Social Justice is the unifying mandate of Reform Judaism, central to who we are and what we do in contributing to Tikkun Olam, repairing the world -- through direct service, Tzedakah (Righteous Giving) and advocacy. Join us!

DOROTHY L. SEROTTA Z”L (1921-2009), for whom our committee is named, was a driving force for social action on every conceivable level for more than 50 years. We will honor her and others upon whose shoulders we stand on January 28, 2022, as part of TI’s Centennial Year Program.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Gary Brown, Patty Craven, Everton Dias, Raziel Levidis, Ivonne Linares (Chapman Volunteers), Diane Lindner (Virtual Tzedakah Box), Elaine Litvak, Alice Miller, Carla Neufeld, Grace Wright-Pazdra (RAC), Michael Sagmeister (Food Drive), Suzie Sponder, Judith Stopek (Homestead), Bunny Uriarte, Tom Wharton, Paula Xanthopoulou (Chair), and Julia Zaias. 
Our Food Drive program serves a different beneficiary each month -- and will continue indefinitely because widespread HUNGER! will not go away even when the pandemic does. Your own neighbor or co-worker may be struggling to get enough to eat, and 1 of every 4 children goes to bed hungry...

Temple Israel is collecting the non-perishable food items listed below Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm, and everything we collect in July will go to the innovative Buddy System Miami: A network of 10 community artist-decorated fridges/pantries (“Take what you need, leave what you can”) including in Overtown, Wynwood, and Allapattah...Please be generous, someone out there is depending on you!

NEEDED non-perishable items
Canned tomatoes/tomato paste, dried or canned beans, canned tuna/salmon/chicken, canned vegetables/fruit, oatmeal, protein bars, pasta/pasta sauce, crackers, and peanut butter.

Want a way to give from the comfort and safety of your homes? Use INSTACART! Select items from the list above, pay online, and have the groceries delivered directly to Temple Israel...Thank you!
Temple Israel of Greater Miami
137 NE 19th St.
Miami FL, 33132
Two sections of sewing classes are now possible due to the 12 sewing machines/accessories delivered to the Farmworkers Association of Florida/Homestead Location. A recent on-site event co-organized by the Mexican Consulate offered a variety of services included vaccinations administered by UM personnel and sewing class sign-ups -- plus an enthusiastic visit by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in support of all those efforts. Temple Israel President Jackie Greenberg also lent a hand. A generous donation of special bilingual booklets geared for learning English will be the basis of a reading/tutoring program in the coming months...stay tuned! 
Once again Temple Israel is partnering with Unity on the Bay for its amazing Annual Backpack Drive -- which provided close to 5,000 stuffed backpacks last year for kids in need, the largest such effort in South Florida! Every $10 donation provides one backpack stuffed with school supplies. Please support this worthy project, by donating HERE. 
When Chapman is ready to again allow volunteers to assist them, we will resume our time-honored tradition of serving a meal to the homeless once-a-month. If you would like to part of our Chapman Team, please contact Ivonne Linares at Ivonne@alturatours.com. We also sponsor that meal when we are able via the Charles Held Jr. Memorial Fund to Feed the Hungry, DONATE HERE. (NOTE: Temple Israel has been associated with the Chapman Partnership for 25 years (see below!) since its inception in 1996 as the Homeless Assistance Center -- including the annual Christmas Eve “Carnival” Mitzvah Celebration begun 20 years ago under the continuing leadership of Suzie Sponder and Jenna Green.)
Don’t take “Independence Day” for granted! Be aware of the many injustices around the world where people are not free and/or struggle in extreme poverty, and whose human rights are constantly compromised in horrific ways including health and welfare.  5 of 8 children in Haiti, for example, suffered from acute malnutrition last year -- along with other severe medical challenges. Click HERE to learn what’s needed, and then DONATE to the critical work of Project Medishare for Haiti (co-founded in 1995 by Dr. Barth Green). We simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. Thank you! 
The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism continues it Racial Justice Campaign by advocating for the Freedom to Vote via the For the People Act (H.R.1/S.1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act...and by offering related community mobilization/diversity trainings and actions. Passage of the The Equality Act (H.R. 5/S.393) to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination also remains a priority. Tune-in to find a way to do your part, sometimes taking only a few minutes of your time...YOUR VOICE COUNTS!