Mitzvah Heroes

"Mitzvah" will be a prime theme of ours this coming year and the UJC has initiated an interesting search for a Mitzvah Hero of the Year. I guess one could call this reality show, "American Idol Smasher."

Click here for a list of all 613 mitzvot. Look it over and then think of one you might want to call your own. I'd love for each of us to develop a "signature mitzvah," and this UJC project might give you some ideas. Maybe you've even got a hero to nominate.

Every now and then, we meet people who are truly making a difference in our community — a woman who’s counseling children undergoing cancer treatment, a college student who works with the homeless, or a teacher who’s helping severely developmentally disabled kids. The list can be virtually endless.

But now we want to recognize these dedicated people through the Jewish Community Heroes project, a national program that’s honoring people dedicated to tikkun olam, repairing the world. If there’s someone you know who’s making a difference in the New York area, nominate them to be named the Jewish Community Hero of the Year for the chance to win national recognition for their work and $25,000 to invest in their program.

Nominate your hero, vote for current nominees, or learn more.

Also see these other mitzvah links:

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/613.htm
Taryag: "Origin" of 613 Commandments (Ohr Somayach)
List of the 613 Mitzvot (Judaism 101)
The 613 Mitzvot, According to Sefer Hamitzvot of Rambam (Jewish Virtual Library)
The Above Listing of 613 Mitzvot Organized by Parsha