|
 Summary
of Social Action programs for the 2007-08 year.
Experience something special…make the world
a better place.
Many opportunities are available for Temple members interested
in getting involved with Social Action programs. Whether you can
give an hour of your time or can make more of a time commitment,
we offer a full array of choices.
Please check this page often to find out the latest news, events
and programs. For additional questions, email Social Action coordinator Don Lassman.
Special Events
| On-Going Programs | Date-Specific Events | Annual Programs
| Last Year
Events
Special Events
Relay for Life: Support the Temple Aliyah Team
For the past two years, a team from Temple Aliyah has participated in the American Cancer Society's “Relay for Life” event at Memorial Field in front of the Needham High School. Joining more than 40 other teams and 700 participants, the Temple Aliyah team needs YOUR support. You can come cheer us on (and walk with us) at this fun and festive event (live music, face-painting, refreshments, kids entertainment and more). And of course, we appreciate any donations you can make. You can donate to individual team members or make a general team donation. Donating online is VERY easy...just log on to www.acsevents.org/relay/maneedham/templealiyah or you can send in a check to the temple made out to “American Cancer Society.”
On-going programs
Family Table:
Family Table is the response of the Greater Boston Jewish community to the needs of Jewish area families who cannot afford the basic necessities of life. Family Table collects food, paper goods, items of personal hygiene, as well as Shabbat candles, challah and ritual items appropriate to various Jewish holidays.
Temple Aliyah collects food throughout the year and delivers it to the Family Table food pantry located at 1430 Main Street in Waltham. This year we are responsible for collecting Kosher of Pareve Soups (80 cans per month) and graham crackers (50 boxes per month). We can do it! Once a month or more, please remember Family Table when you do your shopping. When you come to the synagogue, please bring boxes of raisins and cans of vegetables and leave them in the boxes just outside the synagogue office in the Temple’s Religious School lobby.
This year, Temple Aliyah will be delivering food and other items to families on October 21, 2007 and April 13, 2008. We will need approximately 15 families to help assemble bags of food and make deliveries. Sign up to participate! Contact Murray Davidson: medmhd@aol.com
Temple Aliyah Tutor Team:
Join the Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy volunteer program, by acting as a reading tutor/mentor, one-on-one, with a student at the Philbrick Elementary School in Roslindale. Participation requires a commitment of one hour or two hours per week, plus training. Tutor training sessions are given at least twice during the school year. Can't volunteer? Please contribute new kids' books to our Purim Book Drive in March. Collection box will be located in the Religious School lobby.
Contact person: Judy Varon oomatron@mac.com
Shabbat Shalom at Avery Manor:
Welcome the Shabbat on the first and second Fridays of each month with residents of two local nursing homes. Perfect activity for young families; great program to do with friends. Easy, rewarding, memorable. Sign up for one Shabbat, or many, throughout the year. Easy, rewarding, and memorable. Contact ()
Contact Judy Lee: judymlee@msn.com
One Family Campaign:
Temple Aliyah has developed a relationship with Project Hope, a homeless shelter in Dorchester that helps women and their families make the transition from a shelter to independent housing and jobs. There are so many ways to get involved by having a cookie baking night at the shelter, reading and playing with the children, leading educational programs on the issue of homelessness at our Temple, collecting furniture and other household items, collecting items for "welcome baskets" of necessities for families entering and leaving the shelter, creating school supply bags or birthday party bags. This year, Temple USY will be serving Thanksgiving Dinner on November 15, 2007 and, in the Spring of 2008, the Temple hopes to be able to organize a furniture drive. All age groups are welcome to organize a project.
Contact
Lisa Heyison: lisaheyison@comcast.net or Arlene Bryer: ahbryer@hotmail.com
Needham Interfaith Habitat:
Needham Interfaith Habitat (NIH) and Greater Boston Chapter of Habitat for Humanity will begin building in Needham a Habitat for Humanity home in April, 2007. The Needham Interfaith Habitat was formed four years ago by the Needham Clergy Association, representing all houses of worship in the Needham community. We will be building a home on a vacant lot at the corner of Bancroft Street and Brookline Street. To accomplish this goal, we need to raise $200,000 that will be used to cover the cost of construction. People interested in joining the Town wide committee should contact Lisa Heyison at lisaheyison@comcast.net.
Religious School Social Action:
Live a mitzvah and model this lifestyle for your children! Assist
children in the Religious School on in-class projects throughout
the year. No expertise needed…projects range from collecting
school supplies and books to planting flowers and making lasagna.
Great opportunity for teens seeking community service or Zayin students
looking for Mitzvah points.
Date-Specific Events
The full schedule of events will be posted soon.
Annual Programs
K'sharim Connection: Kabbalat Shabbat
Join us for a wonderful Friday night service and program with K'sharim,
a group of developmentally disabled adults. Reach out to others
so they can participate with members of our Temple community.
Mitzvah Day
Help us make our fourth annual Mitzvah Day even bigger and better than ever before! You can make a difference. In addition to our annual Blood Drive, we're planning a great variety of activities for all ages (yes, we'll have lots of great programs for big kids, little kids, teens and even "kids at heart"!) Last year we added a benefit barbecue and concert that was a sell-out! Save the date for this wonderful and meaningful program for Temple members of all ages!
Contact Person - Peter Krupp pkrupp@rcn.com.
Yom Hashoah:
Our wonderful Men's Club puts together boxes with Yahrzeit candles
for every member of our temple. Commemorate this solemn holiday…we
can always use helping packing and assembling the boxes! Contact:
Stephen Baum: srbaum@rcn.com
Blood Drive:
Give life to others through your blood donation. The Men's Club organizes this annual event that is typically scheduled for May, coinciding with Mitzvah Day. More information to come.
2006-2007
Wrap Up
Want to get an idea for what we did last year? Last year, Social Action spearheaded many exciting events:
Erev YomKippurPaper Bag Food Collection — October 1, 2006
On Erev Yom Kippur, Temple Aliyah collects bags of food to bring to Family Table. We will be collecting soup, tuna and other non-perishable foods. In past years, we collected approximately 100 bags of food. We would like to exceed that number this year.
Hanukkah Gift Drive — Late November through mid December, 2006
Before Hanukkah, Temple Aliyah collects Hanukkah gifts for children of Family Table recipients. In the past year, Temple Aliyah’s response to this program was so generous that we were able to meet the needs of our Family Table families and also match congregation members with families in need of Christmas gifts through a Norfolk County social service agency.
Contact person: Sheryl Dubin (childconf@aol.com)
Project Ezra — December 25, 2006
Spend Christmas Day doing a mitzvah instead of going to the movies! Members of our temple work so others who celebrate the holiday can be home with their families. Many opportunities are available in senior centers, feeding programs, visits to the elderly, etc.
Contact person: Judy Steinberg steinbej@comcast.net.
Menorah and Dreidel Distribution — December, 2006
Each year, Temple Aliyah contributes menorot, candles and dreidels to the Needham Community Council to be added to the holiday gift bags the Council distributes to Needham residents in need.
Purim Book Drive — Throughout February and early March, 2007
At Purim, Temple Aliyah collects books to donate to the Philbrick Elementary School in Roslindale. In lieu of books last year, TA members were asked to write checks so the school principals could purchase multiple copies of specific titles. Watch the Pulse for details in early spring about this program.
Kabbalat Shabbat with K'sharim — Date to be announced
Join us for our second annual event with K'sharim, a Boston-area group of young adults with a range of mild developmental disabilities. Last year, members of the TA community enjoyed a Shabbat celebration and concert. Stay tuned for more details about this year's event.
Yad Chesed — Monday and Tuesday, March 3 & 4, 2007
During Purim services each year, Temple members fulfill the mitzvah of giving tzedakah during the holiday. Temple Aliyah contributes this money to Yad Chesed, a greater Boston area project that buys coupons from the Butcherie in Brookline at a discount and distributes them to needy Jewish families. Collections are made at the Purim services or you can send a check to the Temple. Contact Neil Sacks (nasacks@verizon.net).
Project Hametz — During the month of April 2007, prior to Passover
Each year before Passover, Temple Aliyah collects hametz and contributes it to the Needham Community Council food pantry (which serves approximately 120 families) and to Family Table.
Contact: Murray Davidson (medmhd@aol.com)
Back to top
|
