Justice and Peace
Social Action/Social Justice Update | Upcoming Events
A commitment to justice and peace (tzedek vshalom) is a defining characteristic of B’nai Jeshurun and is rooted in the prophetic vision of Judaism. Our task is to hear the wisdom of our tradition and to make that message meaningful in these days and in this place.
We must continually ask ourselves as individuals and as a community “Ayekah – where are you?”
Our challenge is to be able to answer with honesty “Hineni, here I am.”
Each of us has the responsibility to do our part to help repair the world. Our tradition demands that each of us work to eliminate the occurrence and effect of poverty, to speak out against injustice, and to shape a more caring society and a more peaceful world.
Being a member of B’nai Jeshurun means continuously striving to create a kehillah kedoshah, a sacred community, within our congregation as well as within our global community. The Social Action/Social Justice Department creates opportunities for congregants to respond effectively to social injustices in our local, national, and global communities and to develop meaningful relationships with our neighbors.
Through Panim el Panim, B’nai Jeshurun’s Community Organizing and Advocacy Initiative, we utilize community organizing strategies to build deeper relationships among congregants, identify issues of shared concern, and advocate for social change in partnership with other communities.
Our four direct-service programs, the BJ/SPSA Homeless Shelter, Judith Bernstein Lunch Program, BJ Reads, and the BJ/Ralph Bunche School Partnership – offer concrete ways to address the immediate needs and improve the lives of others in our community.
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a partnership between city residents and a local farmer that allows city dwellers to enjoy fresh produce straight from the farm. When you become a member of a CSA, you’re purchasing a “share” of vegetables from a regional farmer. Weekly, from June until October, the farmer will deliver that share of produce to a convenient drop-off location at B’nai Jeshurun. This enables the farmer to plan their season’s crops efficiently by planting a diversity of vegetables and harvesting without waste.
Under the name “BJ Responds,” we take additional opportunities to “pray with our feet” through one-time events and by responding to global and national crises including the genocide in Darfur.
We invite each of you to carve out your own path at B’nai Jeshurun, to serve God and to live the mitzvot of our tradition.
Social Action/Social Justice Department
Contact: Channa Camins, Director of Social Action/Social Justice, x259.
Social Action/Social Justice Steering Committee
Contact: Channa Camins, Director of Social Action/Social Justice, x259.
The Social Action/Social Justice Steering Committee brings together our direct-service programs, community organizing and advocacy work, one-time events and responses to crises. The Committee seeks to integrate our work into a comprehensive whole and maximize our impact by fostering relationships among our volunteer leadership and deepening the Jewish spiritual foundations of our work together.
Sign up for BJ Social Action/Social Justice Update
Sign up for Social Action/Social Justice Updates!
BJ’s Social Action/Social Justice Update connects BJ members and congregants to action opportunities in support of our service projects and advocacy campaigns. As an e-activist, you will be able to stay on top of local social justice issues, find out about volunteer needs, take action in support of our advocacy campaigns, and much more. Updates and special action alerts will be sent no more than twice a month.
Upcoming Social Action/Social Justice Events
Help a BJ Teen Start a Library in Iraq
BJ Teen Leadership member Arielle Korman is currently collecting books for a brand new library in Kurdistan, Iraq. After spending time at Global Youth Village, a summer camp in Virginia for peacebuilding and leadership, Arielle is helping Iraq reestablish itself after years of oppressive rule and war. With the help of Iraqi non-profit organization Vision, a new library is being created to help increase English literacy. Visit futuresvision.org to learn about Vision and contact Arielle for questions and information on how to donate books, as well as monetary contributions to help pay for shipping.
Give the Gift of Sight: Used Eyeglasses Collection
Friday, February 3-Sunday, February 26 | Anytime | 88th Street and 86th Street
Your old, used, and spare specs can make a world of a difference. Bring your old glasses to services during the month of February and drop them in the collection boxes. BJ will donate the glasses to the Jewish Guild for the Blind to benefit visually impaired people in our city. Glasses can also be dropped off at 88th Street during business hours through February 26. For more info, contact Dorothy Luft.
3rd Grade Cooking for the BJ/SPSA Shelter
Monday, February 6 | 4:30-6:00PM | 88th Street Frankel Hall
All 3rd graders will come together to cook a meal for the BJ/SPSA Homeless Shelter regardless of where they receive their Jewish education. In the Hebrew School’s effort to bring more social action into the classroom, this activity will occur during class time and last until 6:00pm. Together, the 3th grade will cook, set and decorate the table for our guests, and engage in age-appropriate study and discussion about the Jewish value of feeding the hungry. Due to limited space, parent participation is limited to first-come-first-serve. For more information and to R.S.V.P., contact Jessica Forman by Friday, February 3.
Tze'irim Cooks for the Shelter
Monday, February 20 | 6:00-7:30PM | 88th Street Kitchen
Join TZ as we make dinner for the BJ/SPSA Homeless Shelter. We’ll meet at 6:00PM downstairs in the kitchen (88th Street between Broadway and West End Ave). As usual, all the cooks will split the cost of the groceries ($8-10), and no cooking experience is necessary. R.S.V.P. by Sunday, February 19 to the SA/SJ committee.
