Social Action Committe of Temple Beth David

By Joyce Moed
Special to the Journal

The 18-member Social Action Committee of Temple Beth David is busy with four projects this fall: Operation Isaiah, HUGS, mentoring with a local elementary school, and Mitzvah Day.

“At [monthly] meetings, members discuss ideas for programs that will be implemented during the year that will promote Gemilut Hasadim (deeds of loving kindness) and Tikun Olam (repairing the world),” said Robin Chaney, co-chair of the Social Action Committee. “Some of these programs will have been done before, but because of their success, will continue to be part of our programming. Others will be new and incorporated into our schedule.”

Operation Isaiah is a food drive the synagogue has done for several years during the High Holidays. The food is given to the Daily Food Bank.

The Committee provides information and food collection bags on Rosh Hashana.

“Congregants can bring food any time, but the food bank sends a truck on erev Yom Kippur so that congregants can take their food straight to the truck,” said Tracey Segal, co-chair of the Social Actions Committee. “It’s a good way for congregants to participate in a mitzva during the holidays. It’s also a very tangible way to help others when your bring to the temple on Yom Kippur at the same time that you begin your fast.”

HUGS, which stands for Help Us Give Support, “is an old idea for Temple Beth David that is being reinvigorated this year, by a new program chair, Debra Binder,” Segal said.

HUGS tries to help congregants with whatever they may need, Segal explained, including hospital visits, meals for those who are ill or who are suffering a loss, grocery shopping or picking up medicine for members who cannot drive, or light home maintenance. The Committee learns of the person’s needs from the rabbi. It then lets Committee members know through its website, www.lotsofhelping.com, or through phone calls. Committee members can post a need on the site and volunteers can sign up online to help.

The project taps into the various skills of the congregation.

“For example, the Men’s Club is planning to tackle small home maintenance projects for congregants who can’t do them,” she said. “Some people may be comfortable making hospital visits, while others might be able to babysit to give a parent needed time for medical appointments. Our goal is to connect the person with a need to the person who can help.”
Chaney said the HUGS program was chosen because the committee felt that while it does a lot of work to support the community at large, it should also focus on its own temple community, too.
Mentoring at Washington Elementary School began last year after Sandy Gottlieb, a long-time volunteer and mentor brought this opportunity to the Committee’s attention. Volunteers go to the school to read with the students or help in other ways that the teachers request.

The fourth project, Mitzvah Day, will take place on Nov. 15.

“The idea is that the whole congregation gets together and does social action together,” Segal said. “We begin the morning together at the temple with breakfast. Each family or individual chooses a project in advance based on their own interests. We then travel in groups to different locations, except for those who chose a project done at the temple. The religious school students also participate with their families as there are no regular religious school classes that morning.”
This year’s Mitzvah Day will include painting the home of a needy family, collecting toiletries for homeless individuals, helping care for rescued animals at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, preparing meals for families staying at Quantum House while their children are at St. Mary's Hospital, and doing arts and crafts with seniors.