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The theme of our Social Action Committee is to feed the hungry and help the disadvantaged in our community, the nation, and the world. We hope to accomplish this through tending a garden together with Temple Beth Ahm, our Backpack Buddies program, Reading Buddies, social and environmental justice programs, and tzedakah.
In January, the Social Action Committee is celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday by hosting The New Light Baptist Church’s choir and Reverend John Armstrong for Shabbat. On January 18th, Reverend John Armstrong will offer the sermon at the temple. Temple Shalom’s choir and Rabbi Malinger will then attend the New Light Baptist Church Service on Sunday morning, January 20th, with Rabbi giving the sermon. This is a wonderful experience, as both choirs will join together for both services.
Due to Hurricane Sandy, there was much devastation in our community. The Temple, though damaged, was a warm haven for those congregants and members of our community who had no electricity or heat. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Jessica Nasoff, Felicia Stoler, Jessica Sammut, Dorothy Lake, and Dana Battaglia, who organized the relief distribution center, communicating via Facebook and Twitter. Donations of supplies were received from congregants, as well as from Reform congregations as far away as Chicago. Supplies were sorted and distributed to those in need within 24 hours. ToSTY and parents of our Early Learning Center and Religious School also assisted with the sorting and distribution.
Many thanks to Rabbi and Cindy Terebush! Extra-special thanks to Helene Monat for her tireless efforts during the Sandy distribution process! Suzanne and Michael Silverman planned a fantastic Mitzvah Day Program last Fall, where many families, adults, and children participated in different activities that benefited our communities. Everyone had a great time performing his or her Mitzvahs! We look forward to a rewarding and socially responsive 2013! . | |
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STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT-OXFAM AMERICA
BY JACKIE PINKOWITZ
The Union of Reform Judaism reminds us that “pursuing justice and working together to create a better world is central to who we are as individuals and as a community:
"When I was a little boy my father - the 'real Rabbi Goor,' as he was fond of calling himself - was arrested and put in jail. I was scared, until I learned that he was in jail because he had marched with Martin Luther King. I learned at a young age that standing up for what is right is a sacred obligation."
- Rabbi Don Goor, Temple Judea, CA http://urj.org/socialaction/training/justcongregations/
Our Temple Shalom community has long taken that sacred obligation to heart as we stand up for what is right; so that, together, we may forge new links in a never-ending, world-wide chain of caring, compassion, and universal environmental social action to create that better world.
This summer, we stand up for the rights of thousands and thousands of unknown fellow families barely existing in impoverished communities around the globe:
“More than 1.5 billion people live in countries rich with natural resources like oil and natural gas, but are forced to survive on less than $2 a day…. For these people, living near oil and mining companies doesn't mean a share of the wealth – it means environmental damage, loss of land and human rights abuses.
This summer, we stand up to tell the international oil, gas and mining companies and the faceless government officials who grow rich extracting the resources and contaminating the water that these families have the Right to Know about the impacts of these projects on their communities and the Right to have a Voice in deciding whether these projects should proceed.
We each have a moral obligation to help provide a voice for those who have none. Therefore, we ask you to stand up for what is right and add your voice by signing the Oxfam America Petition at https://secure.oxfamamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1290.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead |
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FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION: LEADING THE WAY
NORTHPOINTE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Social Action Committee is concerned about the proposed housing development on the Marlboro, Aberdeen and Matawan line (off of Lloyd Road between Rt. 79 and Rt. 34). If you are concerned as well, please consider signing the petition in this link:
Petition: Citizens Against building Northpointe in Marlboro
“As Reform Jews, pursuing justice and working together to create a better world is central to who we are as individuals and as a community.”
http://urj.org/socialaction/training/justcongregations/
Long ago, the Social Action Committee (SAC) of Temple Shalom adopted this universal creed as the foundation of the many heartfelt acts of caring and commitment they pursue to make the world a better place for our congregants, our communities, our state, our nation, our homeland Israel, and our world.
Under the dedicated leadership of Lenore Robinson, SAC is the caring catalyst that enhances AWARENESS; EDUCATION; and ACTION across a broad spectrum of environmental, legislative, social injustice, & poverty issues. Committee members’ hearts & minds lead the way in choosing & coordinating SAC’s numerous efforts throughout the year. The following are but two examples of the passion and compassion, the caring and camaraderie that are the hallmarks of Temple Shalom’s pursuit of a better world for all:
CITIZENS AGAINST NORTHPOINTE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PLAN…Through letters mailed directly to NJ Assemblymen; petition for congregants to sign and an on-line petition for all concerned citizens, the SAC led the way for legislature awareness:
“…we must raise our collective voices to decry those elements of their plan that would jeopardize the health, safety, and well-being of the hundreds of families and their children who do, and would, live in and around said development.
IN AND OF THEMSELVES, EACH ELEMENT REPRESENTS A SERIOUS HEALTH/SAFETY HAZARD. TAKEN COLLECTIVELY, THESE ELEMENTS PRESENT A LEVEL OF HAZARD TO HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT CANNOT AND MUST NOT BE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE BY ANY CONSCIENTIOUS PUBLIC OFFICIAL AT ANY LEVEL:
CONTAMINATED SOIL: A 2010 site investigation “…revealed the presence of DDT, DDE, dihedron and lead arsenate on the property”, which had been an orchard for many years. Aberdeen residents are deeply concerned that the developer has presented no acceptable plan to control the potential spread of contaminated soil onto resident’s land; as well as into Gravelly Brook which runs next to the property. This is additionally alarming in that Gravelly Brook runs through a public park and near two schools.
UNMANAGED TRAFFIC: The 385 unit development will have a single entry/exit onto Lloyd Road, which is already over-crowded. This will create a serious traffic hazard for current residents, as well as for the near-by High Point School for special needs children. The developer’s own traffic engineer testified that the area is already at an “F” level, highly congested. Adding 385 high-density residences with a single road in and out will reclassify “congested” to “impassable”….
WE ASSERT THAT IT IS NECESSARY AND PROPER THAT OUR STATE ASSEMBLY BE AWARE OF AND PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS MATTER.
TAKE ACTION AND PETITION: PETITION: CITIZENS AGAINST BUILDING NORTHPOINTE IN MARLBORO
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GET NJ BACK INTO RGGI
In 2007, New Jersey, 10 Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
RGGI is a pact between these states to work together to reduce carbon emissions 10% by 2018. RGGI is a cap-and-trade system, meaning power companies have to pay, at auctions, for allowance credits for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit from coal and natural gas-fired electricity plants.
In 2010, Gov, Chris Christie pulled New Jersey out of RGGI. He argued that because of decreased electricity demand due to the recession, the RGGI model was ineffective.
We’re working hard to get as many New Jerseyans as possible to sign our petition ( link below) urging Gov. Christie to get New Jersey back into RGGI. Could you please sign the petition at the link below and forward this e-mail to your friends and colleagues asking them to SIGN THE PETITION as well?
Lon Pinkowitz
FuturAge
732-212-9038
lp@futurage.com |
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READING BUDDIES PROGRAM
A SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM OF TEMPLE SHALOM
The Reading Buddies Program is administered by the Family and Children’s Service office located in Long Branch, N.J. Since 1998, they have been placing caring adults in various Monmouth County elementary schools reading to students on a weekly basis.
The program’s goal is to expose children to good literature with the expectation that the children will be encouraged to become avid readers and break the cycle of adult illiteracy.
During these past 2 school years, Temple Shalom’s Social Action Committee has asked for volunteers to participate in the Reading Buddies Program which is sponsored by Family and Children’s Services of Monmouth County.
We are again participating in this Program for School year 2012-2013.
The Program entails reading to small groups of children in the 1st and 2nd grades. There are only 2 sessions of 30 minutes apiece.
Family and Children’s Services is always looking for volunteers who can commit to this Program on a regular basisvfor 1 hour each week from September thru May and substitute readers who can be counted on to fill in for the regular readers when necessary.
I hope that some of you will be interested in volunteering for this worthy program and join the Temple Shalom volunteers who are already participating.
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
LOU SCHOEN - plad13@aol.com
Volunteer to read and make a difference!
Become a “Reading Buddy” |
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COMMUNITY VICTORY GARDEN
GAN TIKVAH: "GARDEN OF of HOPE"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RAC WEB WRITEUP
The Social Action Committee is coordinating with Temple Beth Ahm and the Matawan United Methodist Church
to build a raised community victory garden outside of our social hall. The produce from the garden will go to the
church's food bank, which is part of the Matawan food bank.
We need Temple families, adolescents, adults and seniors to help out.
You can offer your time, no matter how limited or your truck, or you can make a donation to defray the cost of seedlings
or other garden necessities.
Contact Lenore Robinson for more information.
Hi Everybody!
For those of you who know, I've been working on a documentary about this garden for the past few weeks. I just completed this film today and it is available for you to view on YouTube by following this link: click here
Thank you so much to everyone who helped me with this film. Hopefully, this documentary will be winning awards in upcoming film festivals!
- Mike Smith
THIS IS TRULY A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY
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We are always looking for volunteers for our victory garden or for our social action committee. Any one who has good ideas, or wants to help people are welcome. If you have a surplus from your garden this year, please donate to Manna House or Lunch Break, in Red Bank.
Contact Lenore Robinson and/or call 732-264-2458 and someone will come, pick it up and deliver it.
WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT/ WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?
Your input will help the Social Action Committee plan programs and advocate for special projects that involve our Temple and our community.
MANNA HOUSE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
Drop offs at Temple: large size diapers, cleaning products, dishwashing products, toilet paper and paper towels. |
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MITZVAH OF THE MONTH
BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM, 2012-2013
A Temple-School Collaboration to Provide Food for Impoverished Elementary School Children on Weekends.
Temple Shalom is increasing the number of children to 20 in two elementary schools, Cliffwood Beach and Ravine Drive k-3 who are eligible for free lunches. We provide food for children to take home on the weekends and holidays. This has been a very successful project and very appreciated by the school and parents. Please be generous with your donations.
Many children who qualify for a School Lunch Program during the school week are going hungry every single weekend of their young lives. Initiated and led by two deeply-compassionate program coordinators, Helene Monat and Lou Schoen, and a caring elementary school nurse, the SAC provides week-end food for needy children through a highly efficient weekly delivery system. Backpacks are filled once a week with healthy food and drink staples at the coordinator’s house and delivered to the Temple. Pre-scheduled volunteers deliver the filled backpacks to the school; and the nurse distributes them each Friday to needy students she chose for the program. All children remain anonymous to the SAC leadership and volunteers. On Monday, pre-scheduled volunteers pick up the empty backpacks from the school and return them to Temple Shalom for the coordinator to refill…and the cycle went on and on nourishing these precious children throughout the school year.
BackPack Buddies has indeed captured the hearts of our entire congregation; and has become one of our favorite Tzedakah projects. For the coming 2012-2013 school year, SAC is expanding the program into a second elementary school and volunteers are already signing up to be a part of this wonderful initiative!
It is often said that we are all meant to learn from the past. At Temple Shalom, we believe that all can learn from, and act upon, this reflection from Anne Frank:
“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start slowly, changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make a contribution toward introducing justice straightaway. And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!”
Anne Frank (1929-1945);
Diarist
Written by:
Jackie Pinkowitz, M.Ed
For more information contact:
1. LOU SCHOEN.... - PLAD13@AOL.COM
2. HELENE MONAT - HELENEMONAT@GMAIL.COM |
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IMPORTANT NEWS!!!!
What if Temple Shalom earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can!
GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate.
Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, Ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with Good Shop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Temple Shalom of Aberdeen as the charity you want to support.
And, be sure to spread the word! |
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BON JOVI SOUP KITCHEN
The Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, located at Lunch Break in Red Bank, is a non profit community restaurant offering Sunday dinners with 4pm and 5pm seating. The goal is to bring people together with food and fellowship. The food is delicious and you would think you are at a five star restaurant. There is a suggested cash donation of $10.00 per person. Those who are unable to pay may do volunteer activities as a way to pay for their meal.
Please call 732-291-7232 to make a reservation and for specific dates and menus. |
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G REENFAITH MISSION STATEMENT
As reform Jews, we know that God has charged us to guard and to preserve the Earth, and we have an obligation to be God’s partners in tikkun olam, repair of the world. We will therefore dedicate our people, our resources and our passion to protect and to serve the Earth. We will institute energy savings, increase recycling, and focus on educational efforts for all ages to show our children that we care about their future and the Earth we share. We will inspire our congregants and reach out to our greater community to give wings to our hopes that together we really can change the world.
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GREENFAITH CERTIFICATION |
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On Friday, October 19, 2012, Temple Shalom celebrated our certification as a GreenFaith synagogue.
This is the culmination of a two year program of dedication to the environment as a Jewish imperative.
1. We have included environmental Judaism in our adult and children's educational programming
2. We have greened our synagogue, by including solar panels, increasing recycling, moving to more sustainable practices such as the use of porcelain dishware
3. We have included prayers recognizing God's handiwork in the natural world and our responsibilities toward that world in our worship services
4. We have become active in environmental justice issues
5. We have tried to show by example that we can and should make a positive difference in in our environment, fulfilling God's commandment to guard and serve this beautiful planet so it can continue to sustain our people and all people l'dor vador, from Generation to Generation.
In the Torah portion for this week, God makes a sacred covenant with humanity. Never again will seed time and harvest season end so long as life endures. The rainbow is a reminder of our part in this covenant, to care for life as Noah did, to ensure that life endures. |
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HELP THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REDUCE MERCURY AND OTHER TOXIC AIR POLLUTION FROM COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS |
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A new EPA proposal:
Require many power plants to install widely available, proven pollution control technologies to cut harmful emissions of mercury and other toxins.
The new rule will help:
· Prevent 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks a year.
· Prevent 120,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and about 11,000 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children each year.
· Avert more than 12,000 emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and 850,000 fewer days of work missed due to illness.
But industry groups are attacking the proposal, hoping to weaken the rule.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson met with GreenFaith to help rally support from people
of faith. People like you. Please, show your support for this life-saving rule, and help reduce mercury
pollution from power plants. Your voice will be heard when GreenFaith present a Statement of Support, including
your name, to Administrator Jackson.
To find out more or join your voice to sign a petition, go directly to
http://greenfaith.org/programs/environmental-justice/reduce-mercury-pollution-from-power-plants
Or check out the GreenFaith homepage at www.greenfaith.org |
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NOT ONLY IS LAUNDRY A CHORE,
IT HAS A HUGH IMPACT ON OUR WORLD
An average household does about 400 loads of laundry each year, consuming about 13,500 gallons of water according to Energy Star. Your dryer is the second biggest energy-hog!
1. When you replace your machine go Energy Star – it can save half the water
2. Wear it more than once- for some clothes such as jeans and other durables
3. Use green laundry detergent – avoid phosphates, use veggie based ingredients
4. Choose concentrated detergents – less fuel to package and ship
5. Wash in cold water, today’s detergents can handle it, to save $100 or more in fuel
6. HANG IT OUT TO DRY! The solar energy is free, and UV rays kill bacteria and fungi. Clothes last longer and smell fresher.
7. Reduce ironing by hanging immediately after wash cycle, fold where you want creases. Besides: ironing is a dull chore, and deteriorates fabric!
8. Avoid dry cleaning, it is definitely un-green, and unhealthy; especially PERC |
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