Social Action - Beth Haverim

During Yom Kippur 2006 Rabbi Mosbacher introduced a new environmental initiative entitled “Vayehi Or…Let There Be Light.” A CFL light bulb was given to every family. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb we would save enough energy to power more than 2.5 million homes and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars. We would also go a long way in performing Tikkun Olam…literally, repairing the world.

In addition to changing your light bulbs, there are many other ways of Vayehi Or and performing Tikkun Olam here at Beth Haverim Shir Shalom. The Michelle Mitzvah Group, Brotherhood, Sisterhood, the Caring Committee, the Youth Group as well as other Temple committees, are all involved in social action activities. Here are just a few examples:

Center for Food Action (CFA) - The Michelle Mitzvah Group has an ongoing year round collection effort for the CFA located in Mahwah. There are baskets and poster signs located in the front entrance and education wing of the synagogue . In addition to donating food, volunteers are always needed to help bring the food to the CFA.

When you order Bimah Baskets, usually donated by Bar/Bat mitzvah families, the products purchased are delivered to the need of your choice, including Center for Food Action, (including a baby basket), Animal shelter in Oakland, etc.

Emergency Family Shelter of the Inter-religious Fellowship of Bergen County - The Emergency Family Shelter provides meals and a safe place to sleep for several families who have demonstrated to the Community Action Program, (a county-run social work program) that they need a limited time to get back on their feet. Through the Michelle Mitzvah Group we “host” four nights every May. We need volunteers to prepare and serve a hot dinner while others will be needed to stay overnight and help with breakfast the next morning.

Wanaque Convalescent Center - The Michelle Mitzvah Group celebrates Christmas with hospitalized and often forgotten kids. We bring gifts, sing songs and give lots of love to the children. What else should Jews do on Christmas?

Blythedale Children’s Hospital - Three times a year the Michelle Mitzvah Group visits this long-term treatment facility for disabled and rehabilitating children. We provide clowns, pizza and laughter. This is a great opportunity to come with your family and bring some much needed joy to children.

Coat Drive - The Coat Drive, run by New Jersey Cares, is again sponsored by the Michelle Mitzvah Group through December 15. We contribute hundreds of winter coats annually. Please donate your coats to this important event.

Operation Stars & Stripes - Throughout the year the Michelle Mitzvah Group will be collecting much needed items for our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan . We are sending these items to a Jewish chaplain we are in contact with located at Camp Victory just outside Baghdad . Please look for baskets in front lobby and education wing.

The Michelle Mitzvah Group began a campaign to collect cartoon bandages and art supplies/toys for the children with cancer and blood disorders at Hackensack Hospital . We are working closely with The Tomorrow Children's Fund on this project. This is a great opportunity for all Beth Haverim Shir Shalom families to work together on a mitzvah project. Stay tuned for more information on this much needed effort.

Sisterhood's Project Linus: This is a national organization to which we send knitted or crocheted blankets to a local NJ chapter. Blankets (only) mostly go to Children's Hospital in Hackensack, and sometimes to police departments who give them to children removed from homes, or mothers and children who have nothing.

Barbara Weiss Scholarship Fund: Donations from the congregation and Sisterhood. Money is given to the Rabbi per his request to students for camp, trips, etc.

Feel free to contact Murray Turka at mturka@optonline.net or Ken Goldstein at kfgold@optonline.net.

These are some of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom's social action initiatives; it is a collective page for Michelle Mitzvah Group, Youth Group, Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Caring, Adult Ed and Education Committees.