Healing Through Kindness
Bikur Cholim Writing Contest
Topic Question: What does the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim mean to you?
Here are a few suggestions to help you start thinking about how to answer the question:
A. Write a short story or poem depicting bikur cholim in a creative and original way.
B. Interview an elderly or ill relative or friend to learn how bikur cholim eased their struggle.
C. Write about a personal experience, relating to bikur cholim, which made a great impact on your life, or the life or someone you know.
D. Explain how bikur cholim extends beyond the simple meaning of visiting the ill.
E. Elaborate and inspire using examples and stories.
For more inspiration, watch this video!
Writing Judges
Mrs. Devorah Leah Rosenfeld, renowned children’s book author and Editor-in-Chief of Hachai Publishing, and Mrs. Rishe Dietsch, Editor-in-Chief of N’shei Chabad Newsletter and frequent columnist.
Writing & Art Prizes
Top 10 entries will receive a notable mention and certificate.
Top 5 finalists will be awarded a certificate, be published in the Bikur Cholim newsletter and on our website, plus receive exciting prizes.
First place winner will receive a brand new Apple iPad and entry will be published in the next issue of N’shei Chabad Magazine.
Writing Rules
1. Contest is open to all students in Crown Heights grades 8 – 12 (including Online School).
2. all styles including essay, poetry, article, drama, etc are eligible.
3. Entry may be no more than 1,000 words in length (it may be shorter);
4. Entry must be typed in clear print (Times New Roman font, size 12), and double-spaced.
5. To avoid disqualification, a cover sheet must include:
• Your full English & Hebrew name, home address and phone number;
• The name of your school and your current grade level;
6. Entry must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.
7. One entry per participant, please; decisions of the judges are final.
8. Deadline is final. Entries submitted after June 10, 2010 will not be accepted.
Essay must be submitted on or before June 10, 2010 in one of the following ways: (1) by email to info@bikurcholimch.org with subject line: “BC Month Writing Competition”, (2) by mail to “Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights, 387 Kingston Ave, Suite 10, Brooklyn NY 11225” (must be postmarked no later than June 10, 2010), or (3) dropped off in person at the Bikur Cholim office at 387 Kingston Ave on or before June 10, 2010. (No late entries can be accepted!)
Writing entries will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate, logically organized, enjoyable to read, original and most important, inspiring. Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased multi-round judging process. To ensure the anonymity of our participants, cover sheets and identifying information are removed after the first round. Winners’ names remain unknown to judges until after the essays have been ranked and the contest results finalized. (We trust that the writing submitted will be solely the work of the student and not that of an adult trying to help!)
All entries become the property of Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights and will not be returned. Winning entries may be published, sold and otherwise used for the benefit of Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights.
Bikur Cholim Month – Art Contest
Topic: What does the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim mean to you?
Here are a few suggestions to help you start thinking about artistic answers to the question:
A. Depict the concept or goal of bikur cholim in a creative and original way.
B. Create a scenario involving the mitzvah of bikur cholim in concept or in action.
C. Portray a personal experience relating to bikur cholim that had a great impact on your life.
F. Re-imagine a commonly used bikur cholim scene using original and positive images.
For more inspiration, watch this video!
Art Judges
Michoel Muchnik, one of the foremost Jewish artists of our day, and Chaya Pellin, Director of Pellin Art Studio, the popular local children’s art school.
Art & Writing Prizes
Top 10 entries will receive a notable mention and certificate.
Top 5 finalists will be awarded a certificate, be displayed for public viewing, gallery-style, at our next event, plus receive exciting prizes.
First place winner will receive a brand new Apple iPad and an image of the entry will be published in N’Shei Chabad Newsletter.
Art Rules
1. Contest is open to all 8th grade and High School students in Crown Heights.
2. All photographs, black and white, color, non-silver, computer-manipulated, etc., are eligible.
3. All paintings, drawings, oil, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, etc., are eligible.
4. All mixed media, collage, sculpture, decoupage, clay, etc., are eligible.
5. All graphic art, Photoshop, Illustrator, digitally manipulated images etc., are eligible.
6. Submit printed materials only- no CD’s or Emails; frames and/or matting are unnecessary.
7. Prints/ canvases may be up to 3’ x 3’ but no larger; 3-D art may be up to 4 cubic feet but no larger.
8. To avoid disqualification, a cover sheet must include:
• Your full English & Hebrew name, home address and phone number;
• The name of your school and your current grade level;
9. Art-work must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.
10. Decisions of the judges are final; one entry per participant, please.
11. Deadline is final. Entries submitted after June 10, 2010 will not be accepted.
Art entries must be submitted in person to the Bikur Cholim office at 387 Kingston Avenue, suite 10, on or before June 10, 2010.
Art entries will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for art that is clear, well executed, enjoyable to look at, carries a positive message, is original and most important, inspiring. Submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased multi-round judging process. To ensure the anonymity of our participants, cover sheets and identifying information are removed after the first round. Winners’ names remain unknown to judges until after the art has been ranked and the contest results finalized. (We trust that all work submitted will be solely the work of the student and not that of an adult trying to help!)
All entries become the property of Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights and will not be returned. Winning entries may be published, sold and otherwise used for the benefit of Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights.
Posted on: Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 11:37 am