mitzvah day

Mitzvah Day and the Soup Contest 2023 were a huge success. We had over 25 projects and 520 people registered. We had 12 Soup Contest Chefs. We also raised over $4,000 for The Green Haven Project, an urban garden and educational center in Miami. See the April HaKol for a list of the many Mitzvah Day project captains.

Click here for a great video from Adam Trautenberg.

Many thanks to our amazing Mitzvah Day Co-Chairs, Ashley Weissman and Jillian Barnett, and our Soup Contest Co-Chairs, Karen Sepsenwol, Dana Grodin and Robin Rosenbaum. Todah rabah, a big thanks, to each of you. Special thanks to our Social Justice Network co-chairs, Rachel Unger and Andrea Wagner for their guidance. Thanks also to Chaim Lieberperson, Marte Singerman and Vanessa Ressler for making the opening ceremony so special. 

We are pleased to announce that next year’s mitzvah day Co-Chairs will be Ashley Weissman and Caryn Pardo. Save the date for February 4, 2024.

Announcing the 2023 Soup Contest Winners: 

First place – Stephen and Beverly Unger with their Mango Gazpacho  

Second place – Carolyn Heiss with her Butternut Squash and Apple Soup 

Third place – Suzette Abramson with her Baba’s Borchst 

People’s Choice Winner - 4th and 5th Grade Learners of the Innovative School with their Golden Sun's Red Lentil Soup

Thank you to our Soup Contest Sponsors:  

SILVER SPOON 

Joanne and Daniel Aronson 

Carolyn West and Evan Marks 

STOCK POT 

Jaleh and Jeff Bast & Family 

Vanessa and Gary Ressler 

Andrea Wagner and Seth Alhadeff 

SOUP LADLE 

Jeff and Lili Agron 

Craig and Betty Berko, in Memory of Samuel Borsky, Marilyn & Leonard Berko 

Rabbi Gayle Pomerantz and Adam Snitzer 

Cantor Lisa and Jim Segal 

Stephanie Rosen 

Rachel Unger and Family 

Carrie Wiesenfeld and Family  

Temple Beth Sholom Staff 

Stephen and Beverly Unger 

Bobbi Ossip 

Robin Rosenbaum 

Suzette Abramson 

IN-KIND 

Al Levy, Levy Advertising 

Michael Meltzer 

Thanks to our Soup Contest MCs: Gary Ressler and Rob Newman 

Thanks to our Soup Contest Judges: Cantor Lisa Segal, Michael Meltzer and Stephen Sawitz 

Of course, thanks to our Soup Contest Chefs and their delicious soups: 

Andrea Wagner – Creamy Deliciousness in My Belly (Thai Curry Soup)   

Margie Zeskind - Green Curry Lentil Soup   

Angie Berezin - Roasted Tomato Soup   

Carolyn Heiss - Butternut Squash and Apple Soup  

Rachel M. Unger - Green Haven Project's Kale and Tuscan White Bean Soup   

The 4th and 5th grade Learners of The Innovative School - Golden Sun's Red Lentil Soup

Howard Grodin - Manischewitz Onion Soup   

Team Ressler - Spicy Sesame Carrot Soup with Red Lentils   

Robin Rosenbaum 

Stephen Unger - Mango Gazpacho  

Announcing the Soup Contest Winners: 

First place – Stephen and Beverly Unger with their Mango Gazpacho  

Second place – Carolyn Heiss with her Butternut Squash and Apple Soup 

Third place – Suzette Abramson with her Baba’s Borchst 

People’s Choice Winner - 4th and 5th Grade Learners of the Innovative School with their Golden Sun's Red Lentil Soup  

Special thank you to all who donated Soup Contest gifts and raffle items: 

 Stephen Sawitz / Joe’s Stone Crab 

Jennifer and Omer Horev / Pura Vida 

Jeff Agron and Family 

Betsy Mateu 

Karen Sepsenwol 

Miami Beach JCC 

Dana Grodin 

Gary Rosenberg 

TBS Sisterhood / Holy Grounds Gift Shop 

Fairchild Gardens 

Al Levy 

Finally, special thanks to Jenny Lowhar for all her hard work, to our amazing clergy and Mark Baranek for serving the pancake breakfast, to Nava Regev and her staff for preparing the breakfast, Michael Svayg and his staff for all of their logistical support, our amazing security team for keeping us safe and orderly, Michael Meltzer for his guidance, our amazing senior staff for all of their help making my job so much easier. Thanks to the Netkins for supplying fruit for breakfast and to Michael Grunwald for his interesting talk on Shabbat.