Temple Israel's Social Action Committee participates in a broad range of activities to do our part toward Tikkun Olam, Healing the World. Our programs address issues of hunger, shelter, and literacy within the London community. We encourage interfaith harmony and mutual respect. We provide information about how to assist with disaster relief in the wider world. Please join in on Social Action programs -- they are not just for the committee -- everyone is encouraged to participate.
Social Action Meetings
Social Action meetings are typically held on the second Thursday of each month (7:30 - 9:30 pm).
The next meeting will take place Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Temple Israel during the Chanukah Chappening / Share the Warmth event.
Soup Groups Would you like to make nourishing (vegan) soup for those in need, but can't attend the Social Action meetings? Consider starting your own soup group, or simply incorporate this act ofTikun Olam into your next social gathering. Contact Leora (leora@templeisraellondon.ca) and she will send you some 'how to' advice about making and delivering soup to Rotholme or the Men's Mission, the only two shelters I've identified thus far that can/will accept food made offsite in non-supervised kitchens. If you know of any others to add to the list, please let Leora know.
Food Sorts Food Sorts take place on the first Wednesday of the month, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at the London Food Bank (926 Leathorne Street). :
If you haven't already done so, please consider coming out to a food sort to see what it's all about. Given limits on the number of volunteers per evening, only TI members are invited to attend. This is a child-friendly event, though best suited for those over 6 years of age. If you plan to be there it would helpful to RSVP to (leora@templeisraellondon.ca) by noon on the day of the sort.
Share the Warmth and Chanukkah Chappening 2011
COME to our CHANUKAH CHAPPENING!
SHARE THE WARMTH at the Temple Israel pre-CHANUKAH Party
Sunday, December 18, 12-3:00 pm. Please RSVP to the Temple Office, 519-858-4400
Note: Drop off dates: Dec. 4-18, 2011. Drop off location: at TI Sun Porch (behind the Temple), the door to the porch will remain opened.
Share the warmth of CLOTHING: Bring new or gently used but clean winter clothing, including hand-knitted items. Items to be sorted at the pre-Chanukah party. Clothing will be donated to Mission Services London (i.e., Rotholme Women's & Family Shelter, Men's Mission).
Share the warmth of FOOD: Drop off food for the London Area Food bank.
Share the warmth of SHELTER: During the month of December, make a tzedakah box contribution or write a cheque (made out to Temple Israel. Memo: Social Action - THAW) to support London Hydro's The Heat and Warmth (THAW) program.
Share the Warmth of GIVING: Buy a gift for a less fortunate child and bring it to TI. If wrapped, the gift should have a note taped to the outside indicating what the gift is, and the age and gender of the child who would most enjoy it. Hand-knit or crocheted hats, mitts, scarves. and sweaters welcome. Unwrapped gifts will be wrapped at the Chanukah party, and all presents distributed to Merrymount Children's Centre and Rotholme Women's & Family Shelter. Drop off toiletries- small (e.g., hotel) samples of shampoo, soap, lotions, perfumes, etc. They'll be assembled into PAMPERING PACKAGES at the pre-Chanukah party.
Latke Lunch at 12:00pm, followed by Share the Warmth (lots of helpers needed for gift wrapping and clothes sorting), dreidel games, Chanukah music and lots of fun.
Note: Brian Salt of Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Centre, originally scheduled for 2:30pm, is unable to attend our Chanukah Chappening. We will try to re-schedule his visit for another date.
Attawapiskat Emergency Relief Fund
From the URJ:
Dear Friends
We all have been reading about the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Cree First Nations community of Attawapiskat on James Bay in Northern Ontario. There is a shortage of housing that has forced families to live in unheated shacks and trailers with minimal blankets and warm weather clothing. There is no drinking water. The risk is growing as the weather gets increasingly colder and more harsh. This community is seriously at risk.
In response to this worsening humanitarian crisis the United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto has established the Attawapiskat Emergency Relief Fund to raise funds to assist the citizens of that community with basic necessities of life. Please see flyer attached and contact them directly to make your donations.
Please share this information with your congregants who may wish to lend their support by donating to this fund. Our Reform Jewish community, with its commitment to Tikkun Olam, has always responded to crises around the world. We can do no less when this humanitarian crisis is in our country, on our doorstep.
On Sunday, January 29, 2012, 1:00pm you are invited to an event at the London Convention Centre, 300 York Street.
The purpose of this event is to encourage the people and leaders of London’s faith communities to engage personally to address the growing gap between rich and poor in London, across Canada, and beyond.
Free to attend. No registration required. All welcome.
Food Bank
Great news!!! During the High Holy Days 2011, our congregation in co-operation with Congregation Or Shalom collectively donated over 1,400 pounds of "Fast Food" and fresh produce to the London & Area Food Bank.
Throughout the year, Temple Israel collects non-perishable items for the Food Bank in bins at the Temple, and once a month (usually first Wednesday of each month) we help sort and package food at the Food Bank. More helpers are always needed and welcome. In light of recently-imposed limits on the number of volunteers per evening, only members of Temple Israel ore invited to attend. Please RSVP to Leora by noon on the day of the sort to let her know how many from your family will be attending. This is an excellent family activity. best suited for those aged 7 and older. It also counts towards community service credits for high school students. Contact Leora Swartzman
1. Serve as TISA Interfaith Liaison. For more information about what this would entail, please contact Brenda Donner.
2. On a monthly or bi-monthly basis, collect and sort through the items dropped off at Temple Israel for Rotholme (in two labelled bins in the kitchen) and take to Rotholme Leora Swartzmanand/or the Men's Mission. Contact .
3. Come to SOUP GROUP any month (or every month!) and help make soup for Rotholme Women & Children's Shelter.
Temple Israel Knitters
Leslie Paddock has donated a large quantity of yarn in memory of her ex-mother-in-law, Kay Heaton, to be used for charitable knitting or crochet projects.
For example, you may wish to knit warm hats, mitts, or scarves for Temples Israel's annual "Share the Warmth/Chanukah Chappening" or you may wish to make squares to be assembled into "Blankets for Bubbies" to be donated to a local nursing home or seniors' residence.
London Hadassah-WIZO Bazaar has donated a supply of yarn to be used for Temple Israel Social Action projects. The yarn is currently stored in a cupboard in the hallway near the main floor washroom. Please help yourself to yarn for Share the Warmth or other charitable purposes.
Thank you, Pepa!
Tzedakah Box
THE TZEDAKAH BOX
January 2011 To commemorate Tu B'Shevat (January 20th), the "Jewish New Year for Trees", $152 ($13.14 Tzedakah box + $138.86) was donated to the Jewish National Fund (JNF;www.jnf.org), created over 100 years ago to reclaim and preserve Israel's land.
February 2011 Funds were donated to Salthaven (http://www.salthaven.org/), a volunteer wildlife rehabilitation facility in Mount Brydges. Salthaven cares for displaced, sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, and then releases them, if possible, back to their natural habitat.
March 2011 To mark Purim's (March 20) Shalach Manot, funds will go to Mazon Canada ( www.mazoncanada.ca) the National Jewish Response to Hunger. MAZON distributes funds, on a nondenominational basis, to Canadian organizations battling hunger.
April 2011 Passover (April 19-26) "From Plague to Promise," with the Nothing But Nets (http://urj .org/nets/) Malaria-prevention program. Each $10 donation goes directly toward distribution of, and education about, the proper use of a family bed net for African refugees fleeing genocide or civil war.
May 2011 To commemorate Lag B'Omer, the counting of the sheaves between Passover and Shavuot, funds will be donated to Reforest London (http://www.reforestlondon.ca), which improves London's environmental health by planting trees in our community -- along streets, in backyards, and in parks and natural areas.
If you have any suggestions regarding recipients of Tzedakah box funds, please contact Leora (lswartzm@uwo.ca), or, even better, join the discussion in person at the Social Action/Soup Group meetings.
Food Sort at London Food Bank, 926 Leathorne Street (map), first Wednesday of each month (please check the TI calendar, as there are some variations in the Food Bank schedule)
Soup Group, at Temple Israel or member's home, second Thursday of each month
Collection of non-perishible food for the London Food Bank by our Religious School students, as well as several Social Action programs throughout the year, including "Fast Food" project at the High Holy Days
Collection of clothing and household items for Rotholme and Men's Mission, bins in TI hallway near coat rack, and at our "Chanukah Chappening"
Interfaith activities, in co-operation with Unity of London and Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre
Blankets for Bubbies, knit or crochet squares for lap blankets for nursing homes
All are welcome to come make soup for Rotholme Women & Children's Shelter. If you can peel a potato or cut a carrot, we can use your help. Join in planning future Social Action events.
This is a child-friendly event, though best suited for those over 6 years of age. Given limits on the number of volunteers per evening, only TI members are invited to attend. If you plan to be at a sort, please RSVP to Leora (leora@templeisraellondon.ca) by noon on the day of the sort with the number of people who will be attending. The activity counts towards high school community service hours.
All are welcome to come make soup for Rotholme Women & Children's Shelter. If you can peel a potato or cut a carrot, we can use your help. Join in planning future Social Action events.
This is a child-friendly event, though best suited for those over 6 years of age. Given limits on the number of volunteers per evening, only TI members are invited to attend. If you plan to be at a sort, please RSVP to Leora (leora@templeisraellondon.ca) by noon on the day of the sort with the number of people who will be attending. The activity counts towards high school community service hours.
All are welcome to come make soup for Rotholme Women & Children's Shelter. If you can peel a potato or cut a carrot, we can use your help. Join in planning future Social Action events.
Interfaith Food Bank Collection Temple Israel, Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, and Unity of London
RAC News
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