The Social Action Committee (SAC) gives members the opportunity to put into action their Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), Gemilut Chasidim (loving kindness), and tzedek (justice). The SAC welcomes all Temple members to be involved in their own way: giving time or money; volunteering their talents; serving as social justice educators and advocates.

SAC goals include:

• Raising consciousness among congregation members, both adult and youth, concerning social and political issues;
• Offering congregation members a menu of projects and programs for their action and support, including activities developed at Temple Beth Am and others originated in the broader community;
• Building bridges between different movements of Judaism and between Judaism and different faiths in order to work toward social justice;
• Working toward the incorporation of tikkun olam values and activities as a religious expression by the Temple Beth Am community.

Over Temple Beth Am’s history, members have demonstrated their devotion to justice in a broad spectrum of activities, including civil rights advocacy, support for fair treatment of workers, and working toward alleviating the effects of poverty.

This year, two primary issues will be our focus:

Poverty and Wealth We will explore issues such as housing, employment, income disparity and hunger in Washington and what we as Jews need to know, and do on these issues.
The Environment: Global Climate Change. Join our Green Team. We will plan to advocate for changes in our own Temple policies and those of our government and finally to act individually and communally to prevent the damaging effects of climate change on our precious earth.

In addition, SAC will collaborate with other organizations and groups within Temple Beth Am to address homelessness through Homeless to Renter (H2R) and various hands-on meal programs including Youth Care Orion Center, University District Teen Feed Program, Angeline?s Center for Homeless Women, as well as advocacy with the Puget Sound Jewish Coalition on Homelessness, immigration reform and the New Sanctuary Movement, advocacy and education working in community coalition to end the crisis in Darfur, Sudan and more. We are also organizing Temple Beth Am as a Just Congregation.

Learn more about Mitzvah Opportunities.

We invite you to join us. Contact SAC Chair Susan Picard or Community Coordinator Alysa Rosen, 206-525-0915 x 210, to find out more.

Tzedek, Tzedek, tirdof – justice, justice you shall pursue.