Social Action | Tikkun Olam

Social Action | Tikkun Olam תיקון עולם

Repairing the World
 

The Social Action Committee at The Community Synagogue is part of K’lal Yisrael, the entire Jewish community. We pursue tzedek (justice) and perform mitzvot (commandments) to translate the words of Torah into the works of our hands. We strive to become partners with God in Tikkun Olam – repairing the world both within the local community and outside its boundaries.

To participate please contact our Social Action Chair: Renee Karmel rkarmel@aol.com

Current Social Action Projects
 

Upholding Humanity: Afghan Refugee Resettlement

This year, when the United States ended its involvement in Afghanistan, some 127,000 Afghan citizens made the hard choice our ancestors did when they came to this land to find life, freedom, and opportunity. There are 10,000 of those refugees currently living at Ft. Dix in New Jersey, and the Federal government wants to move those people by February, so the need is immediate and urgent.

We are asking for your support in two ways:

• To raise funds to support 20 refugee families
• Additionally, we seek volunteers for this effort

Click here to read the complete letter from Rabbi Zeplowitz, Mara Silverstein (VP Social Action), and Jill Rubin (Student Rabbi) detailing the Upholding Humanity initiative and how you can support it.

Time for Dinner

Our kickoff event was a tremendous success! Teen and adult volunteers packaged and delivered 60 meals to food insecure members of our community. 

Save the date for our next Time for Dinner event on Sunday, Feb 27! To volunteer to cook, volunteer to deliver meals, or make a monetary donation CLICK HERE.

With any questions, contact Jane Ronis.

Time for Dinner is a new initiative by The Community Synagogue to directly address food insecurity in our Port Washington community.

The Front Porch Project

The Community Synagogue has started working with the Rudman Family Food Pantry at the Mid-Island Y JCC to supply homebound seniors and low income families throughout Long Island with food, cleaning supplies, hygiene items and so much more. Nearly half of the people they help are poor/near poor. The other half are people who can get by under normal circumstances, but are struggling now because of the COVID crisis and other health issues.

In November, we held our first Front Porch Project, which allowed families to get involved with collecting needed items from friends and family directly on their front porches. 

The next Front Porch project will take place from  March 20 – April 3, 2022. 
More information coming soon. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Michele Posner.

Support Local Food Pantries

With the economics of the pandemic still affecting many of our local neighbors, there is an ongoing need to address the issue of food insecurity. The food pantries of Port Washington have seen a large increase in the number of families coming to them to meet their weekly grocery needs.

We ask that you please think of our less fortunate local neighbors who are challenged to put food on their table. When making your own grocery list, please add some items on the below list and bring them to one of the Port Washington pantries during the stated hours.

Delivery Locations, Contact Information, and Hours
PLEASE CALL IN ADVANCE OF DELIVERY

Ongoing Social Action Projects

• Community Dinners: On a quarterly basis, we hold sit down dinner/dances on Saturday nights for local residents who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy a night out. 
• Ongoing Efforts to End Genocide: The Brotherhood of The Community Synagogue is engaged in acts of consciousness raising, education and action to end genocide.  To support their efforts and that of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, click here. If you are interested in obtaining the image as a banner (9' x 3') please contact Steve Kaplan at skaplan-commsyn@usa.net. 
• Holiday Toy and Personal Item Drive: The Sisterhood of The Community Synagogue, in conjunction with the Religious School, the Early Childhood Center, our POWTY teens and our entire synagogue family, is collecting toys for organizations serving children and families in need. 
• Thanksgiving Basket: Assemble baskets to be delivered to those in need. Register with Bari Ziegel at 516-762-5830. Sponsored by the UJA-Federation of NY.
• Supplies for Success: Backpacks Help sort and assemble backpacks for disadvantaged children.
• HIAS Refugee Assistance: TCS in coordination with the HIAS-New York team, is offering four working committee opportunities with which to become involved. Read more here