Discover the joy of Jewish values and how to make a difference in the world
Scholar in Residence weekend February 19-21
The MKJF is very pleased to welcome to Wichita renowned author, lecturer, poet and "Mitzvah Maniac" Danny Siegel, who will be this year's scholar in residence the weekend of February 19-21. This weekend coincides with WJCS' monthly Community Shabbaton, so our children and adults will all enjoy a great opportunity to learn from this accomplished and knowledgable mentsch.
Over the course of his 40-year career, Danny has spoken to over 500 synagogues, Federations, JCCs, and other communal organizations all over North America on Tzedakah and Jewish values, besides reading from his own poetry. He is the author of 29 1/2 books on such topics as Mitzvah heroes and practical and personalized Tzedakah, and has produced Where Heaven and Earth Touch, an anthology of 500 selections of Talmudic quotes about living the Jewish life well.
Ziv Tzedakah Fund, the non-profit Mitzvah organization Danny founded in 1981, distributed more than $14 million to worthy individuals and projects, until it ceased operations in 2009.
For more information about Danny Siegel and a full schedule of the weekend's events, click through to the event page.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, February 19 - 6:30 pm - Dinner at Congregation Emanu-El Services and program to follow: "1+1 = 3: And Many Other Mitzvah Principles for a Meaningful Jewish Life"
Saturday, February 20 - WJCS Community Shabbaton at Hebrew Congregation 9:00 am - Text Study: "Jewish Values for ourselves, our families and our communities - what's really Jewish about what we do?"
1:00 pm - Adult program: "What do Bruce Springsteen, Steven Spielberg, Paul Newman, David Copperfield, Ben & Jerry and Liz Taylor know about Mitzvahs that We Don't?"
2:00 pm - Intergenerational Program: "My Parents say they want me to be hap[py, healthy, a mentsch and a good Jew, but all they really want from me is to get good grades"
Sunday, February 21 - At Congregation Emanu-El 10:00 - Youth Group/Confirmation Class program: "How to be a Mitzvah Hero: mitzvah video extravaganza"
11:30 am - Masters' Class: "Jewish Leadership: the elements of mitzvah work and tzedakah"
Danny Siegel Biography continued:
Siegel is sometimes referred to as "The World's Greatest Expert on Microphilanthropy," "The Feeling Person's Thinker," and "The Pied Piper of Tzedakah" as well as his most recent sobriquet, the "Mitzvah Maniac." All of these speak to his lifelong commitment to helping Jewish individuals and communities live out their commitment to the Jewish values of tzedakah (charitable giving) and tikkun olam (repair of the world).
Danny's recent books include Who, Me? Yes, You!- Danny Siegel's Workbook To Help You Decide Where, When, Why, and How You can Do Your Best Tikkun Olam;Danny Siegel's Bar and Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah Book: A Practical Guide For Changing the World Through Your Simcha; Heroes and Miracle Workers, a collection of essays about everyday people who are Mitzvah heroes and great Menschen; and Mitzvah Magic - What Kids Can Do To Change the World, a collection of tzedakah stories for children ages 7-12. Among his not-well-enough-known poetry books are A Hearing Heart and Unlocked Doors, and his volume Healing: Readings and Meditations combines poetry and prose and classical Jewish texts for those in need of healing words.
Danny has a B.S. in Comparative Literature from Columbia University's School of General Studies, and a Bachelor's and Master's of Hebrew Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He was one of three recipients of the prestigious 1993 Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators.
The weekend will be an opportunity for learning, togetherness, and deepening our commitment to engage Jewishly in caring for our neighbors and repairing our world. Please join us for some or all of these engaging and enlivening events!
