Tzedaka Box

Deuteronomy 12:1	These are the laws and the regulations that you are to take care to observe in the land that G-d, the God of your fathers, has given you to inherit all the days that you live on the land:	אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן ה’ אֱל-הֵי אֲבֹתֶיךָ לְךָ לְרִשְׁתָּהּ כׇּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם חַיִּים עַל־הָאֲדָמָה׃
14:22	You shall set aside a tenth part of all the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field each and every year	עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר אֵת כׇּל־תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ הַיֹּצֵא הַשָּׂדֶה שָׁנָה שָׁנָה׃

Ingredients per project:

• 3 graham cracker sheets (have an extra one handy just in case)
• powdered sugar
• shaped sprinkles
• 1 chocolate coin

Tools:  1 bowl, preferably with a flat bottom, and 1 paintbrush.  Note:  work on wax paper if you want to be able to move this.

Instructions:

Make sugar glue:  put 2 t. of sugar per project in a flat-bottom bowl.  Add as much powdered sugar as you can until the sugar glue mixture resembles thick glue.

Prepare graham crackers:  Break each graham cracker sheet in half making six squares.  As most halves of graham cracker sheets (two graham crackers) are not exactly square, identify the longer sides.

Make the tzedaka box:

1. Place one graham cracker square in the center of the wax paper.

2. Coat one longer end of another graham cracker square with the sugar glue so that it comes approximately ¼” up the side.  Lay the cracker next to the first cracker with the coated side touching the first cracker.

3. Dip two adjacent ends of another, third graham cracker square in the sugar glue in like manner.  Lift the second graham cracker so that the glued end touches the first square and the two crackers form an “L”.  Place the third square so the long end touches the first square, and the second coated end touches the second square, forming the beginning of a box.  If you have sufficient glue the three sides should stick together immediately.  Follow suit with the two remaining squares, making sure a long end always touches the first square, dipping the last on the three sides that will touch existing parts of the box.  Allow the box to dry for 2-3 minutes.

4. Break the remaining square into half making two individual graham crackers.  Dip the ends of the two individual graham crackers in the sugar glue and place gently on top across the shorter side, leaving a space in the center for “tzedaka”.  Allow to dry 1-2 minutes.  (Note:  if the ends cannot reach, take another graham cracker sheet and break into individual, extra-long graham crackers).

Decorate:  Attach shaped sprinkles with sugar glue, using a paint brush or spoon to put the sugar glue where desired.

You can add designs…

Or attach candy…make sure to let the sugar glue dry before you put it back upright.

Give Tzedaka:  Insert a chocolate coin in the tzedaka box.

Eat. Nature’s nosh:  the same can be done with triscuits using hummus, cream cheese, or peanut butter as glue.  Break the top triscuit in half to make a slot or pretend there is a hinge for the top one.  Use carrot rounds or make coins out cheddar or American cheese.: