The Mission of Temple Beth Am’s Tikkun Olam Committee is to realize Temple Beth Am’s core value of Tikkun Olam by promoting, coordinating, and encouraging vibrant, broad-based social action.
These efforts include:
· Raising consciousness among congregation members 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 and a greater understanding of the pluralism within our community.
· Working toward the incorporation of tikkun olam values and activities as a religious expression by the
Temple Beth Am community.
5772- Year Long Social Action Theme: Homelessness
The Tikkun Olam Committee, which was created in 2010 to support TBA’s core value of tikkun olam by promoting, coordinating, and encouraging vibrant, broad-based social action—is kicking off its work with the announcement of a year long social action theme: homelessness.
“We decided to establish homelessness as our first year-long theme because there are already so many great, established programs at TBA that address this area,” said Randy Simon, Chair of the Tikkun Olam Committee. “By educating people about how they can get involved in the wide variety of programs and activities at TBA, we’re hoping we can introduce social action to people in the congregation who may never have considered participating before.”
“In addition to encouraging people to take part in the established TBA programs, we will be working with the theme of homelessness throughout the year—with special educational forums, special religious school programming and more,” said Rabbi Beth Singer. “Our hope is by making homelessness this year’s theme, even more families can be helped off of Seattle’s streets and back to living in dignity.”
The first direct service project organized by the Tikkun Olam Committee took place on August 16-22 when TBA joined a consortium of houses of worship organized by Mary’s Place to host 14 homeless women and their children overnight at TBA. TBA members overwhelmingly met the call for volunteers. We look forward to hosting guests from Mary’s Place for three more weeks during the next year.
This year’s special focus on homelessness does not mean it is the only area of social action focus and engagement at Temple Beth Am. The Tikkun Olam Committee serves as the central coordinating body for all social action at Temple Beth Am, helping congregants engage in social action, and realizing their passion for repairing the world in a number of different ways.
To learn more about the Tikkun Olam Committee and Temple Beth Am’s social action activities and programs, including opportunities to engage in advocacy, direct service, and learning.
A Place for Everyone to Engage in Tikkun Olam
There is a place for every Temple Beth Am member to engage in Tikkun olam, and realize their commitment and passion for repairing the world whether at Temple Beth Am or in collaboration with other organizations.
In addition, we 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.
For a list of committees and contacts, click here.
For a list of upcoming events, click here.
Tikkun Olam Committee members
We invite you to join us. Contact Randy Simon at
rsimon28@comcast.net to find out more.
Tzedek, Tzedek, tirdof – justice, justice you shall pursue.
