April Glatt wanted to include the children at Peninsula Temple Sholom in this year’s annual fundraising drive, but knew an evening gala wouldn’t be the right place.
Instead, Glatt opted for a more kid-friendly activity — burying, or make that hiding, time capsules.
“It was a way that people of all ages and different economic backgrounds could participate,” said Glatt, the fundraising chair at the Burlingame Reform congregation. “I wanted to make [fundraising] appealing to everybody.”
As of early last week, 85 families had picked up gallon-sized plastic bags to fill with keepsakes and mementos that reflect their Jewish life. Sold for $36 each, the bags will be placed in tubs and hidden away in a closet somewhere at the synagogue.
Glatt noted that the temple, as of Feb. 23, had raised more than $3,000 from bag sales.
Peninsula Temple Sholom plans to conduct two “burial ceremonies” — at 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 22 — coinciding with the end of each religious school session.
During the event, Rabbi Daniel Feder and education director Eran Vaisben are expected to speak about the importance of preserving Jewish history.
“This is a great way for parents and children to have conversations about what being Jewish means to them, what being part of the PTS family means to them, and what Jewish experiences are most meaningful to them,” Feder said.
Families were asked to include their e-mail addresses as potentially the best way to ensure they’ll be reconnected with their possessions when the containers are opened in 18 years.
“I’ve got a memo in my BlackBerry to pull [the tubs] out,” Glatt said with a laugh. “I think the kids will be very amused, and the parents will be thrilled that we actually returned everything.”
In their family’s bag, Glatt and her children, Evan, 9, and Taylor, 6, created surveys that reveal what they like about being Jewish and where they see themselves in 18 years.
The kids also drew pictures to go along with the questionnaire; Glatt added her family’s holiday cards, a Jewish star mosaic and a copy of the Ten Commandments.
Even elderly congregants joined in by writing letters to their grandchildren.
The time capsule was planned in conjunction with the synagogue’s fundraising effort, “Back to the Future with PTS.” The evening event, “Dine and Dance Through the Decades,” takes place Saturday, March 7 while an online silent auction — featuring items such as a wine-tasting party and San Francisco Giants tickets — closes Friday, March 6.
Jill Engel, a second-grade teacher at the temple’s religious school, served as a liaison between the fundraising committee and the education staff.
Students in kindergarten through middle school were assigned a class-wide project for the time capsule. They wrote about what they like about Camp Newman, a favorite Jewish experience or the meaning of a Hebrew name.
“The kids have been very excited about this,” Engel said. “My students had fun figuring out how old they’ll be in 18 years. It was a big thrill for them.”
While figuring out how old they’ll be in 2027 was certainly less of a thrill for the adults, Glatt admitted she’ll be excited to see if her survey predictions come true — and to be reconnected with her family’s belongings.
“After all,” she said, “this is the world of Facebook. Who doesn’t like to reconnect?”