Tikkun Olam

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Tikkun Olam

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תיקון עולם
Tikkun Olam

Literally translates to "world repair" and has come to
connote social action and the pursuit of social justice.

The Social Action Committee (SAC) seeks opportunities, within our temple community, and in the wider areas of our towns, country and the world, for temple members to contribute to the work of tikkun olam, repairing the world, through mitzvot, good deeds. We work on projects and activities that address human needs, including food, shelter and security for families and children in our local and global communities.

We hope you will get involved in one of our many projects. New ideas are always welcome.

Repairing the World Together One Afternoon at a Time

Come together with other members of the Beth El Temple community on the second Sunday of each month to participate in a community service project.

Mitzvah Day 2011 was a fabulous success with wonderful activities that benefit our congregation, our community and our world!!!

More than 300 congregants participated on Mitzvah Day 2011 and made the day a tremendous success!

Look What We Accomplished!

We made: welcome baskets 5

36 welcome baskets filled with kitchen and household supplies for newly arriving refugee families from Asia, Africa and Iraq
40 polar fleece blankets for at risk infants and toddlers
107 Birthday cards for elder Temple members
181 Emergency Room Activity Kits for kids waiting at Cambridge City Hospital
Dinner and PB&J sandwiches more than 100 homeless men and women at CASPAR shelter in Cambridge
234 bookmarks for local literacy programs
24 Birthday Parties-in-a-Bag for local homeless and low-income children
70 painted flowerpots filled with flowers for elderly residents of Neville Center in Cambridge
115 Personal Care Kits for homeless teens
60 Painted Onesies for at risk infants
53 cards for United Sates Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and wounded veterans recovering in VA hospitals

elders-5

We sorted:

54 bags of childrens’ clothes, for homeless and low-income children helped by Cradles to Crayons

24 bags of books for local literacy and ESL programs and More Than Words Bookstore run by and for the benefit of at-risk teens

We visited and sang for residents of Neville Place and Neville Center

We pulled up 17 bags of invasive Japanese knotweed at Rock Meadow Sanctuary in Belmont mitzvah day planting-small

We planted 2000 celery root plants at Waltham Community Farm, that will be distributed to food pantries and shelters after harvest in the fall

We created a flower garden for a group home of mentally disabled adults in Lexington

We wrote more than 300 letters and postcards on behalf of prisoners of conscience around the world

bags-5

Our work on Mitzvah Day will literally touch thousands of lives - more than 800 before you take account of all the celery root to be harvested in the fall from the plants that our team planted, which will be distributed to food pantries and soup kitchens and the hundreds of people who use and enjoy Rock Meadow and will benefit from our clean up efforts.