HELPING AMERICAN SOLDIERS — Kehilath Israel Synagogue is collecting items for United States’ soldiers in remote areas overseas. Rabbi Mandl announced this project from the pulpit recently in honor of member Larisa Shenkar’s son Geni, who was seriously injured in Afghanistan. Items can be placed in the collection box in K.I.’s lobby. (Items should not be dropped off on Shabbat.) Money is also needed. Checks should be made payable to VFW Post 7397; note on the check’s memo line Platoons Forward Project.

Here’s the wish list:

Hygiene Items: Wipes, soap, razors, shaving cream, etc.
Prepared Foods: Microwave popcorn, Cup-of-Soup, Ramen noodles, jerky, canned fruit, soups and chili (with pop-top lids), various spices and seasonings, coffee/tea packets.
Snacks: Mixed nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, power bars, fruit bars, sunflower seeds in shells.
Candy: Gum, hard candy, gummy bears, Skittles.
Hand Warmers

GAN IZZY CHAI-A-THON — Campers at Camp Gan Israel Day Camp are participating this month in an unusual fundraiser for Chai Lifeline.

A national organization that helps families of children diagnosed with life threatening or lifelong illness, Chai Lifeline encourages Jewish campers from around the country to participate in an “a-thon” fundraiser. Most camps take on swimming, bowling or even dancing.

But the 2 to 11 year olds attending Camp Gan Izzy this summer will be taking on a new challenge: A Mitzvah-A-Thon.
CGI campers are raising money through pledges for performing mitzvot — from helping out mom and dad, to cleaning up their room, to getting along with their siblings!

“I love it,” says parent Mara Strom Sachs, whose three children — Avinoam Sachs, age 9, Matan Sachs, age 6, and Nili Sachs, age 3 — attend Camp Gan Izzy. “My kids are asking me all day, ‘What can we do to help you, Mommy? Why don’t you sit down and we’ll get you a cool drink.’ ”

Children can win prizes, including a trip to Israel, for monies raised. (The trip to Israel is only for those that raise $3,500 or more.)

The entire community is invited to join in a celebration BBQ picnic at 5 p.m. Sunday July 15, at the Torah Learning Center.
Party-goers on the 15th can further the cause through a silent auction on artwork created by the CGI campers.

There is a charge for the event, which includes dinner, crafts and games. For more information and to RSVP, contact event chair Amy Jacobson at 913-909-3408 or visit cgichai.eventbrite.com.

CHECK OUT THESE APPS — the Weizmann Institute of Science has announced the launch of two new applications for iPad and Android tablet devices — one for its quarterly Hebrew magazine Hamachon, and another for its online Interface magazine (English). These are among the very first digital magazines in Israel. These easy-to-read quarterly magazines are geared toward the general public, featuring cutting-edge news and discoveries from the Weizmann Institute of Science, including a diverse range of topics from cancer to genetics, astrophysics, alternative energy, computer science, archaeology and more. These digital editions provide an enhanced reading experience with added interactivity, as well as offering extra content including images, videos, podcasts and even songs and poetry readings. The apps are available free to download and subscribe to from the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT? — Add this to the “now I’ve heard everything file”: JNS.org reports that an Islamic group said tomatoes are forbidden to eat because they are a “Christian food,” according to a report on NowLebanon.com.

The “Popular Egyptian Islamic Association” posted on Facebook that the tomato “praises the cross instead of Allah,” claiming that the interior of a tomato resembles a cross when the tomato is cut in half.

Additionally, the group cited “a sister from Palestine who saw the Prophet of Allah in a vision and he was crying, warning his nation against eating [tomatoes].”