SocialAction
Social Action is central to our Temple's mission. We share the need to give in meaningful ways and we respond to the Jewish mandate to engage in tikkun olam, the repair of the world.
We reach out to the world to help – and we stay close to home as well, helping members of our congregation who are in need. We visit each other when someone falls ill. We pray and grieve together when a death occurs. We are a small enough congregation to be intimate, yet big enough to make a collective difference in our community.
Here are a few of our current Social Action projects:
SANDWICHES AT SINAI: Temple Sinai volunteers prepare bag lunches once a month for Be the Change - Sunday Meal an organization that provides a weekly meals for the needy. More hands are always welcome on preparation day, usually on a Sunday morning. Look in the weekly email edition of the Sinai Scroll for announcements of upcoming dates and join in receiving an unvoiced "thank you" from grateful recipients.
RESETTLEMENT OF AFGHAN EVACUEES: The Social Action Committee has decided to prioritize the resettlement of evacuees from Afghanistan. We will be part of a community-wide effort led by the Jewish Alliance and other faith-based groups. If you know of anyone who has an apartment or room to rent, please let the Rabbi know. This is of utmost importance, since there's a housing shortage in the state and it's hard to find places for the refugees to live. Next, we are asking you to make a donation to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund earmarked for Afghan Resettlement (click here to go to our "Giving" page to make a donation). The funds we collect will be used to buy gift cards for refugee to buy blankets, sheets, and kitchen supplies.
We reach out to the world to help – and we stay close to home as well, helping members of our congregation who are in need. We visit each other when someone falls ill. We pray and grieve together when a death occurs. We are a small enough congregation to be intimate, yet big enough to make a collective difference in our community.
Here are a few of our current Social Action projects:
SANDWICHES AT SINAI: Temple Sinai volunteers prepare bag lunches once a month for Be the Change - Sunday Meal an organization that provides a weekly meals for the needy. More hands are always welcome on preparation day, usually on a Sunday morning. Look in the weekly email edition of the Sinai Scroll for announcements of upcoming dates and join in receiving an unvoiced "thank you" from grateful recipients.
RESETTLEMENT OF AFGHAN EVACUEES: The Social Action Committee has decided to prioritize the resettlement of evacuees from Afghanistan. We will be part of a community-wide effort led by the Jewish Alliance and other faith-based groups. If you know of anyone who has an apartment or room to rent, please let the Rabbi know. This is of utmost importance, since there's a housing shortage in the state and it's hard to find places for the refugees to live. Next, we are asking you to make a donation to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund earmarked for Afghan Resettlement (click here to go to our "Giving" page to make a donation). The funds we collect will be used to buy gift cards for refugee to buy blankets, sheets, and kitchen supplies.
Rabbi Goldwasser works in coalition with other faith communities and faith leaders to advocate for social justice in Rhode Island.
WARM CLOTHING COLLECTION: We start our warm clothing collection at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving and continue with distribution to those in need throughout the season. Look for the collection boxes in the upstairs and downstairs lobbies.
FOOD COLLECTION: Food collection for distribution to West Bay Food Pantries is ongoing through the year. Food collection boxes are in our lobbies.
STATEWIDE ADVOCACY: Temple Sinai participates in statewide campaigns by faith organizations for laws to end the state's housing crisis, to provide adequate support for children in poverty, and to set standards for nursing home care. Rabbi Goldwasser works with the Temple's Social Action Committees and with clergy of all faiths to advocate for justice in the Ocean State.
"Prayer is Not Enough" is Temple Sinai's action network for congregants who would like to receive notices about specific things they can do to support Israel, reduce poverty, defend civil rights, protect the environment, and repair our world. Notices include information on upcoming events, bills in Congress and the Rhode Island General Assembly, and learning opportunities on social action issues.
Susan Sklar is the chair of the Social Action Committee. If you would like to be a part of the committee, attend meetings, or just make suggestions, please contact him. Hunger? Poverty? Disaster Relief? Is there a Social Action initiative you would like to see Temple Sinai participate in? Let us know. Put "Temple Sinai Social Action" in the subject line and email the committee at info@templesinairi.org.
FOOD COLLECTION: Food collection for distribution to West Bay Food Pantries is ongoing through the year. Food collection boxes are in our lobbies.
STATEWIDE ADVOCACY: Temple Sinai participates in statewide campaigns by faith organizations for laws to end the state's housing crisis, to provide adequate support for children in poverty, and to set standards for nursing home care. Rabbi Goldwasser works with the Temple's Social Action Committees and with clergy of all faiths to advocate for justice in the Ocean State.
"Prayer is Not Enough" is Temple Sinai's action network for congregants who would like to receive notices about specific things they can do to support Israel, reduce poverty, defend civil rights, protect the environment, and repair our world. Notices include information on upcoming events, bills in Congress and the Rhode Island General Assembly, and learning opportunities on social action issues.
Susan Sklar is the chair of the Social Action Committee. If you would like to be a part of the committee, attend meetings, or just make suggestions, please contact him. Hunger? Poverty? Disaster Relief? Is there a Social Action initiative you would like to see Temple Sinai participate in? Let us know. Put "Temple Sinai Social Action" in the subject line and email the committee at info@templesinairi.org.
