Monthly Newsletter: October 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.
What will matter is the good we did, not the good we expect others to do.”
– Elizabeth Lesser
Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
– L.R. Knost
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Meetings - Today, October 2! |
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Get Out the Vote Postcard Writing to Virginia Voters
Monday, October 2nd, 4-5:30 in the Oneg Room
Write postcards to Virginia voters telling them about voter registration and where to vote to elect the Virginia state legislature on 11/7/23. Bring a friend or schmooze and write with your fellow social justice warriors. If you don’t have time to stay, you can pick up postcards and write them at home. We will be writing postcards every Monday, same time, same place through October 25th.
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In a new section of our newsletter, we want to acknowledge and honor the social justice warriors and leaders in our Temple Isaiah community. What better way to launch this section than to recognize one of our VIA leaders, Judy Carney, who was honored by the Women of Isaiah as the 2023 Woman of Valor for her steadfast and legendary (but quiet and humble) leadership in many areas of social justice. In her introductory remarks leading to this announcement, Ellen Bernstein-Ellis said, “John Quincy Adams said, ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.’ Tonight’s Women of Valor Awardee exemplifies that type of leader. She continues to engage actively and tirelessly in Tikun Olam, positively impacting her community and inspiring others to be involved. She models kindness, integrity, compassion, and engagement in her endeavors.” Click here to read the full remarks outlining all of Judy’s many accomplishments. Judy’s inspired by all the work that Women of Reform Judaism does and hopes others will be similarly inspired by them and act. Mazel Tov, Judy! All of us involved with VIA are proud and grateful to work with you and be inspired by your example.
If you know someone (including you!) who has been acknowledged for their social justice work or whom you think should be recognized for innovative or tireless social justice actions, let the co-editors of this newsletter know so we can recognize them in our VIA community and inspire the rest of us.
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ICARE Thanksgiving Fixings November 10th, at Peace Lutheran Church in Danville.
Join us for a Thanksgiving service project! We are partnering with Peace Lutheran Church of Danville and The Tri-Valley Hindu Community and perhaps another one or two faith communities. Volunteers are invited to participate in the service at 11:30am and begin assembling the bags at 12:15pm with light refreshments to follow. Sign up here. Questions? Contact Anita Weil anita.weil@gmail.com or Zina Rosen Simon zinalrs@gmail.com
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ICARE Food for Thought December 13 - 15 at Easter Hill Methodist Church and Beth Hillel both in Richmond, needs volunteers with strong backs (and some without) to assemble boxes of food for families in need over the winter break holiday. Food is provided; we just need volunteers to coordinate and assemble. Click to sign up here.
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Winter Nights’ 2023 team is looking for more members. We’d like 2-3 new members to help organize and plan for Winter Nights the last two weeks of December. If you and your friends want 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 needs tutors! JCL has been serving Bay Area children and families for over 20 years! Interested in becoming a K-5 reading tutor? Don’t miss JCL’s NEW TUTOR online Orientation and Q&A session, Wednesday, October 4 at 1pm and October 26 at 3:30pm. www.jclread.org. contact Phyllis Edwards (925)200-5239 lafwards5@gmail.com
Angel Network needs volunteers! Become part of a team dedicated to offering comfort and support to members and their families in times of need and celebration. We help out with meals, visits, phone calls, greeting and get-well cards, and rides. We welcome our newborns with a small gift; deliver a “Mishe Bear” to young congregants in need of TLC due to illness, visit our most elderly members and deliver holiday greetings/treats to them. We fund the Shiva Consolation Kits delivered to mourners, offer rides to members who are unable to drive to Temple services and programs. We need you! Getting involved even once or twice a year makes a big difference. To volunteer, please contact Greta Frantz at gf.angelnet@gmail.com or Denise Glicklin at dg.angelnet@yahoo.com. Remember: Angel Network is here for you. 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/
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
“Love thy neighbor (aka “refugee” as elaborated on in R. Lawrence’s Yom Kippur sermon) as thyself. –Leviticus 19:18
Refugee Assistance We have an urgent need to help settle newly arrived refugee families. Help refugees find work, enroll their children in school, become familiar with their surroundings, etc. In particular, there is a new family from Kenya seeking asylum looking for housing in the Bay area and needs help navigating their new home. JFCS can also use our help with the following below. Contact Lisa Hirsch at lhirsch17@gmail.com if you have any questions or you are interested in helping.
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Welcome Team – be part of a team to welcome new refugee families.
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Legal Support - JFCS needs pro bono attorneys to help with Afghan asylum applications.
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ESL Tutors - This can be in person or via Zoom.
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Grocery Shopping for newcomers - buy groceries at your own expense and deliver them to clients
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Adult Bikes - JFCS needs adult bikes in any condition.
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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
Standing up for a Democratic Israel –UnXeptable is a grassroots movement launched by Israel expats in support of a democratic Israel. We call on world Jewry to come together and preserve the democratic identity of Israel as the home of all Jewish people. Here are some actions you can take:
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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New Israel Fund (NIF) Newsletter. New Israel Fund (info@nif.org) some recommended readings: 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 wellbeing, 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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Mental Health Support for Adults
Monthly on Second Sundays at 3pm on Zoom
Upcoming Dates: October 8 (at 3pm on Zoom), and November 12
Whether you are going through a difficult period or have ongoing mental health issues, please join us for our monthly drop-in support group. We provide an opportunity to share and support one another as part of a nonjudgmental, caring community. Facilitated by Jacqueline Golub, a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at John F. Kennedy National University. Free of charge and open to our Jewish Community.
Meeting ID: 850 2107 4973
Passcode (current password available in Shavua Tov) or join by phone at (408) 638-0968
Mental Health Support for Family Members: Fourth Mondays from 7-8:30pm online. (This month it’s October 23 at 7 pm.) 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.
Tikkun Olam is NOW
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To contribute information to this monthly VIA newsletter, please contact co-editors
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