“Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof / Justice, justice, you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20)
Since its founding, Temple Beth Am has been firmly committed to tzedek (justice), chesed (acts of loving kindness), and tikkun olam (repairing the world) as a vital part of how we deepen our relationship to Judaism. We hope that in practicing these values, our community gains an actionable awareness of the issues we face today.
Our community supports many issues, but we have active lay-leader efforts in the following areas. We encourage you to reach out to these groups to join in their efforts as we all seek to live our values:
H2R is Changing – from Homeless 2 Renter to Home 2 Remain… and More!
Family traumas lead to the loss of a home due to job loss, medical bills, rent increases, or other issues. Since 2004, Temple Beth Am has helped families avoid homelessness.
H2R has helped over 500 families since 2004, including more than 650 adults and more than 1175 children. In FY 2024, we assisted 92 individuals among 27 families. Two of those families had move-in support, while 25 families received eviction prevention assistance to enable them to remain in their homes.
Due to increased housing costs and other inflationary trends, as well as increased needs for service within the Jewish community, we are now agreeing with JFS to significantly increase the amount of funding for individual families. This means that we will not continue to serve as many families, without increased support from our Beth Am community.
A high rate of 85% of program funds is used for actual assistance to families with just 15% to cover JFS staff and administrative costs. Temple Beth Am takes no administrative expense.
Reimagining Responses from the Temple Beth Am Community to Housing Issues
Now is the time to study anew the meaning of our traditions and teachings, of shelter and family, of personal and community responsibility. as we inspire our children to ask questions at Passover, we too should ask what is happening in our community that leads to loss of shelter and what can we do about that. Service? Advocacy? How can I make a difference? “If not now … when?”
One recent initiative has been to help Sound Foundations NW, which builds “Tiny Homes” used by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and others in Tiny Home villages across Washington. These homes and communities provide a bridge for people moving from the streets, to shelter and stability, then on to education, work and permanent housing. We had three “tiny home” builds in 2024 and an Interfaith Habitat for Humanity Build. We are presently planning two “tiny home” builds in early 2025. Contact Sue Covey to sign-up.
How Else Might We Respond?
Maimonides taught, “Anticipate charity by preventing poverty. . . This is the highest step and summit of charity’s golden ladder.” How might our community engage in sacred efforts to reach that step? We invite your participation to help educate our community and guide H2R’s future.
We are now looking to provide essential personal items for those moving into “tiny home villages.”
Please join us in the search for the best ways to involve our Temple Beth Am community in identifying and developing effective tools to relieve the pain of family homelessness. We look forward to your suggestions and participation in doing this. Want to get involved? Contact Sue Covey or Laura Strauss.
The Health Care for All Committee provides a Jewish voice in advocating for universal and equitable access to quality health care.
Contact: Ronnie Shure
I3 works to create opportunities for interfaith collaboration and relationships, be a voice of solidarity for faith communities, and provide educational resources about Judaism to our neighbors.
Contact: Diane Baer
The Immigrant Justice Action Team offers opportunities for learning, action and advocacy to foster the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger.
Contact: Diane Baer
Teen Feed cooks and serves hot, nutritious dinners to houseless youth, ages 13-25 in the University District. Specially trained advocates and support coordination staff help access resources and services. Email Maya to be added to the Teen Feed volunteer list. Contact: Maya Menon
Temple Beth Am members make sack lunches for the women of Angeline’s Day Center, where women can store their belongings, shower, clean their clothes, warm up, talk to counselors, get medical treatment, or simply sit and rest.
Contact: Julie Lyss
The Temple Beth Am Board of Directors, in support of the URJ’s & Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism’s (RAC) efforts has passed a series of white papers that elucidate our congregational commitment to the following issues:
Temple Beth Am has a proud history of social justice advocacy. Our Rabbi Emeritus Norman Hirsh marched in the Freedom Protests of the 1960’s. In 1964, Rabbi Hirsh, and 16 of his colleagues went to St. Augustine at the invitation of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They were arrested and penned the powerful note, entitled Why We Went. Upon returning to Seattle, Rabbi Hirsh spoke about his motivations and values in the sermon Sacrifice and Freedom.
Senior Rabbis Jonathan Singer and Ruth A. Zlotnick continued to live these values by taking public action on numerous issues, including homelessness, refugee resettlement, marriage equality, and more.
Our work in the past is prelude for today. We are committed to not rest on pretense, but to be actively engaged in the justice efforts of the present and the future.
Temple Beth Am proudly partners with many other organizations and groups to share in the sacred work that is needed throughout our city, country, and world.
There are a great many issues that burden our community, and much sacred work that is to be done. Even though Temple Beth Am has a limit on how much we can undertake as an organization, the joint work and passion of all of our members can make significant changes in our world. We encourage everyone to find the issue or project that is most meaningful to you and bring justice to all.
We also must be eternal learners, pushing ourselves (often out of our comfort zones), listening to new perspectives, and challenging our preconceived notions. We look forward to robust, heartfelt, and perhaps, at times, contentious dialogue within our community.
Below is a collection of resources on a number of current issues. Please explore them for yourself, and use them to inspire new conversations, learning, and action. Feel free to contact Beth Am staff for more resources.
Environmental Justice
Gun Violence Prevention
Housing Justice
Immigrant and Refugee Protection
Israel/Palestine
Reproductive Justice
Voting Protection
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