Congregation Beth Torah recently welcomed the Community Blood Center to West 127th Street. More than 30 individuals donated blood throughout the afternoon, and ate some delicious homemade treats.
Rabbi Mark Levin, Beth Torah's founding Rabbi, is a committed donor at Beth Torah's blood drives and donated earlier this month. When asked why he donates blood, Rabbi Levin shared: "The Torah commands us '...therefore, choose life...'. Donating blood is the simplest action to save a life."
Rabbi Levin has always been committed to donating blood, but it wasn't until he received blood on the operating table that he realized "just how important this particular mitzvah is.”
Beth Torah member Karen Loggia also donated blood earlier this month. She believes that "sometimes it's hard to make a difference in the world. Giving blood allows me to perform an act of tzedakah in a meaningful way."
Loggia is a regular at Beth Torah's quarterly blood drives because she gets to "...fulfill this mitzvah with Beth Torah friends and eat Marcia Rittmaster's all-famous mandel bread: the best of both worlds!"
All are welcome to join Beth Torah's next blood drive on Wednesday, February 16th. Email Sharon Altman at to learn more and/or sign up.
