Social Action/Tikkun Olam

Temple Emanu-El Tikkun Olam Committee Mission Statement:

A basic principle of our faith is Tikkun Olam, repairing the world through mitzvot, tzedakah, and g’milut hasadim, values deeply rooted in Jewish traditions. To assist our Temple Emanu-El family to work together in carrying out this obligation, the Tikkun Olam Committee coordinates Temple activities concerning Social Action and Social Justice. Social Action activities plan and carry out the mitzvot and charitable actions that help and assist those in need in our community. Social Justice activities work to address issues related to the root causes in our society that lead to the need for charity and assistance by trying to change the political environment that fosters disadvantages within our community.

Although the committee may be relatively small, we are making big plans based on our motto taken from Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Our catchphrase comes from Pirkei Avot, “Rabbi Tarfon said: ‘It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to desist from it.’” It all goes to prove that we can and must take action to improve our community for the betterment of us all.

The committee is composed of Temple Emanu-El members who volunteer their time and efforts to reach out to the congregation, engage their interests and lead their participation in our activities, to successfully achieve our goals. Some of our acts of Tikkun Olam at the Temple include: food drives, winter clothing collections, participation in Mitzvah Day, sponsoring Shabbat Services and other programs that help the hungry, the homeless and the oppressed and advocate for social change. The committee has listened to our members and has identified some issues of interest to the congregation that can be pursued in order to lead to a betterment of our Temple and our community.

Social justice actions at Temple Emanu-El are implemented with the help of the organization People Acting in Community Together (PACT). PACT is an inter-faith, grassroots organization of over 20 congregations that empowers everyday people to create a more just community. Through PACT, people from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds learn to work together to try to solve some of the pervasive social problems of our day. By way of examples of actions, PACT members have worked to resolve failing public schools, create affordable housing, provide low cost health care and improve safety in our neighborhoods.

We encourage all members to participate in Tikkun Olam. If you are interested and would like to help with this interesting and valuable work, please contact the Chair of the committee at to@templesanjose.com or call the Temple Office at (408) 292-0939.

Tikkin Olam Committee:
Do you want to make the world a better place? Interested in social justice issues or environmental issues? Please consider joining the Tikkun Olam Committee. There are many ways to get involved.  Among other things, we will be working with the Religious Action Committee and the Center for Common Ground to help fight voter suppression and increase voter turnout. One easy action you can take is to fill out the voter pledge card here:  rac.org/pledge.  We are hoping to get 100% of our eligible congregants to pledge to vote. Interested in more actions? Join the book club listed below, and reach out to Marci Gerston for more information on upcoming committee initiatives at marci.gerston@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

Join the Religious Action Center's “Freedom to Vote” Advocacy Campaign -- Meet with Senators' Offices in Support of Voting Rights!

Senator Padilla’s Office August 2 at 12 pm
Senator Feinstein’s Office August 5 at 10 am

In late July/early August 2021, Reform congregations across the country will meet with U.S. Senators to encourage them to step forward in the fight to protect our sacred right to vote and our democracy.

California congregations will join together to meet virtually with
Senator Alex Padilla’s Office on Monday, August 2 at 12 pm and
Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Office on Thursday, August 5 at 10 am.

Please join us for one or both of these lobby meetings and show your support for voting rights!

Register for the meeting with Senator Padilla’s Office August 2 at 12 pm (participants will join at 11:30 am): rac.org/Padilla-mtg

Register for the meeting with Senator Feinstein’s Office August 5 at 10 am (participants will join at 9:30 am): rac.org/Feinstein-mtg

Last November, despite the pandemic and a patchwork of barriers to the ballot box across the country, more than 159 million Americans voted in the 2020 elections, the highest rates seen in over a century. However, some elected officials want to roll back this progress by creating more barriers to vote. The right to vote is fundamental in a democracy and we must ensure that elections are accessible for all.

Right now, the U.S. Senate is clearly split on the issue of freedom to vote. Now more than ever, it is time for us to take a stand as Reform Jews against the ongoing assault of voter suppression and urge our senators to fight harder to pass voting rights legislation and preserve our democracy. Please show your support by attending these calls with other California Reform Jews!

Contact Marci Gerston at marci.gerston@gmail.com with any questions.