What could be more meaningful than to join with families and friends in observing the mandate of Tikkun Olam (healing the world), a central precept of Judaism. Jews are taught to be informed about the affairs of the community and the world and to effect change for the better. B’nai Abraham, under the leadership of Rabbis Prinz, Friedman and Kulwin, has always taken a leadership role in responding to the social and political issues of the times. But it is through the Social Action Committee that opportunities have been initiated that allow Temple individuals and their families to give of themselves, to perform mitzvoth, and to actively work for a better world. It has been even more meaningful to have so many children involved in our activities, joining and learning from their parents about responsibility.

The Social Action Committee has aggressively launched new Temple initiatives especially those that deal with environmental problems. We are very pleased that our participation in installing solar panels, improving recycling practices, and switching to non-toxic substances for building maintenance has drawn wide praise in the larger community, as seen in the newspaper articles about TBA’s groundbreaking work and especially in our being chosen as one of six organizations statewide honored at the GreenFaith Annual Awards Reception on November 6, 2006, with special recognition for Tracy Bent, our Facilities Manager. Many Social Action programs are collaborative efforts with other arms of the Temple. Activities this past year included blood drives, clothing, toiletries and school supply collections, Habitat for Humanity and the Women’s Interfaith Forum 2008 will mark the fourteenth Interfaith Forum.

The committee also works with the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, the Livingston Committee on Diversity, GreenFaith, Interfaith Hospitality Network, and other Essex County interfaith groups.

Temple B’nai Abraham participates in on-going community service activities in support of the Community Soup Kitchen, Newark Now, the Mitzvah Crib, Newark Emergency Services for Families, the High Holiday food and collection for the Community Food Bank and Keren Olam, which helps to provide funds for the development of key resources for Jewish communities in need, globally. We provide opportunities for the youth of the congregation to perform mitzvoth by partnering with The Early School, Religious School, High School and our College students.

The Social Action Committee welcomes you to join in its activities and encourages congregants to share their ideas for new projects of social concern with the committee. We meet monthly, generally on the third Monday evening of the month. Please contact one of our chairpersons at any time for further information.


      Lisa Reisboard, Chair      Janet O. Penn, Chair
      lreisboard@aol.com        janpen@att.net

 

 

Bike Collection for Pedals for Progress 

Recycle Your Used Bikes sponsored by Social Action Committee

 Sunday, May 18   10:00 AM – 1:00 PM  at Temple

 minimum donation  of $10 with every bike to support the shipping and handling costs

(Volunteers needed to help . Please contact Lisa Reisboard to assist in this effort.)

Please note:

  • Bikes must be in repairable condition, relatively rust free.  Frames or bikes with rusted frames will not be accepted.

  • No early or late drop-offs will be accepted.  Bike Collection at TBA will only take place on the date and times listed above. To donate before or after the TBA collection, please contact Pedals for Progress NJ headquarters directly at 908-638-4811.

Pedals for Progress (PfP)is a non-profit New Jersey-based charity that collects, processes, and donates used bicycles and bicycle parts to the working poor in third-world countries. Contributing to Pedals for Progress means making progress without pollution. Visit the PfP website at www.p4p.org

To volunteer to assist with bike collection and processing, please contact the temple at 973-994-2290 or visit the website at www.tbanj.org for details.


14th Annual Women's Interfaith Forum

 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

co-sponsored by the TBA Social Action Committee & Sisterhood

 

Photo Gallery