Social Action is Happening at Temple Beth El
Phil Stein, Chairperson

This past year was the first year of the newly formed Social Action Committee and it was terrific! Our community collected more than 250 pairs of sneakers and sent them to Africa to benefit needy families. During the High Holy Days, our congregants donated 80 bags of food and household supplies for Second Harvest Food Bank. We collected numerous playard-fuls of baby supplies, warm clothing and blankets to deliver to needy families. We publicized the plight of the Sudanese in Darfur. Many congregants including children participated in an Interfaith Day of Caring to help beautify an inner-city Allentown housing project and nearly 30 congregants donated blood at TBE’s own blood drive. Thank you all for your enthusiastic support!

In the upcoming 2008-09 year, the Social Action Committee will participate in a Lehigh Valley interfaith effort to combat hunger in our local community. Called WEIGH IN AGAINST HUNGER, the program suggests that each of us contribute at least ten percent of our weight in food or cash to local food pantries, soup kitchens or Second Harvest. You may bring food bags and/or checks made payable to Second Harvest to TBE through November 30, 2008. The High Holy Days Food Drive as well as the already established and ongoing Plus One Shopping food drive will count toward the “Weigh In.” More than three percent of households in Pennsylvania are suffering from hunger now. As Jews, we must help feed the hungry. From Midrash Psalms 118:17, we are told: “When you are asked in the world to come, ‘What was your work?’ and you answer, ‘I fed the hungry,’ you will be told, ‘This is the gate of the Lord, enter into it, you who have fed the hungry.’”

We are planning many other important and exciting events for this new year. You may participate in a warm clothing and blanket drive, one or two blood drives, a wilderness cleanup, a children’s book drive, Nets for Africa to combat malaria, and a transportation program to pair volunteer drivers with those who need rides to TBE to attend services and events, and more. A 2008-2009 calendar of events will be posted soon.
Research shows that volunteering for a good cause helps people feel better about themselves and more satisfied with life. So, participate with us or find your own good cause. Collectively, we can make a difference!

I look forward to working with more and more of you in the future.  You may email us at socialaction@templebethelallentown.org.