Six hundred seminary and high school students from Modi'in Illit took part in the annual Yom Hachessed program held for the eighth consecutive year by the municipality's Volunteer Unit and encouraged by Mayor Rabbi Yaakov Guterman, who has made volunteer work and community assistance a priority at the municipality. Under the unique program 300 local families received assistance in cleaning their homes for Pesach.
Mrs. Yehudit Lev, director of the Municipal Volunteer Unit, says since its inception Yom Hachessed has been held with girls from the Beis Yaakov seminary headed by Rav Feurstein, sending out hundreds of seminary students during the morning to help local families.
This year a new school, Meir Seminary headed by Principal Mrs. Yaari, took part as well and the project expanded to newer neighborhoods, beyond Kiryat Sefer and Achuzat Brachfeld, including Neot Hapisga and Heftziba. The success of Yom Hachessed was made possible through contributions made by the municipality's Department of Welfare, headed by Mrs. M. Miller, and the Department of Education and Culture, headed by Mrs. Efrat Eshkol, who note the value the project offers by linking the girls with the community.
Mrs. Lev says every year her unit collaborates with chessed organizations in their holy work for the community, including Ezer Leyoledet, Ezer Mizion and Bikur Cholim.
The seminary students were given a light meal before setting out for their day of volunteer work, and Avshalom Transport provided free transportation services.
The Volunteer Unit received a large volume of thank-you letters from families assisted through the project.
