Enhance your Madness this year with mitzvot!

March Madness brings the top college basketball teams in the country together for an intense 3-week tournament where one team will win 6 games in a row and become the national champion. 

Join us this year for a fun community event where we support our favorite teams, pick upsets - and do good deeds along the way! Prizes are awarded to the winners of both brackets and to the person who does the most mitzvot. 

Get ready to join the fun and make your picks in both the NCAA Men's and Women's pools!

No cost to participate!
Brackets go live on March 16th (Selection Sunday).
Register before March 16th to receive an email link from CBS Sports once Selection Sunday concludes.

Enter your brackets here:

2025 NCAA Men’s Bracket

2025 NCAA Women’s Bracket

We'll be adding suggested mitzvot for each round to keep the spirit going! Post about your mitzvot and tag us at #jcamarchmitzvahmadness.



Acts of Kindness (Gemilut Chasadim)

1. Volunteer with Jewish Family Services Diaper Bank – Help ensure that families in need have access to essential baby supplies.
2. Call or visit someone lonely.
3. Offer to run errands for a neighbor.
4. Write a heartfelt letter to a loved one.
5. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
6. Compliment a stranger.
7. Help someone carry their groceries.
8. Hold the door open for multiple people.
9. Bake or cook for someone in need.
10. Offer to babysit for free for a parent who needs a break.

Community &  Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)

1. Donate to or volunteer with a local food pantry – Help provide nutritious food to those facing food insecurity.
2. Participate in a community cleanup event.
3. Advocate for a cause you believe in.
4. Reduce waste by bringing reusable bags and containers.
5. Support a local business.
6. Offer to tutor or mentor a student.
7. Make a care package for someone in need.
8. Walk or bike instead of driving to help the environment.
9. Support the JCA’s Annual Campaign – Help strengthen Jewish life in Southern Maine.
10. Volunteer at a JCA event – Assist in making community programs run smoothly.

Jewish Tradition & Learning

1. Light Shabbat candles and invite someone to join.
2. Learn a new Jewish prayer or text.
3. Listen to a Jewish podcast or read a Jewish book.
4. Say Modeh Ani in the morning with gratitude.
5. Share a Jewish teaching with a friend.
6. Participate in a Torah study or discussion.
7. Attend a Jewish cultural or educational program at the JCA – Engage in learning with the community.
8. Reach out to someone in the Jewish community you haven’t spoken to in a while.
9. Write a note of appreciation to a Jewish educator, rabbi, or leader.
10. Sign up for a JCA class – Deepen your connection to Jewish culture.

Tzedakah & Helping Others

1. Give tzedakah—any amount, to any cause.
2. Pay for someone’s coffee or meal.
3. Support an organization that aligns with your values.
4. Buy groceries for a family in need.
5. Donate blood if eligible.
6. Contribute to the HIAS refugee resettlement initiative – Help welcome new Mainers to our community.