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“It makes me feel good because I know I’m making
someone else feel happy and included, because you never
know what’s going on in someone’s life.”

— JOLIE OLESHANSKY

stressing the importance of spreading
kindness.”
The program consists of monthly
morning meetings for students in
grades 4-5. Most meetings feature
a speaker, arranged by Melissa
Oleshansky, usually a representative
from a local nonprofit organization.
Speakers educate the students on the
purpose of their organization and
how it makes a difference in individu-
al lives, families and communities.

PHOTO BY JERRY ZOLYNSKY

STUDENT PROGRAMS

Jolie Oleshansky and other members of the Student Leadership
Club participate in a Samaritans365 yoga program at school.

“The hope is to start a conversation
with the students on how they, too,
can be kind, have gratitude, and be
of service at school, with friends,
family and in their community,”
Melissa said.
A recent meeting featured a certi-
fied yoga instructor who took the
students through a sequence of poses
and deep-breathing strategies to help
minimize sadness, increase good
energy, and induce calm and self-
confidence in times of stress.
At another meeting, members of
the West Bloomfield Police and Fire
Departments discussed safety and
explained the ways they serve the
community. One West Bloomfield
policeman, Officer David McNealy,

was so impressed with the concept he
became a certified kindness ambas-
sador and is promoting the idea at
other area schools.
“It’s (Samaritans365) opened me up
to more opportunities. I feel like I’m
an overall kinder person; it makes me
think about kindness,” Jolie said.
She cited some examples of kind
acts that students can do daily, such
as inviting someone who is alone to
join a lunch table, including students
at recess, asking others to join in
group projects, and smiling and say-
ing hello to students who may not be
close friends.
“It makes me feel good because I
know I’m making someone else feel
happy and included, because you
never know what’s going on in some-
one’s life,” Jolie said.
Jolie’s brother, Brody, who is in
the fifth grade at West Hills Middle
School, has been enjoying the club
meetings and activities.
“He made flyers about things you
can do to become kinder, and he’s
become an overall kinder person as
well,” Jolie said.
Last month featured a speaker from
the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and
the agenda for upcoming meetings
includes representatives from Kids

Kicking Cancer, Forgotten Harvest
and Easter Seals. The final meeting of
the school year will feature a wrap-up
session presented by Oleshansky, with
tips on how students can continue to
spread kindness during the summer.
“We’ve heard all these wonderful
things about how it’s motivating the
kids,” Melissa said. “I have heard that
the students attending the club meet-
ings are having happy and positive
days in school and with their friends
throughout the day. The kids appear
to be more aware of how to be com-
passionate, kind, grateful and to make
a difference.”
Principal Durecka is pleased
with the way the club has affected
the students and the overall atmo-
sphere of the school.
“Samaritans365 is new this year,
but they have already had a positive
impact,” Durecka said. “And, impor-
tantly, they are regularly sharing
with others daily small acts of kind-
ness, which I know has had a posi-
tive impact on our building.” •

For information on becoming a certi-
fied “kindness ambassador” or starting a
Samaritans365 program at your school,
visit www.samaritans365.org or call
(562) KIND-101.

Rabbi Shares Ideas On How To Be Kinder

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

R

abbi Tzvi Muller of the
essence. (Incidentally, the word
Birmingham-Bloomfield
“kind” has its origins in Old English,
Chai Center is known as
where it meant “essence, natural,
“the kindness rabbi.” He has
innate.”) Reports from the arena of
developed and teaches a cur-
psychology these days indicate we
riculum of Jewish teachings
need kindness more than ever now.
about kindness in everyday life
Do small things, such as ask-
called “Wisdom for Kind, Ethical
ing a student to join your group
Rabbi Tzvi Muller
and Mindful Relationships.”
for lunch, really make a differ-
The JN checks in with Muller
ence in the overall scheme?
about kindness.
Kindness creates a sense of kin-
Why is kindness so important in our
ship and peace across humanity. We care
world today?
for other people because we see them
Kindness is very important in our world
as fellow human beings, part of us. More
today! Acting kindly brings us inner peace,
importantly, when we do an act of kind-
fulfillment and happiness. Kindness is the
ness, no matter how small, we induce a
ultimate expression of who we are. Judaism sense of kinship between the giver and the
teaches that what defines us as human
receiver and, by extension, all of humanity.
beings is our inner Godliness, our innate
In a world torn apart by divisiveness, more
kinship and unity is very much needed.
voice of kindness. When we act kindly, we
What can people do, on a regular
align our actions with our core values, our

14

February 15 • 2018

jn

basis, to make the world a kinder place?
The opportunities are ever-present and
endless. The key is to have a “kindness
mindset,” which can be created by doing a
few simple things:
• Pick a simple and specific kindness and
schedule it into your daily routine. For
example, call an elderly person every
day to say hello and see how they are
doing.
• Strengthen your relationship with a kind
person. The more kind people are in our
lives, the more we keep kindness on
our minds and in our hearts. An exten-
sion of this concept is to join a group of
people for kindness activities, such as
Samaritans 365.
• Seek out stories of kindness. Add books
of kindness stories to your reading list.
Save videos of kindness stories when
you see them on Facebook or other

social media. Watch them again when
you need some inspiration.
• When encountering another person, stop
and ask yourself: “How would I like to
be treated if I were this person?” Then
do something for them that you would
want others to do for you. It could be
as simple as offering a warm smile or a
compliment, or giving them the benefit
of the doubt.
• As the great sage Hillel said: Go and
learn. Jewish teachings are rich with
insight, inspiration and guidance for
living kindly. Regular study of these
teachings transforms a person’s mind-
set, understanding and preparedness
for making the most of life’s kindness
opportunities. •

For more information about Rabbi Tzi Muller’s
“Wisdom for Kind, Ethical and Mindful
Relationships” curriculum, visit jvalues@gmail.com.

