Monthly Newsletter: March 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.
“It’s in that convergence of spiritual people becoming active and active people becoming spiritual that the hope of humanity now rests.” – Van Jones
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Our next VIA monthly committee meeting will be held
Thursday, March 3rd at 7pm on Zoom (first Thursdays of the month). All are invited. Please get involved! There’s a lot of repair to do and it’s more fun and meaningful doing it in community.
Topic: VIA Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 3 at 7pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 870 3266 1338
Passcode: green96
Join by phone at (408) 638-0968.
Mark your calendar for these VIA meeting dates (first Thursdays at 7pm on Zoom):
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Creating a Community of Belonging: Embracing Diversity & Deepening Racial Understanding Temple Isaiah’s Racial Justice and Diversity Initiative is presenting a series of programs to promote racial justice, diversity, and inclusion within our Temple and in the larger community. This is a 4-part series with Lori Watson, Ed.D., Racial Equity Consultant & Facilitator, Founder & C.E.O. of Race-Work, a national leader in this field who will be our guide. The Temple Board, clergy, and staff will join congregants in these programs, helping to enrich the conversation and create a shared learning experience for the whole TI community. NOTE: March 1st’s session will be in person.
Dates: Tuesdays, March 1 IN PERSON, March 29, May 3, 2022 at 7pm in the Social Hall
This series is free thanks to generous support from the WOI Maagal Tzedakah Fund and Rabbi LeVine's discretionary fund.
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ICARE project. Help assemble 300 breakfast bags for Trinity Center on March 20 at the Hindu Community and Peace Lutheran Church. Interested? Contact Terri Moss for details at terrimoss55@gmail.com
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Let Your Voice Be Heard: March and Rally for No Drilling Contra Costa Youth March 12th 1 – 3 pm at Antioch Community Center. Join us to build a greener, healthier, fossil fuel-free future. Stop the expansion of fossil fuel production in our own backyard! We’ll march 1.2 miles on a trail along Lone Tree Way and then join a rally on the right-hand side of the Antioch Community Center parking lot. The rally will feature speakers, music, art, an informational fair, and a supervised, fenced-in playground for young children. For details, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/no-drilling-contra-costa-youth-march-rally-tickets-264684657937 Contact Jackie Mann with questions jackiemann@att.net
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Join the Interfaith Climate Circle. A monthly series starts March 7th, 1st Monday 7-8:30pm via Zoom. Register Here for link. Learn, engage, and act with other people of faith in Contra Costa. Together we can make a difference. Contact: Jackie Mann jackiemann@att.net
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Help Prepare Food for Our Neighbors in Need. First Baptist Church Pittsburg - Soup Kitchen
Operates Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9am. Currently drive through but transitioning to in-person. Volunteers needed. Use this QR code to read more and sign up to help! Contact Susan Rideout for questions. rideout@sbcglobal.net
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Join the Religious Action Center (RAC) in calling on Congress to establish a commission to study and develop reparation proposals for African Americans. H.R. 40 would address the vestiges of enslavement and the ongoing, anti-Black racial oppression that remains throughout every part of American society. We remain committed to racial justice and equity. Learn more https://rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-ca
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Join the Angel Network. As the Temple reopens, the Angel Network wants to provide rides to Shabbat Services. To be a driver or to provide meals or errands, contact the Temple Office. To learn about our new Shiva Project and Shiva Consolation Kits, watch for our article in the upcoming Ruach. Contact Greta Frantz gf.angelnet@gmail.com and Denise Glicklin dg.angelnet@yahoo.com for details. |
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Take Action Against Antisemitism. The Reform Movement calls on the Senate to immediately fill the position of U.S. Special Envoy on Antisemitism. The Special Envoy plays a critical role leading the United States' global effort to combat this virulent form of hate, working with governments internationally and with Congress to protect Jewish communities worldwide. Add your voice to those calling for the Senate to fill this important position as soon as possible at www.rac.org/antisemitism. To learn more https://rac.org/take-action/legislative-action-center
Engage in Voter Protection. The Center for Common Ground was founded to educate and empower under-represented voters in voter suppression states to encourage them to engage in elections and advocate for their right to vote. Together, we can build a democracy that prioritizes the voices of ALL people. https://www.centerforcommonground.org/ contact Judy Carney judy.carney0@gmail.com
Help Afghan Families. Working with The Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI), VIA has asked Women of Isaiah to help organize a temple-wide social action project to provide a refugee family the food they’ll need for a week’s worth of meals. We continue to await further details. Stay tuned for a Sign Up Genius for volunteers to register how they can help. Contact Lynn Harrington-Golde at ptlynn@comcast.net.
Join HIAS to celebrate and lift up the vibrant, growing, global Jewish movement acting in solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers, and the forcibly displaced
Join the Multi-faith ACTION Coalition as we advocate 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/
Tutor a struggling primary grade student in underserved East Bay schools by joining the Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Temple Isaiah has provided volunteers for over a dozen years at Coronado Elementary School in Richmond. Other opportunities are available in Oakland, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord. Contact Susan Mautner at s.mautner@comcast.net or (510) 334-3705. For more information go to https://www.jclread.org/new-tutor-training-info-2.
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Learn about Voting Rights. Listen to a discussion with some background information about why election reforms like Ranked Choice Voting and the Fair Representation Act are so desperately needed. The polarization and deterioration of our national politics is rooted in how we vote. Providing elections that give the voters a stronger voice in their representation makes for more responsive representatives and a more engaged electorate. League of Women Voters recording. https://youtu.be/kEm0VS06-rY
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2022 WRJ Reproductive Health & Rights Resource Guide is intended to help all Reform women - in congregations, women's groups, and/or as individuals - mobilize and advocate for reproductive health and rights in their communities. Download and join this critically important work! Reproductive Health & Rights Resource Guide 2022.
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Listen to Podcasts on Diversity
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Belonging: Them vs Us (3 min): Them vs. Us
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Kimberlé Crenshaw: Intersectionality (19 min): Ted Talk
Learn What Jews of Color experience. Jew of Color face discomfort at synagogues. Learn about their experiences so Temple Isaiah can become a more welcoming place to all.
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Join Melissa Bernstein in conversation with Rabbi Stacy Friedman of Congregation Rodef Sholom
Thursday, March 3, 7pm via Zoom
Co-sponsored by Temple Isaiah’s Mental Health and Wellness in partnership with REAL at Rodef Sholom.
Behind the joy of running the #1 parent-recommended toy brand with her husband, Doug, Melissa was fighting her own secret battle with existential depression and anxiety, a condition that both fueled her creativity and brought her to the brink of self-harm. In conversation with Rabbi Stacy Friedman, Melissa will share her story and her holistic practice that promotes lifelong vitality and provides tools to lead a meaningful, authentic life.
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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, and Diana MaKieve.
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To contribute information to this monthly VIA newsletter, please contact co-editors
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