The Talmud teaches that “great is study, for it leads to action.” Abraham Joshua Heschel exclaimed that when he marched in the Selma Civil Rights March in 1965, his “feet were praying.” At Temple Beth Sholom, we strive to do tikkun olam – repair of the world – through our many social action and social justice projects. Each of us is but a tiny flame, but together we can shine a power light into our world.
Social Action/Tikkun Olam Committee
The mission of the Tikkun Olam Committee is to engage in social action projects that will have an impact on our immediate community and/or the global community. We are interested in all areas of social justice and our goal is to "help repair the world." In 2006, the Tikun committee was created and spearheaded by Helene Lurie. We are planning our next Tikkun effort. We would love to hear from you! Including:
• A Jeans drive for the Interfaith Nutrition Network in West Hempstead
• Packaging food items for the Queen's Jewish Community Council Food Pantry
• Knitzvah - we knit or crochet baby items to serve as incentives for teenage mothers to take pre-natal care classes at the Jacobi Medical Center
• Passover Package Project - Sending toiletries, books, CD’s, games and Passover packages to the Jewish men and women in the military through the organization JewsinGreen
Mark your calendar! April 29th, 2012 – Mitzvah Day with Temple Sinai!
Ongoing...
Kosher "Snack Wrap"
We have a bin in our youth lounge where you can drop off kosher snacks to be donated to the kosher food pantry in Cedarhurst. This "snack wrap" is done in partnership with Rock and Wrap It Up, a national food recovery organization.
For more information, please contact Marc Magid, 516-621-2288
Some of our recent and upcoming programs....
Purim "Pasta Box" Graggers
March 2011
Donatated to the Interfaith Nutrition Network
TANS: Tikkun Alliance of the North Shore Mitzvah Day
January 2011
Machon Holiday Toy & Gift Card Drive
December 2011
ECC Canned Food Drive For Thanksgiving
November 2011
Baby Product Drive for Momma's House
October 2011
TBS Volunteers at the Queen's Jewish Community Council
January 14, 2007
On Sunday, January 14, 2007 (Martin Luther King Jr. weekend), 25 enthusiastic and energized members of Temple Beth Sholom kicked off their new year with a mitzvah by spending the morning packaging food items for the Queen's Jewish Community Council Food Pantry.
Every month the QJCC distributes kosher food to more than 1000 needy families (Jewish or not) and delivers 320 Kosher Meals on Wheels to frail and homebound seniors. Our task as volunteers was to divide the donated bulk food items (both fresh and non-perishable) into individual packages for families. We quickly grew to be mavens at sorting oranges, potatoes and onions, as well as figuring out the best (and sometimes creative) ways to package cereal, rice, and canned goods.
The Executive Director of the QJCC, Cynthia Zalisky also spent some time with us explaining the history of the Council and the many services it provides to the Queens Community, including counseling and legal services as well as many cultural and educational programs.
TBS Knitzvah
January 23, 2007
For the past year, members of Temple Beth Sholom have been participating in a community Knitzvah in which we knit or crochet baby items to serve as incentives for teenage mothers to take pre-natal care classes at the Jacobi Medical Center. Whether our Knitzvah participants made a 6x6 square that helped to make up a blanket, or completed a hat, booties, or sweater, each item has made a difference in the life of someone else. Recently, our Knitzvah participants gathered again in the TBS gallery to reconnect with one another, and to hear from Ellen Walk, our contact at Jacobi and TBS member, about how some of our items are being put to good and loving use.
Passover Package Project
March 2007
We initiate a drive to secure the items for Passover packages that we could donate to Jewish men and women in the military. We organized our efforts and made the donations through the organization Jews-in-Green, which needed toiletries, books, CD’s, games and Passover items. We coordinated with the ECC, religious, and Hebrew High schools and encouraged all TBS members to participate. On March 11, "packing day" there was an air of excitement as the committee set up stations for different tasks to perform that day. The religious and ECC children made decorative cards for the soldiers and several MBS students helped pack boxes. Many TBS members dropped off their goods and stayed to lend a hand with the packing. We were able to ship 75 boxes to Jewish military personnel overseas. Not only did we feel we made a difference in the lives of others, we felt the power of TBS members uniting for a greater cause.
The Talmud teaches that “great is study, for it leads to action.” Abraham Joshua Heschel exclaimed that when he marched in the Selma Civil Rights March in 1965, his “feet were praying.” At Temple Beth Sholom, we strive to do tikkun olam – repair of the world – through our many social action, social justice. Each of us is but a tiny flame, but together we can shine a power light into our world.
