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Temple Emanu-El celebrates Mitzvah Day at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue

By Elaine Glickman
| 10:30 a.m. May 13, 2023

Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day project captain Merryl Koven and Alexandra Marcus laugh together as they play with an adoptable dog at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

East County
Neighbors

East County was a center of Temple Emanu-El’s Mitzvah Day, a much-anticipated annual event that brought together 400 congregants for hands-on community service projects and donation drives May 7.

A Mitzvah Day is when people of Jewish faith give their time to help others.

The Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day volunteer team arrives at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

A large group of volunteers spent the afternoon assisting Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day volunteers Snait and Iyar Ben-Herut and Sharlya Gold share a smile while bagging cat supplies for Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

Led by project chair and longtime Nate's Honor volunteer Merryl Koven, the Temple Emanu-El Mitzvah Day team participated in a training and overview to learn about Honor’s work and mission. Volunteers then stuffed dog toys with peanut butter, prepared dog treats and helped with weeding and cleaning the campus. The group had the opportunity to take the young, lively dogs into the yards for socializing, snuggling and playtime.

“We had such a great time,” said Lakewood Ranch's Neil Marcus, a Mitzvah Day volunteer. “Our hearts are so full from doing such wonderful work for these sweet animals.”