Social Action & Social Justice at Shir Tikva

ANNUAL HIGH HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE

Every year during the High Holidays, TST collects food to benefit the Boston Medical Center's Grow Clinic and the Metrowest Harvest Food Pantry. 

ANNUAL COAT DRIVE 

Boots, hats and gloves are collected for the Annual Coat Drive .  All items are donated to Pathways shelter in Framingham, which houses about thirteen families.  Coats not used by the Pathways residents are brought to other shelters throughout Metrowest through the SMOC organization.  This includes shelters for families recovering from substance abuse, domestic violence, and others who are homeless.  The coat drive is eagerly anticipated by the shelters and is greatly appreciated.

LEES (Let's Encourage Environmental Sustainability) GROUP

Members of the Shir Tikva Tekiah environment group, in collaboration with the interfaith LEES and Pine Brook associations, have developed a team dedicated to preserving the Lee Farm property, which is across the street from Temple Shir Tikva and is one of the few remaining open fields on Route 20, with a community farm (CSA), a farm stand and a farm education program.  We need widespread community support to preserve the rural landscape with a farm where food can be grown locally and environment sustainability practices are supported within our towns, schools and places of worship.  For more information see www.waylandcommfarm.wordpress.com

METROWEST INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (MIHN)

Temple Shir Tikva is a supporting member of The Metrowest Interfaith Hospitality Network (MIHN).

MIHN provides TST members the opportunity to assist with the Massachusetts homeless crisis by providing housing, food and companionship to Metrowest families in need. Our involvement includes working with volunteers from Temple Or Atid and the Peach Lutheran Church in hosting homeless families. There are many opportunities to help during our "host week" whether behind the scenes or spending time directly with guest families. Everyone who spends time with guests (usually sharing a meal or sleeping over) must go through training.

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR

Neighbor to Neighbor is a vehicle to bring together women from Shir Tikva and women from the neighboring Islamic Center of Boston.  By coming together we develop community, learn from one another, and build relationships that help to break down misconceptions and stereotypes.

RELIGIOUS ACTION COMMITTEE – CONSULTATION ON CONSCIENCE

For 50 years the RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER OF REFORM JUDAISM (“the RAC”),  has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in Washington, DC.  For instance, much of the great civil rights legislation of the 1960s was drafted in Reform Jewish movement’s offices at the RAC.  The RAC’s work is mandated by the Union for Reform Judaism, whose 900+ congregations across North America include 1.5 million members, over 1800 rabbis, and the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).

At the Consultation on Conscience, Temple Shir Tikva clergy join synagogue leaders, political activists and decision makers, and elected officials at our movement’s flagship social justice conference.  The Consultation focuses on legislative and social concerns that our movement has prioritized, including economic justice, civil rights, religious liberty, protecting the environment, and supporting a strong, secure, and democratic State of Israel.   More information about the Consultation is available at the RAC’s website:   www.rac.org/consultation.  

TEKIAH & MICAH

Recently, Shir Tikva made important progress in its social action initiative, Tekiah. The congregation joined MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope), a broad-based organization that will help us achieve things we wouldn’t be able to on our own – inside the walls of our temple and outside.

 MICAH’s function is to connect its members – Metrowest religious institutions  – and facilitate their work in local- and state-level policy change. On issues where there is agreement among institutions, MICAH members come together and take joint action. On issues of independent concern to individual institutions, MICAH offers training and logistical assistance.

Becoming a member of MICAH is an expression of our values as a sacred Jewish community.  We are acting on our community’s commitment to become an institution grounded in justice, as well as our commitment to lead in the work of tikkun olam.

YAD B'YAD (HAND TO HAND)

Our ongoing food collections have been benefiting Family Table, a communal response to Jewish individuals and families who cannot afford the basic necessities of life.  Food is collected from more than 45 collection sites at synagogues and day schools and distributed monthly to Jewish families in need.

For more information, contact Beth Sackstein or Amanda Glynn, Co-Chairs of our Social Action Committee.

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