Dale Kasler brainstroms with
Social Justice Shabbaton participants

Social Action

Social Action Shabbaton II

B'nai Israel’s commitment to social action is about to move to the next
level. Our second annual Social Action Shabbaton is set for Saturday, October 13, and will focus on enhancing the congregation’s social action activities and integrating tikkun olam into holiday celebrations and observances.

Last year’s Shabbaton spawned three dynamic social action projects: a group devoted to tutoring at Jedidiah Smith Elementary School, a program to raise awareness of and contribute to sustainable living, and a gay rights project in which CBI lends its support to Sacramento’s gay community. These three groups got off to a rousing start and have already made tremendous impact in the community.

This time we want to explore strategies for building on last year’s success. We’d like to encourage increased participation in the three existing projects and find ways to blend social action with our religious rituals. The day will begin with the monthly Ruach Ha’Am service at 10:30am in the sanctuary and a dairy potluck lunch will follow at 12:30pm in the Social Hall.

 The Shabbaton itself will begin at 1pm, with an introduction from Rabbi Alfi and a presentation from the chairs of the Sustainable Living, Jedidiah Smith and Gay Rights Committees, as well as a report from the BISY Social Action Chair and information about Area Congregations Together (ACT). Presentations will be followed by The World Café -- a series of conversations around the social action issues that are most meaningful to Shabbaton participants.  By the end of the day, we will have identified ways to enhance our social action activities for the coming year including opportunities for integrating social action into our holidays.  The event will wrap up at 5:30pm. It figures to be another dynamic and engaging day. Bring your ideas, your passion for social action and your food (for the potluck).  Free child care will be available.  RSVPs for the Shabbaton are appreciated and required if you’ll be needing child care.  Call the temple office, 446-4861, or contact Eileen Jacobowitz at ejacobowitz@comcast.net for additional information.   

What we’re about:

The Social Action Committee embraces social action as a cornerstone of the Reform movement and temple life.  From preserving the environment to pursuing religious pluralism and tolerance and helping the disenfranchised and at risk, the Social Action Committee is committed to tikkun o’lam – repairing the world.
     “Pray as if everything depended on God, and act as if everything depended on you.” -Rabbi Jeff Clopper
    
Under the leadership of its new, social action-minded Rabbi and with a swelling and diverse membership, Congregation B’Nai Israel will take on three important social action projects in the coming year. They include adopting a local school, confronting anti-gay sentiments among the region’s Slavic evangelicals, and using the temple’s own practices and community standing to promote sustainable living.

CBI has a strong history of social action, including its annual Mitzvah Days, work with the homeless and many other ongoing efforts. This year, more than 100 members gathered on Oct. 14 for a Tikkun Olam day. After a morning service and afternoon potluck, members brainstormed issues ranging from Peace in the Middle East to affordable housing in Sacramento.
 
    The group selected the following as CBI’s social action goals:
     -Adopt Jedediah Smith Elementary School, including mentoring, fund-raising and working with school officials to identify specific needs that CBI can help fill.
     -Work with the Jewish Community Relations Council and other congregations and community groups to combat growing hostility toward gays among Sacramento’s fundamentalist Christians from the former Soviet Union.
     -Promote sustainable living by expanding CBI’s own “greenness,” working with local food banks to provide fresh, organic foods to the poor and supporting community gardens and local farms.

Click here for articles on "Sustainable Living" by Elizabeth Landsberg. The projects will tap the breadth of occupations, personalities and community connections among CBI’s membership, but also will include inter-congregational and interfaith cooperation throughout Sacramento. To help, contact Sue Rosenberg: Srosehill@aol.com or 451-3932.

What we’re doing: 

Social Action Committee Annual Calendar
* Quarterly - American River Parkway Cleanup - CBI's adopted mile
* February - Annual Jewish Film Festival - Volunteer opportunities
* May - Annual Mitzvah Day
* On-Going - Support of CBI's recycling efforts, collection of toiletries for those in need, food collection for the Central Downtown Food Basket, Darfur Awareness Campaign
* Last sunday of the month, 2pm to 4pm = Sacramento Jewish Needlework Circle
* Third Monday of each month - prepare and serve food for the homeless at Loaves and Fishes

What you can do:

• Come to a Social Action Committee meeting.
• Share with others what issues are important to you!
• Add your email address or telephone number to the Social Action Committee Roster.
• Chair an event.
• Watch the temple newsletter, Koleinu, and weekly update, Chadashot, for information.
• Participate in an activity.

Sacramento Area Congreations Together (ACT)

In Dec 2006, B'nai Israel joined Sacramento ACT, a faith-based, non-profit organization, affiliated with the PICO National Network.  The values of Sacramento ACT are aligned with the concept of Tikkun Olam, though CBI was the first Jewish organization within Sacramento ACT.  According to the PICO website, PICO is one of the largest grassroots organizations in the country, with more than 1000 religious congregations from various denominations designed to strengthen families and improve communities.


Learn About Becoming an Organ Donor

The Halachic Organ Donor (HOD) Society is a non-profit agency that saves lives by encouraging organ donation from Jews to the general population, including non-Jews. It educates Jews about halachic and medical issues surrounding organ donation, and offers unique organ donor cards that allow people to choose options that are in accordance with their particular halachic belief. It also offers a living kidney donor program. Over the past five years, the HOD Society has helped to facilitate hundreds of transplants. For more information, simply click here to go to the HOD website.