Your Tikkun Olam Committee encourages your active support and participation with the following activities. Please read The Shofar and the weekly Shofar Blasts for more information concerning all of these projects.
Interfaith Volunteer Service Day Sunday, August 4th
Please join with a group of TE volunteers and those from other congregations for an interfaith day of service. This is a perfect hands-on Tikkun Olam activity for family participation. Jean Silk, Coordinator
3rd Annual Reverse Tashlich (A Rosh Hashanah tradition) Sunday, September 22nd (rain date Sunday, October 6th)
Partner with “Repair the Sea” and “Save the Sound” to remove litter from our local beaches. This is a perfect hands-on Tikkun Olam activity for family participation. Rebecca Cohen, Karen Fenichel, and Adam Spiewak, Coordinators
31st Annual High Holy Days Food Drive October 2nd – October 16th (Through the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot holidays)
Donate non-perishable food to be distributed to the food pantries of both the Jewish Family Service (JFS) and the Town of Orange. Monetary donations can also be sent directly to these two food pantries. Let’s help those in need right here in our own communities. Will Sherman, Coordinator
22nd Annual Thanksgiving Frozen Turkey and Pie Collection October 27th – November 17th (Pre-Thanksgiving)
Donate frozen turkeys, pies, & all the “fixins” to be delivered to the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK). Let’s surpass last year’s collection of 125 turkeys and help make Thanksgiving special for those in need. Drivers will also needed to transport the turkeys. Jeffrey Levinson, Coordinator
Religious School Chanukah Baskets Project December 6th – December 22nd
Toys, books, games, clothing, gift cards, and personal hygiene/care objects to be donated to JFS, r’Kids Family Center, Fair Haven Community Health Center, JCARR, and Fellowship Place. Maddy Sussman, Olga Markus, and the Religious School students, staff, and parents
Abraham’s Tent January – March (One week; dates to be determined)
Prepare/serve dinner and socialize with a small group of selected homeless men, coordinated by the Columbus House Homeless Shelter. This is a great hands-on activity. This activity may be coupled with a monetary collection to benefit Columbus House and all their programs. Barb Levine-Ritterman and Lee Stolzman, Coordinators
Mishloach Manot and Diaper Drive February 2nd – March 9th
The mitzvah of giving Mishloach Manot is derived from the Book of Esther which enjoins the Jewish people to send portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor. As in the past, TE will distribute a selection of Purim treats and we will continue our tradition of collecting diapers and monetary donations to support The Connecticut Diaper Bank. Michelle Bailey, Rochelle Kanell, and Rise’ Siegel, Coordinators for the Diaper Drive
Beth-El Pasta Collection Purim, March 14th
The Religious School children and the adult Megillah reading participants will use boxes of pasta as groggers to drown out the name of Haman during the Purim service. The pasta will then be donated to the Beth-El Homeless Shelter & Soup Kitchen in Milford. A pasta collection box will be available in the lobby. Nancy Weber, Coordinator
Religious School Purim Mitzvah Project Purim, March 16th
“Blessing Bags” with notes from the Religious School children containing personal hygiene/care objects will be donated to the homeless program of Fellowship Place. “Welcome baskets” will be donated to Columbus House. These projects are sponsored by the Tzedakah Fund collected by the Religious School students. Olga Markus and the Religious School students, staff, and parents
In addition to all the above Tikkun Olam Projects, members of Temple Emanuel are actively involved in a variety of additional activities and we urge your active support and participation with the following:
Jewish Community Alliance for Refugee Resettlement (JCARR)
A partnership of six local synagogues and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, JCARR has helped welcome and relocate a number of refugee families from around the world. Your ongoing support and assistance in a variety of ways is greatly appreciated. Jean Silk, Coordinator
Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT)
Keeping within our Jewish values of “Justice, justice you shall pursue,” CONECT is an organization devoted to social and economic justice, gun violence and health insurance issues, police reform, and immigration rights. CONECT is currently seeking a Temple Emanuel liaison. Please contact the Rabbi if you’re interested.
Beth-El Homeless Shelter & Soup Kitchen (in Milford)
In addition to a variety of collections, volunteers from TE prepare and serve dinner on the first Tuesday of every month. This is a great hands-on activity. Nancy Weber and Rachel Suchoff, Coordinators