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| Temple Beth Or 56 Ridgewood Road Washington Township, NJ 07676 Phone: 201-664-7422 Fax:201-722-0270 info@templebethornj.org | |||||
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Social Justice // Mitzvah Projects | |||||||||||
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“Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20)
Throughout our history, Temple Beth Or has served as a voice of conscience in Bergen County. With social justice as one of our core values, congregants of all ages have the opportunity to participate in projects that reach out to those in need. This year we continue our commitment as a congregation to repairing our broken world and community.
September: Peah - Leaving the Corners of the Field to Be Gleaned By Those in Need Mitzvah of the Month: High Holy Day Food Drive
In conjunction with the High Holy Days, temple members are asked to make monetary donations to help support MAZON, a national nonprofit agency that allocates donations from the Jewish community to alleviate hunger worldwide. The temple is also sponsoring a “High Holy Day” Food Drive to benefit The Helping Hand Food Pantry in Hillsdale. Shopping bags can be picked up in the temple lobby after Rosh Hashanah services, to be filled with food items and brought back to temple by Yom Kippur. Religious School students will be asked to join in the effort by bringing in cans of soup for donation.
October: Tzedakah - Doing Righteous Acts
Mitzvot of the Month: Building Better Homes for Those in Need
As we celebrate the festive holiday of Sukkot, we recognize the significance and the fragility of the Sukkah and what it represents - shelter. This month TEMPLE members can help to provide shelter for the needy by participating in a “Tool Drive” to assist Bonim Builders, a Jewish organization that helps to build homes for the homeless in our local area. We are asking for donations of paint brushes (2, 4 or 6 inch), roller brushes, painter’s tape (various sizes), nails and screws. Bonim would also appreciate donations of gently used tools in excellent working condition.
Providing Shoes for the Poor
Support the First Annual “Temple Trot” on Sunday, October 18, taking place at the YJCC in Washington Township and bring a pair of gently used shoes or sneakers to be donated to “Soles 4 Souls,” an international organization that helps put shoes on the feet of the poor and needy worldwide. When you bring along a pair of gently used shoes or sneakers for donation, your name will be entered into a raffle where you could win any number of exciting prizes!
November: Hachnasat Orchim – Hospitality
Mitzvah of the Month: Making Holidays Happen For Those Less Fortunate
Temple members can help those less fortunate celebrate the holidays in a beautiful way, by bringing in food items for donation to The Helping Hand Food Pantrylocated in Hillsdale. Food items needed include: canned Thanksgiving foods, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat and tuna, flour, sugar, rice, pasta, mayonnaise, ketchup, hot and cold cereal, and vegetable oil. Food items can be left in the designated location in the temple Lobby. Supermarket gift cards are also greatly appreciated. We are also looking to put together a team of volunteers who would assist in delivering food staples to the pantry on a rotating basis throughout the year. If you are interested in helping out, please contact: lizamusarra@aol.com.
December: V’ahavta L’reyach - Loving One’s Neighbor
Mitzvah of the Month: Bergen County Toy Drive
Help make Hanukkah bright this year for underprivileged kids by giving them something they would love to receive: a holiday gift. The temple will once again be collecting toys for the Bergen County Toy Drive. As you shop and buy gifts for your own family members this holiday season, why not purchase a small toy or gift item that would put a big smile on a child’s face? Suggested gift ideas include: electronic and board games, arts and crafts supplies, books, dolls, puzzles, sports equipment, and toys with Jewish themes and content. Gift cards for stores like the GAP, OLD NAVY, and Macy’s are also welcome, along with Hebrew music CD’s and portable CD players. Remember - Hanukkah arrives early this year so the collection will start right after Thanksgiving and end on December 8. Please bring all new and unwrapped gifts to Morah Bolton’s office in the Religious School.
January: Bal Taschchit - Do Not Destroy Or Waste
Mitzvah of the Month: Irvington Project
Won’t you join us as we visit Irvington on Sunday, January 10th and brighten the day for those less fortunate? We need a group of volunteers to assist in preparing sandwichesand also to help bring clothes (children’s clothes and books are especially needed) along with toiletries(soap, shampoo, deodorant) down to Irvington for distribution. The whole event usually runs from about 9 am to 1:00 pm. (Separate shifts will be set up for preparation, set-up and distribution of items.) Please contact Vicky Farhi or Liza Musarra if you are interested in participating. This is truly a great mitzvah you won’t want to miss!
Plant a Tree in Israel with JNF
As part of our observance of Tu B’Shvat, all tzedakah funds collected in January will be donated to the Jewish National Fund to help their efforts to plant trees in Israel!
February: Bikkur Cholim - Comforting The Sick
Mitzvah of the Month: “Help a Heart” Campaign
February is “American Heart Month,” and the American Heart Association is once again sponsoring its national campaign to raise awareness about Heart Disease. Did you know that cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation’s No. 1 killer? This month, all tzedakah monies raised in Shabbat services or as part of the Religious School tzedakah collection will be donated to the American Heart Associationto help provide much needed resources and research to combat this deadly killer.
Religious School “Band-Aid” Drive
Temple Religious School students invite our community to join them in a “Band-Aid” Drive to collect band-aidsfor donation to one of our local hospitals.
March: Tzaar Baalei Chayim - Having Compassion for Living Creatures
Mitzvot of the Month: Passover Seder Food Drive
Passover begins on March 29 and to assist those less fortunate in making a Passover Seder with all the traditional foods, we are asking our temple members to participate in a Passover Food Drive where we will be collecting “Kosher For Passover” food items to be donated to Jewish Family Services. Please drop off items in the designated location in the temple lobby (no Matzah please).
Animal Rescue
This month, the temple will also be remembering our animal friends who serve us so faithfully, by collecting food donations to assist our local animal rescue organization. Tzedakah monies donated by our Religious School students or collected in Shabbat services will be used to help support the Israeli Guide Dogs.
April: Chesed Shel Emet - Honoring the Dead and Comforting Mourners
Mitzvah of the Month: Holocaust Remembrance
The temple comes together as a community in observance of Yom Hashoah - the international “Day of Remembrance” to commemorate those lives lost in the Holocaust. As an extension of this observance, We will also remember those who risked their lives to help save Jewish men, women and children. We will be asking you to help us make a charitable donation to the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, a charitable organization that helps collect money for righteous gentiles. Monies go to help defray the costs of food, clothing, fuel, and prescription drugs for those individuals living in Poland, the Ukraine, Hungary, and even the United States. The foundation also has partnerships with 14 Holocaust museums and education centers worldwide.
May / June: Kibud Av Va’eym - Honoring One’s Parents
Mitzvah of the Month: Give a Gift of Beauty for the Women of “Shelter Our Sisters” (SOS)
SOS is the only facility in Bergen County that houses victims of domestic violence. This 24-hour, seven day a week, non-profit organization is geared specifically for providing safe, confidential housing to women and children who suffer from the horror of domestic violence. The organization also provides a variety of services that helps these women attain safety, empowerment and self-sufficiency. To assist them in their goals, and to help them celebrate “Mother’s Day,” we are asking temple members to make donations of full-size toiletry items that can be distributed to the women being housed by SOS. Items can include: toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion, make-up, mouthwash, powder and perfume. All items can be left in the designated location in the temple lobby from April 17 thru May 5.
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