Temple Judea's "Cycles for Smiles" Raises Funds for Children With Special Needs

in Tarzana held its annual "Cycles for Smiles" bike-a-thon Thursday, and many of the young children who attend the temple's nursery school came out on their bikes to help a good cause. The children were all sponsored by their parents and friends to help children at the Beit Issie Shapiro Institute in Israel. Children at Beit Issie Shapiro have special needs or are severely mentally and physically challenged.

Temple Judea's target is to send $10,000 each year to help provide services and special equipment to ease the financial burden on the children's families. Recent projects have included the funding of special swimming pool and hydrotherapy facilities at Beit Isse Shapiro.

Margie Ipp, the nursery school director at Temple Judea, told Encino-Tarzana Patch that she had the idea of starting "Cycles for Smiles" 25 years ago in Israel, and asked the Beit Issie Shapiro Institute to become the "sister school" of Temple Judea's nursery school.

"The children all ride a bike for a friend who can't," said Ipp, adding that the program also taught the children at Temple Judea important educational lessons in acceptance, kindness and empathy.

Ipp said that it was important that the children learn what it means to be a good "mensch", and that the program "teaches the values of how to go out in the world and make a difference."

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For more information, and to donate to the "Cycles for Smiles" cause, visit Temple Judea's website by clicking here, or you can send a check made payable to Temple Judea marked "Cycles for Smiles," 5429 Lindley Ave Tarzana, CA 91356.