Tikkun Olam (Hebrew for “world repair”) has come to connote social action and the pursuit of social justice. The phrase has origins in classical rabbinic literature and in Lurianic kabbalah, a major strand of Jewish mysticism originating with the work of the 16th-century kabbalist Isaac Luria.
Living It Out
Social Justice is a key tenet to living a meaningful and responsible Jewish life. East End Temple participates lives out social justice in myriad ways. Within the past year, we have:
- Prepared and packed thousands upon thousands of meals for the needy with our monthly Food for Families program.
- Learned about the immigration crisis with activist Ravi Ragbir and Professor Alina Das from the NYU School of Law.
- Hosted Accompaniment Training sessions with the New Sanctuary Coalition, in support of immigrant rights.
- Proud members of the Synagogue Coalition on the Immigration and Refugee Crisis (with one of our community members being appointed its Vice President!)
- Became one of 100+ congregations in the Reform Movement to sign a Brit Olam in dedication to social justice in key areas.
- Signed onto multiple amicus briefs in support of immigrant rights and opposing the construction of the border wall.
- Joined RAC-NY and its efforts to pass Green Light NY.
- Redoubled interfaith collaboration in our area, including an interfaith Seder with the Cordoba House (Muslim community) and St. Francis Xavier (Catholic community).
- Taken part in, cosponsored, and led numerous rallies in support of immigrant rights and against the separation of families.
Volunteer Opportunities
Vision Urbana
Every Monday at 9:30am
Help pack and give out food, in support of the Vision Urbana food pantry. Meet at 65 Norfolk Street (in the courtyard of the Seward Park Extension NYCHA housing complex). This effort will continue every Monday — for questions, please email Rabbi Josh (jstanton@eastendtemple.org).
Repair the World
Repair the World is an organization the helps Jewish communities to pursue making this world a better place. They have volunteer opportunities for kids and adults. To find a local project to participate in, visit: https://werepair.org/brooklyn/
Support for Turkey and Syria
Following the devastating earthquake the struck Turkey, Syria and surrounding countries, United Hatzalah of Israel is sending a team of medics, paramedics, doctors, and members of the Search and Response and Psychotrauma units to Turkey to provide emergency rescue and medical aid to people in the worst-affected areas. Support their emergency response efforts: https://israelrescue.org/earthquakeresponse
Support Ukraine
from The Ukrainian Institute of America:
What can I do?
- Stay informed with credible sources of news like The Atlantic Council UkraineAlert.
- Contact your state and local representatives and let them know you support the strongest measures possible to constrain Ukraine’s aggressors. Find your congressional representatives with this link.
- Take part in a community rally to protest Putin’s actions against Ukraine. List of rallies.
- Donate to an organization with an established track record of assistance (see below).
How can I help?
- The Afya Foundation (our partner organization for whom we have collected medical supplies for many years) has an Amazon wish list of urgently needed items. The items will be sent directly to Afya, and they are packing pallets of supplies to send to Ukraine.
- The World Union for Progressive Judaism has launched the Ukraine Crisis Fund to support the Ukrainian Jewish community. To learn more and/or to make a donation: https://wupj.org/give/ukraine/
- HIAS is seeking emergency donations for their response to the Ukrainian crisis: https://act.hias.org/page/6048/donate/1
- The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is working on the ground to deliver social services to the Ukrainian Jewish community and their neighbors. You can give directly through the JDC website, or through a contribution to your local Jewish Federation, many of which have created local crisis funds.
- United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, also known as ZUDAK/ЗУДAК, supports humanitarian projects.
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America launched a humanitarian effort.
- Razom for Ukraine provides humanitarian assistance.
- World Central Kitchen is already serving meals to refugees at the Polish border.
- For more organizations, please see this list