MIDDLETOWN – Thirteen-year-old Hannah Cohen was so motivated by her recent bat mitzvah at Temple Sinai in Middletown that she wanted to continue following the teachings of her Jewish faith by helping others less fortunate.
She helped raise $5,000 for the Middletown Warming Station, operated by the Greater Middletown Interfaith Council, so that “care” packages could be purchased for those who would otherwise sleep outside in the cold.
“Part of my Jewish teachings and spiritual growth is that helping others is a mitzvah (blessing),” said Hannah, who is an eighth grader at Minisink Valley Middle School. “I had heard about the homeless people and families who use the warming station and felt it was my duty to try to help – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when some need assistance more than ever.”
Additional contributions to Hannah’s efforts came from Focus Media, the Michael & Erin Martucci Family Foundation and the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan.
Hannah is the daughter of Dr. Ronit Mayerson and Josh Sommers.
