Judith Lubeck and Nichole Mowery proved that the adage “It’s better to give than to receive” applies even when it’s your birthday.
Lubeck celebrated her 70th birthday and Nichole celebrated her 12th by volunteering in Congregation Rodef Sholom’s sixth annual Mitzvah Day recently.
Lubeck, a San Rafael resident, addressed and stamped envelopes for a Marin County children’s advocacy agency. It was one of 57 projects staffed by a volunteer army of more than 800 Rodef Sholom members.
Nichole, a Tiburon resident, decorated teddy bears that agencies and hospitals will give to children in need. She made a clown bear, a hippie bear, an apron-clad bear, a wizard bear and a bear wearing a raincoat and hat.
“It was a really fun project,” she said. “We gave them to firemen so they can give them to kids whose houses burn down in a fire. Maybe getting a stuffed animal will remind them of home.”
Also, paramedic units will give them away to children who need some comfort if they, or their parents, are hurt.
About 100 bears, which were donated to the San Rafael synagogue, were given mainly to the Marinwood and Tiburon fire departments, said Suzi Musgrove, who coordinated the project along with daughter Nichole Mowery.
Despite her young age, Nichole was participating in her third Mitzvah Day. She had such an inspirational experience last year that she wanted to donate her time again this year.
“Last year we went and sang at Shalom House,” a senior home in San Rafael, she said. “Not very many people showed up to sing, so I had to grab a bunch of my friends. But when we sang, it was great. We made everyone smile.”
About 25 people participated in the teddy bear project. They dressed and decorated the bears using beads, buttons, pieces of fabric and other materials that some of the volunteers had been saving up for months.
“It was amazing. I was very impressed with what some people made,” said Musgrove. She cited Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Superman, a magician and a rabbi as some of the standout works of bear art (aside from daughter’s work, of course).
Lubeck’s work was less artistic, but no less valuable. She and 10 of her family members, along with some other volunteers, addressed holiday cards for Marin CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). The agency does advocacy work for children who are wards of the court.
“I thought it was pretty remarkable that that’s the way she wanted to spend her birthday,” said Mitzvah Day ’99 co-chair Rhonda Daniels. “She’s a very remarkable woman.”
Lubeck, who lives in Parnow Friendship House, a seniors complex next to Rodef Sholom, humbly dismissed such accolades.
“It was my 70th birthday, and that’s kind of a big one, so I knew that my kids and family would want to do something special,” she said. “But I didn’t want to do any fancy stuff like going to a restaurant. I thought it would be fun to do this. I come from a family of doers and participators; it sort of defines who I am.”
After completing her work, Lubeck was treated to a birthday massage. She also went for a swim and then spent a little time in the hot tub.
Then she returned to the room where she had addressed envelopes, which her family had since decorated festively with a birthday banner and balloons.
“It was a wonderful way for me to celebrate my birthday,” Lubeck said.
The day was “a tremendous success,” said Daniels, who organized the event along with Jan Luxenberg.
Mitzvah Day was Rodef Sholom’s version of Make a Difference Day, when people throughout the nation are encouraged to participate in community service projects. Last year, about 1,000 people participated and Rodef Sholom received an award from the national Make a Difference Association.
This year’s projects included participating in a blood drive and an Angel Island cleanup, creating trick-or-treat bags with the children of San Quentin inmates, serving food at Meals of Marin and organizing a checkers tournament at a seniors home.
A few dozen 11th- and 12th-graders made 215 bag lunches, each including a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, for various homeless shelters.
Rodef Sholom’s Mishpocha Chavurah for “empty-nesters” put on a Halloween party at the Sunny Hills Children’s Garden, a facility for children who come from group homes. The Meshugas Chavurah for adults and their young children baked cookies for the seniors at Parnow House.
Some money was raised, as well: $300 for the Marin AIDS Interfaith Network from a car wash run by eighth- and ninth-graders and $250 for the congregation library through a book sale at the Marin Jewish Community Center.
“Many of the projects were being done for the fourth, fifth or even sixth year in a row,” said Daniels. “It’s something we can all be really proud of.”