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Congregation B'nai Israel's Social Action Committee


B’nai Israel/Classical Studies Partnership

The B’nai Israel/ Classical Studies Partnership continues to progress!  Members of our congregation have begun to volunteer at Classical Studies as tutors, book buddies, and mentors.  In addition to seeking more volunteers for these positions during the school day, we are looking for people willing to volunteer in the afterschool program.  If you have a talent or hobby that you are willing to share with the children, and if you can be available one afternoon a week (3:15-4:30PM) for 4-6 weeks ONLY, the school will arrange for you to work with an individual child or a small group.  That’s all it takes to make a difference in the life of children in our community!

Please contact Jill Tarlov (Jtarlov@snet.net or 372-8402) if you are interested in volunteering in the afterschool program, or Deena Spector (DSpec01@aol.com or 268-5335) if you would like to volunteer during the school day.


News from TeamBrent/St. Baldrick’s Foundation

In March, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation received a lot of coverage in the local media, including a major story in Fairfield Magazine and front page coverage in the Connecticut Post. What many may not realize, however, is that the inspiration for the local events associated with this international fund-raising organization is a Gan (kindergarten) student in the B’nai Israel Religious School.

Brent McCreesh, son of congregants Dana and Michael McCreesh (and brother to 1st grader Madi and 3-year old Kira) is the namesake for TeamBrent. In September of 2004, then 2 ½ yr old Brent was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. What followed was 15 months of intensive treatment, including six rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants and three weeks of radiation. On March 3, 2008 Brent marked 33 months (post-transplant) cancer free. Ten days later, on March 13, the TeamBrent/St. Baldrick’s Foundation event at Bear & Grill in Fairfield raised more than $450,000 for childhood cancer research.

In addition to the McCreesh family, many B’nai Israelites were present lending their hands – and their heads – to this worthy cause. Participants in a St. Baldrick’s event shave their heads in exchange for donations toward research. It’s a simple concept, a fun time and a very effective fundraiser. Since its founding in 2000, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised more than $34 million with head shavings in 18 countries. While a full list of all 443 participants at the Fairfield event was not available, known B’nai Israel TeamBrent head-shavers include Jonathon Burger, Isaac Greenbaum, Matthew Katz, Sam Mahler, Michael McCreesh and Harper Wise. Other B’nai Israel TeamBrent members are asked to call 336-1858 so that you can be recognized in next month’s bulletin.

In a post-event note to participants, Dana McCreesh wrote, “Your donations make a difference in the fight against childhood cancer, the leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. Forty years ago a child diagnosed with cancer had less than a ten percent chance of survival; today 78 percent overall are cured. We need to continue this trend; no child should die of cancer. No child should endure the treatment and its side effects. Thanks to dedicated events like St. Baldrick’s and compassionate citizens like you, we can continue to effect change.” More information is available at www.TeamBrent.com.

 


A Light Unto the Nations – CFL Campaign Update

Thank you to everyone who has placed CFL light bulb orders with our Congregation B’nai Israel/COEJL campaign.  As of Feb 7, we placed an order for over 300 bulbs.  That’s over 300 light bulbs that will be going into homes using 75% less electricity than before.  From conversations that I have had with congregants, I know that many of you already have these energy-saving bulbs in your homes.  If you haven’t made the switch yet, while we won’t be selling any more via the temple, I encourage you to go to the local stores and replace any bulbs that are not cased in closed fittings with their CFL equivalent.  I will be contacting everyone who placed an order with us by email or phone as soon as your orders have arrived at temple and are ready for pick-up.


Food of the Month:

asdToiletries

Pleased drop it off in the synagogue lobby!

Latest News

People

HaShofar,
Our Monthly Social Action Newsletter

ABOUT  MIKEY’S WAY

On March 29, 2004, just two days after his 15th birthday, Michael Friedman of Easton and a member of the Temple, was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer.  Michael is being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York City, by some of the some of the finest pediatric cancer physicians in the world.Michael endured two surgeries, seven rounds of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and radiation therapy, which damaged the blood vessels around his liver causing it to fail. 

Fortunately an experimental drug helped his liver regain function and he was able to return home.  Michael was in remission for nine months.  As he says “It was the best time of my life.”  He caught up with his school work, got his driver’s license, hung out with his friends, worked at his favorite camp, and went on several vacations to his favorite places.

Every child treated at Sloan Kettering is entitled to a Make-A-Wish.  Most often the children ask for a trip to Disney or a cruise.  Michael wanted his wish to make a difference for those less fortunate than him.  He decided to spend his Make-A-Wish on a shopping spree to purchase hand-held interactive entertainment for other children in cancer treatment, and thus founded Mikey’s Way.

Mikey’s Way is a non-profit foundation created to better the lives of pediatric cancer patients by alleviating the boredom of treatment through the distribution of interactive games and improving entertainment facilities.  This is how Michael got through the physical and mental challenges of treatment, and he wants to help others in the same way.Michael has since had a relapse and is in treatment again, but he still has the same humor, grace, and desire to help others. Please support Michael in this quest.  For more information or to make a donation, please go to www.mikeysway.org.

 Thank you.


Latest News

Semi-Annual Bridgeport Interfaith Blood Drive The 2008 Bridgeport Interfaith Red Cross Blood Drive will be held this year on Tuesday, May 27, at B’nai Israel, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the last appointment scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Appointments may be made by calling the Red Cross directly at 1-800 GIVE LIFE. A single donation takes about one hour; and will save up to 3 lives!

 

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The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County serves residents of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull.

The Center provides training, and mandates it for volunteers who will interact with clients. If you're interested in further information, or wish to volunteer, call Sasha, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 334-6154, x14. Another way to help is considering your own act of tzedakah. Please send your gift to:
CWF, 753 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604.

Domestic Violence Services
CWF's 24-hour emergency hotline number is 203-384-9559; the statewide toll free hotline number is 1-888-774-2900. CWF provides safety planning, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, court-based advocacy, referral to legal and medical institutions, and advocacy for battered adults and their children.

Sexual Assault Services
CWF's 24-hour emergency hotline number is 203-333-2233; the statewide toll free hotline number is 1-888-999-5545. To reach a Spanish-speaking advocate 24 hours a day, call the VEDAS sexual assault hotline 1-888-568-8332. CWF provides advocacy and accompaniment to hospitals, police and courts, counseling and support groups for adult and child sexual assault victims and incest survivors and their families.

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ONE HOUR A WEEK MAKES A DIFFERENCE

One hour a week is all it takes to make an enormous difference in the life of a person in need. Jewish Family Service of Bridgeport is actively seeking volunteers for its Mitzvah Corps. There are many opportunities dealing with people of all ages, from the young to the elderly. The most pressing need for volunteers is with the elderly residents of our community. JFS is looking for people to be Friendly Visitors, visiting once a week and helping to make life a little less lonely for our clients.

We also need people to drive clients to medical appointments and to deliver kosher hot lunches to some of our elderly shut-ins. Tutors are needed to help new immigrants learn English; training is provided for this service. Other volunteer opportunities include helping in the agency's office once a week for two hours. For more information or to make an appointment to discuss volunteering, please call Myrna Kosowsky, Volunteer Coordinator, at 203-366-5438.

J.F.S. is a member of the Big Brother/Big Sister Organization and pairs people with children through this organization. Male volunteers are especially needed to meet the demands of a long waiting list of boys in need of a Big Brother. There are also opportunities to join in the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, helping inner city children improve their reading skills. Volunteers are also needed on an ongoing basis to work with new immigrants to help these newcomers practice their English skills. Training is provided for all volunteers in this area. If you can help or if you know of someone who could benefit from one of these programs, please call Myrna Kosowsky, Volunteer Coordinator, 203-366-5438. Click on the logo at left to reach the JFS website.

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OPERATION HOPE CHEST

Operation Hope of Fairfield, Inc. has opened a thrift store to support their various programs. The store is located at 320 Post Road, Fairfield (next to Fair Auto Supply). The hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Please stop by and check out the good buys in furniture, jewelry, household goods, giftware, etc.

If you would like to donate merchandise or volunteer, please call Elizabeth Cross at Operation Hope (254-2935).

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Social Action Issues

The crisis in Sudan is being described by human rights organizations as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. Under cover of a decades-long civil war that has taken two million Sudanese lives, government-backed militias known as Janjaweed are engaging in campaigns to wipe out communities of African tribal farmers who live in Darfur. Villages are being razed, women and girls are systematically raped, and food and water supplies are being specifically targeted and destroyed. The brutal violence and killings have resulted in over 30,000 deaths and the displacement of as many as two million Darfurians. Almost one million civilians have fled their homes due to the escalation of violence; many have crossed the border into Chad, but most are internally displaced within Darfur.

The refugees and internally displaced people are in dire need of emergency health and sanitation assistance, access to clean water and nutritional supplements. According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), without humanitarian intervention as many as 1 million civilians may die over the coming months. If this happens, the Janjaweed militias will be facilitating genocide by famine-letting nature do their dirty work.

 

As Jews who know firsthand the consequences of silence and global indifference from the international community, we must do all that we can to prevent or stop deliberate attempts to annihilate any people. We as a community have an increased moral obligation to respond to crimes against humanity, regardless of the ethnicity or religion of the people being victimized. We learned these lessons during the Holocaust when too many people and nations stood by and did nothing.

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) and the Save Darfur Coalition encourage you to take action in any way you can. Some suggested actions include:

  • Add your support to our advocacy efforts by visiting our "Take Action" page at www.ajws.org.
  • Make a contribution to the AJWS Sudan Emergency Appeal. Visit ajws.org to donate.
  • Make phone calls to your Senators and Representatives and ask them to take action.
  • Reach out to coalition partners (African-American and interfaith/humanitarian groups) to join forces in raising public awareness.

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) and the Save Darfur Coalition encourage you to take action in any way you can. For suggested actions and more information, visit the AJWS web site or the Religious Action Center.

GUN CONTROL IN CONNECTICUT

Despite a growing social awareness about gun safety and gun violence, the problem of illegal gun proliferation continues to grow. In the past three years, over 140 Connecticut residents were murdered with a firearm. Additionally, a firearm played a role in over 6,000 violent crimes. Most of these offenses were committed by individuals who cannot legally own a gun or possess a firearm.

Recently, Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV) attempted to enact a bill entitled "An Act Requiring the Reporting of Stolen Firearms" (HB5067). This bill requires the owner of a firearm to promptly (within seventy-two hours) report the theft to their local police department and to require anyone who sells a firearm at retail to have a permit issued by the local police authority. This bill will close a loophole that is often exploited by firearms traffickers. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, 88% of all the guns found at a crime scene were used by someone other than its legal owner. This shows that legally-purchased guns are being diverted to the illegal market.

 

In a survey conducted by the Center for Research and Public Policy, an overwhelming 98% of Connecticut residents supported the requirement that stolen firearms be reported to the authorities. More specifically, 96% of those that own a handgun or long gun also support this proposed requirement.

Despite this broad support, this bill was allowed to die in the most recent session of the Connecticut House of Representatives. In the next legislative session, CAGV will attempt to push this bill into law.

To help with this process, contact your local representative and Rep. Michael Lawlor (D-East Haven) who is the chair of the Judiciary Committee. Click here to can learn who your local representative is and how to contact him/her. Rep. Lawlor can be reached at (860) 240-0530.

For more information on this issue,
visit the CAGV web site.

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REACHING HOME CAMPAIGN

 

The goal of the Campaign to End Long-Term Homelessness in Connecticut, or the "Reaching Home" Campaign, is to create 10,000 new units of supportive housing in Connecticut in 10 years. Supportive housing is affordable housing combined with on-site or visiting support and employment services. In Connecticut, supportive housing has enjoyed both community and political support in the last decade. The Campaign seeks to broaden this base of support in order to achieve the ambitious goal of ending homelessness as we know it.

Connecticut now has 1,700 units of supportive housing throughout the state, but will need an estimated 10,000 additional units in order to assure that individuals and families who are facing long-term homelessness now or in the future will have housing. The creation of these units will include developing new housing or rehabilitating housing and subsidizing new supportive units in existing private rental housing.

You can show your support for Reaching Home, the Campaign to End Long-Term Homelessness in Connecticut by having your organization sign-up as a supporter, as has B'nai Israel, or by signing up yourself as an individual. For more information, as well as the forms to sign up as a supporter, click here.
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COOKING FOR THE HUNGRY

It is not unusual for mouths to water at B'nai Israel on a certain Tuesday or Thursday during the second week of each month due to the delectable aromas emanating from our kitchen. That's because a team of volunteers from B'nai Israel are busy preparing meals for Operation Hope of Fairfield and the community suppers at St. John's Episcopal Church of Bridgeport.

Laurie Schopick is in charge of this program, and she mobilizes a volunteer corps of 20 to buy, cook, deliver, and, for St. John's, serve the meals. B'nai Israel has committed to provide meals to St. John's on the second Tuesday of each month, and to Operation Hope on the second Thursday. All meals are funded by the Congregation's Rabbi Arnold I. Sher Social Action Fund.

 We salute our committed volunteers, and invite you to join them:
Barbara Abraham
Karen Montagna
Evie Angel
Shari Nerreau
Dane Bader
Dudley Orr
Dale Barcham
Laura Orr
Wendy Bloch
Beth Reilly
Ellen Dinkes
Murray Rubenstein
Randy Dorfman
Laurie Schopick
Susan Glick
Elizabeth Troop
Joe Goloff
Lori Underberger
Carol Wolfson
For more information, or to volunteer,
Laurie Schopick can be reached at 261-8729, or at lschopick@aol.com.
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Links and Action Alerts

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in the nation's capital for over 40 years. It has educated and mobilized the American Jewish community on legislative and social concerns as an advocate in the Congress of the United States on issues ranging from Israel and Soviet Jewry to economic justice and civil rights, to international peace and religious liberty.

The RAC is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, representing 1.5 million Reform Jews and 1,800 Reform rabbis in 900 congregations throughout North America.

 

The RAC has embraced the Internet as a way to inform the public about social action issues and the Jewish response, and offer several effective web-based programs available to all, including:

  • Chai IMPACT is the Religious Action Center's grassroots "action Alert" publication. Chai IMPACT alerts you to pending legislative issues and policy initiatives.

  • The Advocacy Network is designed to provide an immediate and coordinated grassroots response just at the point when vital legislation reaches a crucial stage in the legislative process. You can choose the issue(s) for which you want to be contacted.

For more information, visit the RAC web site and click on the 'Take Action' link at the left.

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OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in the nation's capital for over 40 years. It has educated and mobilized the American Jewish community on legislative and social concerns as an advocate in the Congress of the United States on issues ranging from Israel and Soviet Jewry to economic justice and civil rights, to international peace and religious liberty.

The RAC is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, representing 1.5 million Reform Jews and 1,800 Reform rabbis in 900 congregations throughout North America. The RAC has embraced the Internet as a way to inform the public about social action issues and the Jewish response, and offer several effective web-based programs available to all, including:

  • Chai IMPACT is the Religious Action Center's grassroots "action alert" publication. Chai IMPACT alerts you to pending legislative issues and policy initiatives.

  • The Advocacy Network is designed to provide an immediate and coordinated grassroots response just at the point when vital legislation reaches a crucial stage in the legislative process. You can choose the issue(s) for which you want to be contacted.

For more information, visit the RAC web site at: www.rac.org, and click on the 'Take Action' link at the left.


Heal the World - Literally

The McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act is a bipartisan reaction to the dangers of global warming, and the Bush administration's policy of indifference toward them. The Take Action Center offers an on-line petition to support the McCain-Lieberman Act and the creation of national caps on greenhouse gas emissions.

Sign the petition to tell Washington that global warming is an issue of utmost importance that demands immediate and meaningful action. Upon signing this online petition, your support for this Act is automatically sent to your U.S. Representative, your two U.S. Senators, and President Bush. Visit their web site at: www.takeactioncenter.org.


The Israel on Campus Coalition

The Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) is a partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, in cooperation with a network of national organizations committed to promoting Israel education and advocacy on campus. The nearly thirty organizations currently participating in the ICC are dedicated to working collaboratively to assist students in fostering support for Israel on the college campus.

The Israel on Campus Coalition was formed during a consultation convened by the Schusterman Family Foundation in March 2002 to evaluate the worrisome rise in anti-Israel activities on college campuses across North America. Jewish community professionals in attendance concluded there was an essential and immediate need for:

  • Increased strategic cooperation and collaboration among community organizations from across the political spectrum

  • Improved sharing of information, ideas and resources to minimize duplicative efforts

  • A shift to pro-active advocacy and educational initiatives to better support Israel on campus

From their web site, you can sign up for Israel Campus Beat, the ICC's free weekly email newsletter for students, with the latest student opinion, top Israeli news, expert analysis and campus news. This is a worthwhile newsletter not just for the college student, but for all of us concerned with anti-Israel sentiment. Visit the ICC web site at israeloncampuscoalition.org.


The Connecticut Coalition for
Organ and Tissue Donation

The Connecticut Coalition for Organ and Tissue Donation (CCOTD) is dedicated to public education and public awareness for all Connecticut residents about the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation.

For more information about organ donation, and these organizations, visit the CCOTD web site at www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org, and the Coalition on Donation web site at www.shareyourlife.org.


Donate for Free!!!

Simply click a button at each of these sites. For each click, a donation is made by the sponsors of each site at no cost to you. Each site also provide additional information about its respective cause:

Take Action Center
Take part in environmental campaigns

The Israel on Campus Coalition
Fights anti-Israel activities on college campuses across North America.

The Coalition on Donation
Provides information about the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation.

ZIV Tzedakah Fund
The Ziv Tzedakah Fund is about Mitzvahs - Doing Good Things and about Tikkun Olam - Fixing Up the World with whatever talents and resources we have as individuals. And it is about Mitzvah heroes, Giants of Human Action (as well as of the Human Spirit), most of whom are just ordinary people who found their way one way or another into Mitzvah work and have grown, assumed their True Selves, and exceeding their old visions of who they thought they were. Names, address, phone numbers, faxes, e-mails, web-sites: we offer them all to you so you can get involved with their work. We trust them all. Pick what you like, what you are good at, and as Nike would have it - Just do it!


L
ifeline for the Old - Yad L'kashish
Nearly three decades ago, Myriam Mendelow z"l, a former school teacher was working with he elderly of Jerusalem, visiting them in their homes. After seeing countless people who had given up on living and whom society had allowed to give up, she determined that "To Be is to Do." Working with the city of Jerusalem to obtain a site, she created a series of sheltered workshops for seniors. Today they rebind the books of school children, make wooden and fabric toys, and create a whole line of ritual and gift items. Each is paid a small salary for their work and may purchase a hot lunch after work at Yad L'kashish. Half of the overhead for the workshops is raised by the sale of their work. The rest comes from donations. A must for any visit to Israel or the web.

The Giving Page: A Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam Resource
This is a general resource for those who would like to explore opportunities for Mitzvah work. It will take you to many more links that will help you spend your tzedakah funds and your volunteer time in meaningful ways. You can also find a game about Maimonides' ladder of tzedakah.

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Congregation B'nai Israel
2710 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604
203.336.1858
info@congregationbnaiisrael.org