Putting Jewish Wisdom and Values into Action at Mayberg Foundation’s Service-Learning Day

On June 17th, Mayberg Foundation staff, partners, and their families gathered at the Maybergs' event space for the foundation's annual volunteer day — this year timed to coincide with the monthly Rosh Chodesh Jewish text learning session. The day, which was organized in partnership with Colel Chabad, put the foundation's mission of proliferating Jewish wisdom and values into practice in a direct and tangible way.

The morning opened with an overview of Colel Chabad's work supporting vulnerable populations in Israel. The group then rolled up their sleeves to pack bags of rice for the Pantry Packers program, facilitated by the program’s director, Rabbi Menachem Traxler. The packed bags were donated to a local program which which serves families across Montgomery County.

Following the service project, the group gathered for a community lunch and Rosh Chodesh learning session led by managing director Amanda Mizrahi. Drawing on a classic debate between Maimonides and Rabbi Yaakov Emden, Amanda prompted the group to consider the following question about giving: is it more meaningful to cultivate generosity through consistent, repeated acts, or to prioritize transformative, high-impact contributions? The interactive conversation invited reflection on how Jewish values shape both personal habits and communal impact.

As Julie Lobb, MyZuzah’s program manager, shared, “I loved being able to share this event with family and I really appreciated the video we watched before. My son, Henry, even said, ‘that was really fun’." Other volunteers remarked that “doing chessed with fellow staff” and “learning more about Colel Chabad's impact in Israel and contributing to their efforts” were the most rewarding parts of the day.

The service-learning day was organized by grants manager Aggie Grossman, whose father, longtime Colel Chabad supporter and volunteer John A.I. Grossman, MD, first introduced the Foundation to this organization. Aggie said, “It was incredibly meaningful to help coordinate this entire day and bring our partners and community together in such a hands-on way. As grants manager, I spend much of my time on the administrative side of grantmaking, so it felt especially rewarding to get to see Colel Chabad’s work firsthand and contribute to it in a hands-on way, connecting it to the values that guide our daily philanthropic work.”