By Carl Zebrowski
Editor

The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley is bringing the Jewish community together again for a Super Sunday at the JCC on February 1, the weekend before the Super Bowl. But the goal here is not a sports championship. We’re gathering for a day of fun, education, and raising money to help fund all the good the Federation does for Jewish people locally, in Israel, and elsewhere.

One of the main events of Super Sunday, which starts at 9 a.m. and runs to 1 p.m., is the Women’s Philanthropy mitzvah project at 11 a.m. Volunteers will pack waterproof Winter Care Bags full of essential seasonal items to be distributed by the Jewish Family Service Community Food Pantry. 

“We would like to make at least 45 to 85 bags for pantry clients,” said Gia Jones, co-chair of the mitzvah along with Miriam Zager, Ilene Ringold, and Fay Kun.

The items that will be packed are necessities that the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) doesn’t cover. The list includes lip balm (unscented), hand lotion (unscented), pocket-size packs of tissues, grippy fuzzy socks, emery boards, and stain-removal pens.

“We ask the community to help us by purchasing any of the items that are included in the cold weather bag,” said Jones. People can do that by clicking on the Amazon Wishlist link on the mitzvah project page linked at jewishlehighvalley.org/supersunday. 

Volunteers participating in the project will create handwritten cards for the recipients of the bags. They’ll also write out cards to be sent to Israel Defense Forces soldiers by our Israeli Partnership2Gether community of Yoav.

“We hope for a great turn out for this very important Women’s Philanthropy mitzvah,” Jones said.

Other programs on Super Sunday include a Maimonides Society Brunch and Learn at 9 a.m., a PJ Library Super Tu B’Shevat Scavenger Hunt at 10:30 a.m., and Countering Active Threat Security Training at noon. Between the day’s program sessions, volunteers will make phone calls to Jewish Federation donors to ask for pledges for its 2026 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.

For more information on Super Sunday and to register for the individual programs or for a time slot to make phone calls, visit jewishlehighvalley.org/supersunday.