Monthly Newsletter: June-July 2023 |
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Welcome to our Values in Action (VIA Isaiah) newsletter: Your quick guide to improving our community and the world at Temple Isaiah. For the newsletter archive, click here.
VIA ISAIAH IS…a collection of groups within Temple Isaiah who offer opportunities to temple members to serve those in need and to make our community more just through education, advocacy and direct service. Our efforts are grounded in the Jewish values of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Everyone is welcome and needed in this effort.
"Zionism is a Social Justice Movement." - Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch (1925-2021)
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March with us in the SF Pride Parade
Sunday, June 25 at 10:30am
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Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) is welcoming a steady arrival of a large group of Ukrainian refugees and they need our help getting them settled. VIA Temple Isaiah has stepped up to become a congregational cosponsor for this ICARE service project with Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC). We need volunteers who want to experience the deep satisfaction that comes with working with our neighbors of others to help fund, write notes of encouragement, assemble and deliver 50 or more hygiene kits to JFCS who will distribute them to these newly-landed Ukrainian refugees.
WHEN: Kit assembly will take place June 11, 2023 at 11:30 at Lafayette-Orinda
Presbyterian Church.
ICARE Volunteer Opportunity July 9, 1 pm – 3 pm at White Pony Express, 3380 Vincent Road #107 Pleasant Hill. Sort food at White Pony Express and get to know your interfaith neighbors. This interfaith service project offered through ICARE is a great, simple project. Just show up! White Pony is highly reputable and is seeking to eliminate hunger and poverty by delivering the abundance of food to people in need in our county. Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084ea5ab28abff2-white1#/ to sign up and for details. Questions? Contact Anita Weil anita.weil@gmail.com or Zina Rosen Simon zinalrs@gmail.com
Refugee Assistance….Urgent need for Welcome Teams to help JFCS settle newly arrived Afghan refugee families. As a member of a Welcome Team, help refugees find work, enroll their children in school, become familiar with their surroundings, etc. Contact Lisa Hirsch at lhirsch17@gmail.com if you are interested in joining a Team, new Teams forming or have any questions. JFCS can also use our help with the following:
2. ESL Tutors - This can be in person or via Zoom
3. Grocery Shopping for newcomers - buy groceries at your own expense and deliver them to clients
4. Adult Bikes - JFCS needs adult bikes in any condition.
5. Gift Cards - Target, Visa, Amazon and Safeway are preferred but they are grateful for anything. You can send them to the JFCS office at 2151 Salvio Street, Suite 350, Concord CA 94520 attn: Volunteer Services
California Religious Action Center (RAC-CA) brings together the Reform Jewish congregations and communities of California to organize powerfully across lines of race, class, and faith. Join Climate Tzedek: Building our Power to Achieve Just, Science Based Solutions to the Climate Crisis https://rac.org/climate-justice
Winter Nights’ 2023 team is looking for more members We’d like 2-3 new members to join us in organizing and planning for Winter Nights the last two weeks of December. If you and your friends are looking for a way to participate in direct service to the unhoused community and can offer your time for a week or two at the end of the year, we need you! Winter Nights is a tradition for Temple Isaiah and we are serving the larger community of Contra Costa by hosting this rotating shelter for two weeks. Let me or Rabbi Lawrence know if you are interested. Joani deVries joandevries2@gmail.com
Jewish Coalition for Literacy has been serving Bay Area children and families for over 20 years! Now more than ever kids are struggling to read at grade level. To learn more about JCL's one-on-one K-5 reading tutoring program or to make a donation visit: www.jclread.org Contact Phyllis Edwards to learn about her experience with this rewarding program. (925)200-5239.
Join the Multi-faith ACTION Coalition to tackle the root causes of poverty. People from all faith backgrounds meet to identify issues, research potential solutions, and advocate by meeting with elected local and state officials, attending legislative visits, supporting bills, and writing letters. Contact Doug Leich, leichd@gmail.com to be connected with the task forces you wish to join. https://www.multifaithactioncoalition.org/newsletter/2022
Angel Network is a Temple Isaiah Caring Community of volunteers dedicated to offering comfort and support to members and their families in times of need. When a need arises, please call the Temple office at (925) 283-8575. For more details, visit https://temple-isaiah.org/values-in-action/angel-network/
Join ARZA! The Association of Reform Zionists of America is the Israel arm of our Reform Movement. Temple Isaiah is an ARZA congregation. ARZA dues are just $50 per year and our support is critical right now. You can opt in to join ARZA and pay your ARZA dues when you renew your Temple annual commitment!
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“Standing Up to Hate Crimes in California” League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley event held May 18 is on the YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/L8su4nVEdsI
Read This: The Color of Love by Marra B. Gad A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl
Listen: Listen to this Podcast: About Racism through the Lens of Someone who Lived It. Being “Irrepressible” with Little Rock Nine Member Minnijean Brown-Trickey “I went because they didn’t want me there,” says Minnijean Brown-Trickey, our guest this week. It’s been more than 60 years since she made history. At 16-years-old, she and eight other black students found an angry mob and the national guard blocking their entry to Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-is-this-happening-the-chris-hayes-podcast/id1382983397?i=1000599502410
Get Involved in Bay Area Environmental Actions. Receive useful information regarding local Bay Area actions and events dedicated to fighting the climate crisis. https://350contracosta.org
Temple Isaiah’s Mental Health & Wellness Webpage has Spotlight articles that seek to educate and bring awareness to a variety of topics covering mental illness, addiction, spiritual well being, and more. To access these articles, please visit https://temple-isaiah.org/community/mental-health-and-wellness/ and scroll down to
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National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 2, volunteers across California will host events in person to honor communities impacted, as well as all lives taken and injured by gun violence. Find an event close to you HERE.
SAVE the DATE: Social Action Shabbat Date August 25. It’s all about YOU. Plan to attend so you can be honored in our community for your actions and commitment to being someone who cares about social justice and who is doing something about it.
TEMPLE ISAIAH Cares:
● RAC CA Climate Webinar-more than 50 Temple Isaiah attended
● Letters about Climate Changes sent to local representatives in coordination with RAC CA
● More than 40 people attended the Modern Timbrels Sing A Long
● Temple Isaiah members have sent more 6000 Postcards to advocate for Voter Registration across the country
● Marched as Temple Isaiah members in Martinez Against Racial Targeting Rally
● Attended Israel Democracy Rally
● Assisted Refugees settling in community
● Assisting other Temple members in need
● Multi Faith involvement
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Mental Health Support for Adults: Second Sundays from 3-5pm online. Whether you are struggling with Covid, going through a difficult period or have ongoing mental health issues, join us for our free monthly drop-in support group. We provide an opportunity to share and support one another as part of a nonjudgmental, caring community.
Mental Health Support for Family Members: Fourth Mondays from 7-8:30pm online. Are you a parent, sibling, or child of an adult with mental health issues? This free drop-in support group provides information as well as the opportunity to share and support each other as you learn to help your loved one. Facilitated by licensed clinical social worker, Rosemarie Frydman, NAMI certified trainer Karen Cohen.
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Tikkun Olam is NOW
To contribute information to this monthly VIA newsletter, please contact co-editors
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