Penny Wars: Mandel JDS Students Donate to Jewish Federation

They say a penny saved is a penny earned, but in this case, Mandel JDS students did a lot more than save their pennies - they donated 717 dollars worth to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Campaign for Jewish Needs.

This year, Mandel JDS students raised a total of $717.24, with the second grade winning the lower school challenge, and the sixth grade winning the middle school challenge. The kindergarten received honorable mention for having the most pennies. Mandel JDS students presented a check to Abigail Levin, Vice President / Development / Campaign for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and a Mandel JDS parent, at an all-school assembly.

Each year, Mandel JDS students participate in the “Penny Challenge,” a fundraising competition amongst grade levels. Each student is tasked with putting pennies in corresponding jar for their grade. In order to “take points away” from another grade, they can put in nickels, dimes, and quarters into their jars, which in turn “subtracts” from their final total. Whatever grade has the highest total wins the challenge, and a prize for their grade.

“The Penny Challenge reinforces one of the School’s seven core values: Tzedek (or Justice in English),” explains Laura Leventhal, Mandel JDS Director of Institutional Advancement. “We teach our students to pursue justice by engaging in acts of Tzedakah (righteousness), through volunteer work locally and through charitable giving. This instills within them a sense of responsibility for each other and for the larger world in which they live. We are so proud of all that they have accomplished.”

About Mandel Jewish Day School

Founded in 1969, Mandel JDS is Cleveland’s first Jewish day school accredited for educational excellence by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). The school also exceeds Ohio education standards for all core curricular subjects. Originally The Agnon School, in August 2015 the name changed to Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School, in appreciation of a $17,050,000 grant. While the name is new, blending superior general academics and Jewish studies remains central to the school’s mission, as does teaching to a broad spectrum of learners. Open to the entire Jewish community, Mandel JDS enrolls more than 350 students, 18 months – 8th grade, from diverse Jewish backgrounds.

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