seniors; making care packages for the poor at the Bernard Betel Centre for Creative Living; and organizing storage units at Ve’ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee.

“However small, the work is going towards bettering people’s lives,” David Goodman of Toronto’s BAC said. “The most impact will be the [project] at Ve’ahavta. The storage facility could be an amazing resource to them.”

The event reinforces experiences alumni had on their Birthright Israel trips.

“When we bring people to Israel… we do a number of experiences and tikkun olam is one of them,” said Goodman. “We definitely want to keep that consistent. When they come home, we want to give them the opportunity to do similar things.”

Jessica Pezim, who helped out at Bernard Betel, said her desire to help the Jewish community started in Israel.

“I had a great experience on Birthright [Israel] and I wanted to come back. We did an incredible tikkun olam day [in Israel.] It encouraged us to want to do so much more.”

Cayla Spagat, a trip leader who volunteered at the Bernard Betel, also emphasized the trip’s importance in terms of volunteer education.

“It gives [participants] a chance to pay it forward. We’re given a gift on the trip, it gives them an outlet to give back,” she said. “The trip helps them understand their roots better. If you don’t have some way to continue, the feeling will dwindle.”  

Dana Lengyel, a Birthright Israel alumni and volunteer, agreed that the tikkun olam day reinforced the principles she learned on her trip.

“Birthright [Israel] was the best trip I ever went on. I don’t want to lose the friends and sentiments. I have to do my part,” she said.

Lengyel worked with Reena clients, making beaded butterflies for children in Sderot.

 “It’s so insignificant in our daily lives, but it can brighten up a kid’s day,” she said. “It makes me feel happy that I can make a child in Israel happy.”

Jen Weisz, who went on a Birthright Israel trip in December 2006, also made beaded butterflies at Reena.

“They’re so cute,” she said of their handiwork. “It’s a gift, the act of giving makes people smile.”  

While quite a few volunteers came out last Sunday, Goodman was expecting a better turnout.  

“During this time of year, it’s difficult because a lot of alumni are out of town,” he said.

Shira Webber of BAC, who ran the beaded butterfly activity, agreed. “It’s hard right now – people are at summer camp,” she said. “But we had a good turnout, [around] 20 people came.”