Monthly Newsletter: November 2022 |
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Welcome to our monthly 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. For details of what we do and who to contact, please click here.
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” -John Lewis
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Our monthly VIA Community meetings are the first Tuesday of the month. Everyone is invited. Please get involved! There’s a lot of repair to do and it’s more fun and meaningful doing it together, as a community. Invite a friend!
Join us Tuesday, November 1, 6:30-8pm in the Oneg Room and on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 870 3266 1338
Passcode: sunbear42
Join by phone at (408) 638-0968.
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Your Postcard Writing Makes a Difference. Thank You! |
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You’ve done it! Thank you to all of you who helped to get out the vote. You made a difference. We sent over 6,000 postcards to people who might have been removed from registration or who don’t frequently get to the polls. Well done. Did you know that in the 2020 election, postcarding increased Black voter registration by 3-26% and Black turnout by 43%?*
*Common Ground/Reclaim Our Vote data
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Local Elections Info. Do you know about the candidates running for your school board? Take the time to become an informed voter, especially on local issues and candidates who’ll be representing you. Check League of Women Voters Diablo Valley (LWVDV) on YouTube or Lafayette Homeowners Council to watch recent forums. Encourage your friends and neighbors to be informed and active voters!
Vote YES on Proposition 1. Bodily autonomy is a fundamental part of Jewish teachings. California State Proposition 1 will ensure the right to an abortion and contraception in the state constitution. Join JCRC this fall to take action to assure no one is denied their rights in California.
Donate Gifts for Families at Hope Solutions. Help us make the holidays special for a Hope Solutions family. Sign up here to purchase and donate a gift and bring it to the TI Office by Dec 2nd.
Join Your interfaith neighbors by donating and assembling Thanksgiving food for those in need. Temple Isaiah is proud to be participating in another ICARE project with our interfaith friends: Peace Lutheran Church of Danville, the Tri-Valley Hindu Community and Bahai’s of Contra Costa County Central and Walnut Creek. Working together, we’re buying and assembling Thanksgiving fixings for the Monument Crisis Center's Thanksgiving food drive serving at-risk, underserved families. You can donate until November 4th. Boxes will be assembled at Peace Lutheran Church in Danville on Nov. 13th. Volunteers are invited to attend their interfaith service before the packaging. Your support and participation are truly appreciated and needed. Here’s how you can help:
1. Donate to pay for the food boxes. $60 will create a box to support a family for a couple days over the holiday. Donations end November 4th.
2. Volunteer to assemble food boxes on November 13th (limited volunteer slots are available).
For details and to donate and sign up, go to:
Have questions? Contact: Anita Weil Anitaweil@yahoo.com or Zina Rosensimon zinalrs@gmail.com
Fight Anti-Semitism through Interfaith Service Projects. Did you know that according to the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism, antisemitic incidents throughout the United States increased by 34% last year, the biggest jump since researchers began keeping track in 1979. One way to combat anti-semitism is to work on service projects with our friends of different faith traditions. When we know one another, we support each other especially when one group is targeted. Plus, it’s fun! See this overview of how ICARE worked this past year with interfaith service projects, including Temple Isaiah’s participation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NuyCLfi6CKyl7RcH8cxgQp_ha5JX8fx0/view
Support Winter Nights. Winter Nights is Coming December 19-26. Temple Isaiah’s social hall becomes a home for unhoused families, and we rely on our beloved TI community to help. This year’s program is only one week and includes Christmas. Let’s go all out getting presents for the families and serving them delicious home cooked meals. We need your help and there are many ways to participate. Look for notices coming mid-November to sign up. For general information about Winter Nights, go to: https://cccwinternights.org For more information, contact Joani deVries joandevries2@gmail.com
Shelter Dinners Return November 14-18, 2022. After a two-year Covid break, WOI and VIA will be returning--in person--to cook dinner and provide supplies for residents of the Mountain View Family Shelter in Martinez. There is one big change this year: We will cook onsite, and the shelter has acquired funding to provide the food! Volunteer now at https://temple-isaiah.org/values-in-action/shelter-dinners. All are welcome. Questions? Please email Sheri Lockshin at splockshin@gmail.com
ICARE Food for Thought: Direct Service with Your Interfaith Neighbors December 12-14. Work side-by-side with your new interfaith friends, packing and delivering food boxes to local public schools. (The schools then distribute the food boxes to select families of children attending their school.) This project supports the non-profit “Food for Thought,” which was organized by local residents at the request of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. School officials noticed that students from low-income families often struggled when they returned to school after the winter break because they were undernourished. Volunteer responsibilities include: packing food boxes, loading food boxes in trucks/vans, trucks, truck drivers and helpers (deliver food boxes to schools). To sign up, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084ea5ab28abff2-food2 Contact Terri Moss if you have questions: terrimoss55@gmail.com
Angel Network will be delivering Mishe Bears to young families who have suffered a serious family illness. These cute and cuddly bears have a tummy pocket containing the mi shebeirach prayer. Angel Network is offering rides to congregants in need as we return to in person Shabbat services. They need more volunteer drivers from around the area. Times are flexible. Angel Network also offers comfort and support to members in need. To get connected contact Greta Frantz at gf.angelnet@gmail.com or Denise Glicklin at dg.angelnet@yahoo.com or visit https://temple-isaiah.org/values-in-action/angel-network
Refugee Assistance through JFCS seeks helpers for newly arrived Afghan or Ukraine Refugee families to settle into their new home! Become a member of a Temple Isaiah team, to help JFCS enroll their children in school, help them find work, and become familiar with their surroundings etc. Please contact Lisa Hirsch at lhirsch17@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions. JFCS can also use our help with the following:
1. ESL Tutors – This can be in person or via Zoom
2.Grocery Shopping for newcomers - buy groceries at your own expense and deliver
them to clients.
3. Adult Bikes – JFCS needs adult bikes in any condition.
4. 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.
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
Jewish Coalition for Literacy one-on-one K-5 reading tutoring program for Bay Area children could use your help with reading skills. Register for new tutor training, or to make a donation visit: www.jclread.org. The next free online tutor training session is Wednesday, November 16, 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Contact Phyllis Edwards lafwards5@gmail.com (925) 200-5239.
Holiday Drive for Contra Costa Food Bank. Please check your mailbox or click here for our annual appeal each year to feed the hungry in our county during the holidays. Each year our congregations combined help raise over $100,000!
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An Environmental Win! Governor Newsom signed two bills in September that The California Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (the “RAC”) advocated for: SB 1137, requiring 3200 foot setbacks between drilling sites and neighborhoods and AB2316, creating a community renewable energy programs giving renter access to clean energy and lower electricity bills. Local organizing works! Get involved! https://rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-ca
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
Every Voice, Every Vote Campaign, the Reform Jewish Movement’s 2022 is a nonpartisan effort, grounded in our Jewish values and commitment to racial justice, to strengthen our democracy. Democracy is strongest when the electorate reflects the population. This is how we fulfill the Talmudic teaching that a ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted. https://rac.org/take-action/every-voice-every-vote
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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 family member 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, and Diana MaKieve.
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To contribute information to this monthly VIA newsletter, please contact co-editors
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