Connecticut Jewish Ledger

CHESHIRE — Tenth-grader Jochai Ben-Avie was attending a shabbaton at Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel with his family in September when he became inspired.

The scholar-in-residence that day was Danny Siegel, also know as “The Mitzvah Man.” Director of the Ziv Foundation, Siegel speaks around the world on the topic of tzedakah. In his inspirational presentations, he encourages listeners of all ages to become involved in tzedakah projects.

That day Siegel spoke about the “Songs of Love,” Foundation, a nonprofit organization which creates personalized songs for sick children.

Intrigued with the mission of “Songs of Love,” Ben-Avie took the idea to the students and administrators of Cheshire Academy, the 211-year-old private school he attends.

Now he and his fellow students are in the process of raising $2,000 so they can assist in the recording of a personalized, one-of-a-kind song for a chronically or terminally ill child.

“There is research which shows that these songs aid in the recovery-or at least in making the last days, weeks or months of life easier,” Ben-Avie explained.

Founded in 1996 by singer/songwriter John Beltzer, “Songs of Love” includes more than 350 songwriters, singers and musicians, who create the personalized songs. Lyrics include details drawn from biographical sketches submitted by the children and their families. And choruses from synagogues, schools, businesses and other organizations participate in the recording of these unique musical compositions.

At BEKI, Danny Siegel brought “Songs of Love,” and their portable recording studio and BEKI members recorded a song for Jenna Devine, a 12-year-old girl from Long Island who was dying of a brain tumor.

“We sang a song for her - it really moved me, this experience singing,” Ben-Avie said. “I firmly believe you can’t just reach into your pocket and pull out a hundred, a thousand or even a million dollars - you have to really give of yourself and put in the time.”

Moved by the concept, Ben-Avie spoke to many officials and students at Cheshire about doing their own “Songs of Love” project. Everyone - including the director of community life, the director of community service, the community life committee, the director of alumni affairs, the heads of the music department, and Steve Poirot, the head of the upper school — was supportive of the project.

Ben-Avie formed a committee to help with the logistics of the project and fundraising. To raise the $2,000 needed to underwrite the production costs of “Songs of Love,” the students held a semi-formal dance.

“We had a ‘Songs of Love’ jukebox fundraiser during lunch where students could pay $1.00 to broadcast their favorite tunes over the stereo in the lunchroom-or pay $2.00 to turn off someone else’s song,” he said. “We received some donations from family and friends, and we received some money from the Kiwanis Club of Cheshire.”

The team from “Songs of Love,” including remote recording studio technicians and founder John Beltzer recently came to Cheshire Academy. Soon, the child and the Cheshire Academy will receive a copy of the music CD.

Ben-Avie is now on his way to Israel where he will begin the four-month Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim Program.

Ben-Avie said that he thinks that he and his fellow students’ participation in the “Songs of Love” project are a reflection of his school’s “Eight Pillars” - or guiding moral philosophies.

“On campus you hear a lot about respect and responsibility - we don’t hear as much about caring, civility, citizenship, morality, fairness and trustworthiness,” he said. “I thought this program would bring out the latter six values.”