TESHUVA – to return – is a theme of our Days of Awe.  We take this time to repent and return to our values in spirit and action. As a social action congregation, Temple Sinai members return especially to healing the world (tikkun olam) in tried and new ways.

Please join the Social Action Committee
_{October 5, 2008}
1:00 PM at Temple Sinai

We will discuss our work on:
·       poverty
·       the environment
·       social action projects you are interested in leading!

Fighting Poverty with Faith (a coalition of over 20 national faith groups) has called for this week, September 10-16, to be a week of action -- working together to raise attention about poverty and economic insecurity in our country. By speaking with one voice, participants seek to spark a national conversation and create a mandate for the officials elected this year to aggressively pursue a poverty-reduction agenda.

To add our strength to the national coalition's movement, following are three things that you can do, in addition to supporting several anti-poverty events scheduled in our area in the next several weeks, (e.g.SWAA conference on Oct. 17 and "Walktober" Walk for Prosperity on October 18 and 19).

1. Call or e-mail your local, state and national candidates to ask: "What willyou do to address the pressing issues of poverty and opportunityin the United States during your first 100 days in office?" We have attached a sample letter for you to copy as is or modify as you see fit.  Please check the Board of Election site for the list of candidates in this election, decide which ones you want to write or call, and check their websites for emails and phone numbers.  http://www.monroecounty.gov/Image/Candidates%20List%20081108.pdf ,  

2.  Visit the Fighting Poverty with Faith coalition's site for a list of sponsoring organizations, statement of purpose, other sample letters andactivities. http://www.fightingpovertywithfaith.com/, 

Sample letters from the Coalition are also available on http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/povday08ltelink.pdf

3. Write a letter to the editor using the resources above or your own words.

By acting during this time, you can be part of a national interfaith movement to build the political and public will to address poverty intheUnited States.

Thank you to Staci Hiller and Reba Silterra for flawlessly arranging a successful Mitzvah Day. Thank you as well to all of the captains who took responsibility for organizing each site; and of course thank you to all who participated.

 We had 40 participants who did not have children in the religious school.  We had teams at various sites: paths were cleaned at Ellison Park with future walks planned by some participants; at Dmitri House we provided canned goods from  SAFT funds and the collection, and  we cleaned the center; at St. Joseph’s Villa garden upkeep was performed and commitments were made for adult mentoring; At Temple Sinai we cleaned and inventoried the kitchen and began the outside upkeep- more hands are needed to complete the tasks; the letter writing campaign obtained 89 letters were signed asking for a withdrawal from Iraq, 116 signatures obtained in support of the Freedom of Choice Act, 73 people signed another petition in support of  the Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act and the Waxman Safe Climate Act.  Other signatures were obtained for the Hotel Workers right to unionize.

Thanks to the enourmous organizing effort of Alan Frishman, our successful hosting of the Sunday drop-in center was apprecited by both the staff and patrons of Dmitri house. Thank you to all of the volunteers: Michael Schnittman,Sharon Silvio, Jan Katz,Bob Israel,Ronny Frishman,Richard Silver,Michael Kuttner,,Cheryl Kuttner,Amanda Kuttner,Sue Stanger,Stan Feingold,Brian Shiffrin,Gail Ferraioli,Carol Teegarden,Larry and Myrna Hill,Stu Schweid,Leslie Jacobs. Your time and effort was appreciated.

Poverty, as seen close up through our various work and volunteer experience, the recent Reality Tour, and from previous educational forums, is not a sexy issue.  Meeting it head on, however, is implicit in our commandment to ‘not glean the edges of our fields’ and relates to the core of tikkun olam; healing the world through justice.

Once we, as a people, were freed from bondage our Torah has guided us in a way that we remember the heart of the stranger and the oppressed to insure they do not suffer the pain of our ancestors.  This theme is replayed in the Torah time and time again.  We are taught that we are to pursue justice, Tzedek, tzedek tirdof.  That is done by acting justly and bringing about a fair portion of food, clothing and shelter for those who might not be able to provide for themselves, and to ultimately empower people to be able to provide these things for themselves.

To be a religious Jew is not only to observe rituals but to bring about righteousness and justice into our world.  Our heritage has always taught that our actions are what ultimately brings peace into our community and world.

There are undeniably many issues upon which the Social Action Focus Team (formerly known as the Social Action Committee) and temple could focus.  The Focus Subcommittee proposes a slow, multi-dimensional approach  to address poverty through the existing model of the Social Action Focus Team. 

First, we recognize that the lack of 3 main things precipitate or perpetuate poverty:    

1) education; 2) employment; and 3) health care.  We acknowledge too, that the societal undercurrents of racism and classism impact these and other aspects of poverty.

For the 1^st 12 months, focusing on the three enumerated areas, we would advance the following:

1.         Hands-on volunteer opportunities through individual and agency partnerships for the amelioration of existing problems.

A few examples of potential partnership agencies or programs include:

1) St. Joseph Neighborhood Center (for health care);

2) the Adopt-A-School or City Mentoring Programs (for education);

3) Community Development Credit Unions;

4) Job-Seeking Skills Mentoring,

5) Provision of Internships and Job Opportunities (all to address employment).

6) Other agencies or programs to be suggested by members.

2.              Advocacy for prevention and strategic planning.

Delegate to the advocacy arm of the Social Action Focus Team monitoring and active follow-up of concerns such as or related to the items below:

1) health care for uninsured and under-insured people

2) fair wage proposals

3) local, state and federal budget and tax proposals

4) labor regulation and worker protections

5) lead reduction efforts

6) equity in education (e.g. No-Child Left Behind, availability of nurses in city schools)

7) other issues as to be suggested.

Join other anti-poverty alliances, campaigns, or non-governmental  organizations. Suggestions welcome.

3.              Collections and Donations to Agency Partners for weekly tzedakah.

Potential items include toiletries, unopened OTC medicines, books, welfare and employment applications for ease of obtaining.  Actual items to be left to discretion of Collections Subcommittee in dialogue with identified agencies.

4.              Bi-monthly Programs/Forums on Poverty-Related Issues and Community Responses to increase awareness,  ongoing consciousness and lovingkindness.

5.              Interfaith Activities

  Have regular representative on Let Justice Roll and other anti-poverty alliances.

                 Establish new alliances with other congregations to share anti-poverty work.

6.        Dialogues with Legislators

     7.        Liaisons with RATSY and Religious School to connect to temple youth.

8.       Strengthen understanding of the connection between social action in the world and Jewish teachings    through ongoing Rabbinic leadership.      

For the 2^nd 12 months, we would seek to:

1.     Evaluate the impact of our poverty focus on agency partners and the people 

they serve, and on our congregants.

2.     Formalize liaison relationships between community agencies and Temple Sinai.

3.     Renew and expand commitments based upon volunteer feedback.

Adopted as Temple-Wide Theme by Board of Director on 11/30/06.     

This is an important and emotional issue for all Americans.

Please review the recently passed URJ Resolution on the War In Iraq:

http://urj.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=13742&destination=ShowItem

 Here is the conclusion of the document 

As the situation continues to deteriorate, and the Administration continues to follow an unsuccessful strategy, the American people are demanding a change in United Statespolicy in Iraq. While good moral people can differ on these issues, the polls show that over two-thirds of American Jewry is critical of the war. In line with these statistics, in 2005 the Union’s resolution critical of the war passed by an overwhelming vote of our leaders representing synagogues across the nation. After careful review of our 2005 policy and of the failures during the interim months to make progress towards its stated goals, it is time for the Reform Movement to press for strategies that will be more effective in achieving the goals of our 2005 resolution to bring about a more immediate and constructive exit strategy for the United States and its allies.

THEREFORE, the Union for Reform Judaism resolves to:

1. Reaffirm the principles stated in the 2005 Resolution on the War in Iraq, particularly:  

A. Commending our service women and men (and their families) who have answered duty’s call and served our nations honorably…and support generous benefits for them;

B. Encouraging the involvement and support of the international community towards a working democratic Iraqi government and rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure;

C. Ensuring the United States government provides sufficient armor, supplies, and security for our troops through the completion of phased withdrawal;

D. Providing diligent congressional oversight of the war and related expenditures;

E. Ensuring that the financial burden of the war falls not just on the poor and on future generations, but be shared equitably;

F. Immediately begin the process of phased withdrawal of our troops from Iraq now that Iraqi Parliamentary elections have occurred; and

2. Call on President Bush to:

A. Clearly set and announce a timetable for the phased and expeditious withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq;

B. Include the estimated cost of the war in the annual budget request and not through emergency supplemental bills; and

3. Oppose an escalation in troop strength; and

4. Call upon the United States and Canadian governments and the international community to:

A. Encourage Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Malaki to resume reconciliation talks with the full range of Iraq’s political leaders;

B. Actively support a dialogue between Iraq and all its neighbors, especially in regards to helping to stop

civil strife and terrorism and helping finance Iraqi job programs and reconstruction.

Our next decision is what action should we as a Temple community now take?

Feel free to post comments.

Social Action is looking for individuals who are interested in social advocacy. While our main focus is on specific poverty related projects, there are many other opportunities that present themselves that may be of interest to the Temple community.  The task is to keep track of the issues and coordinate alerts and to work with a group to write letters to the editor, organize letter-writing campaigns, and raise to the full committee recommendations for taking a stand or arranging forums on hot topics. We need at least two individuals who would be willing to organize and prioritize these opportunities.

If this looks like something you would interest you, please contact Michael Kuttner  at Michael_kuttner@urmc.rochester.edu or Gail Ferraioli at gjferra@rochester.rr.com 

We have restarted keeping the drop-in facility open on Sundays. Our presence is appreciated and we were missed.  Please contact Allen Frishman frishman@hws.edu to volunteer your time

The Social Action Committee strives to make “Tikkun Olam” present each day in the life of our shul. Our work falls into four broad categories: collections, volunteerism, interfaith activities, and advocacy and education.

1. Collections

Sinai members generously donate food, clothing, school supplies, children’s’ books, linens, towels, and personal hygiene items throughout the year. The Social Action Committee organizes collection drives and coordinates dontations.

2. Volunteer Opportunities

On-going volunteer find Sinai members at Alternatives for Battered Women, Shaftsbury Group Homes, Dmitri House, as well as scouring and planting inside and outside of the Temple. The Social Action Committee coordinates volunteer opportunities for adults throughout the year. We also organize Mitzvah Day, a Sunday in May when Sinai comes together for Tikkun Olam.

We are also part of the Rochester Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN). Our temple houses homeless Rochesterarea families four weeks of the year. Over one hundred Sinai members volunteer to work on aspects of this project. The enthusiastic response of our congregation, our Templestaff, board and leadership has been an inspiration.

3. Interfaith Activities

The committee regularly supports efforts to increase our understanding and build strong ties with our neighbors. Activities include: Inter-faith picnic with BaberChurchand the Islamic Center, small informal teas at homes of members of Sinai and the Islamic Center, an interfaith book group and other educational programming.

4. Advocacy and Education

Throughout the year we work with many coalitions and groups in New York seeking economic and social justice for all people. We have strong ties with Interfaith and labor advocacy groups. We also support programming at the Temple with LifeLinks and the Sunday Evening Forum on a variety of issues impacting our community including anti-Semitism.

The Sinai Board passed a resolution in 2004 developed by the Social Action Committee that assures that Temple Sinai will continue to build a welcoming and inclusive congregation. The resolution challenges our congregation to assure that Temple Sinai materials, practices, and procedures are welcoming, inclusive and free from bias.

Join us, we need your help, your ideas, and your energy!

To get involved contact one of our Committee Co-Chairs:

Gail Ferraioli gjferra@rochester.rr.com

Michael Kuttner michael_kuttner@urmc.rochester.edu

MAKE YOUR JEWISH VALUES HEARD IN WASHINGTON

Translate the values of Torah into action by joining the Temple Sinai action alert list and weighing in on issues of national importance. Email Arlene Schenker at arlene50@rochester.rr.comt to be added to our list of activists, or register to receive alerts directly from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (rac.org). Use this site to learn more about current issues and hear from Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of RAC, one of the most significant voices in Washington today.
With one click of the mouse, you can add your voice to his. If many of us do it, public officials will listen!