TBT goes to the Dogs

TEMPLE BETH TORAH’S CONFIRMATION CLASS

VISITS GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION

Melville, New York – On Sunday, February 2, 2014, students in Temple Beth Torah’s 2014 confirmation class, along with family members and TBT alumni were led by Rabbi Marc Gellman through the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, in Smithtown.  Rabbi Gellman’s and Temple Beth Torah have been major supporters of the Guide Dog Foundation. Rabbi Gellman and his family have volunteered raising puppies in their home for the Foundation.  He was delighted to share his passion with our teens.

M.I.A. – Mitzvah In Action is a regular part of our teen programming at Temple Beth Torah.  Our students learn about local charities and then perform community service with that institution.  We have held food drives for Island Harvest , visited the North Shore Animal League and interacted with residents at Gurwin Geriatric Center.

On this trip we learned about the work of the Guide Dog Foundation and met the puppies who are being trained.

In 1946, when the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind was founded, its mission was simple: to provide guide dogs and training- free of charge- to people who were blind or visually impaired.

The Foundation provides many opportunities for volunteers, For more information and volunteer application forms go to the Foundation’s website, www.guidedog.org.

(A photo of Rabbi Marc Gellman and members of Temple Beth Torah confirmation class and alumni, with puppies, at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind’s Smithtown campus, is attached.)