We
are partners in creation with God
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:
Pleased drop it off in the synagogue lobby! |
Toiletries
|
HaShofar,
| |
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 NewsSemi-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! 
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:
Return to Tikkun Olam index!ONE HOUR A WEEK MAKES A DIFFERENCEOne 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.
Return to Tikkun Olam index!OPERATION HOPE CHEST
If you would like to donate merchandise or volunteer, please call Elizabeth Cross at Operation Hope (254-2935). Return to Tikkun Olam index! |
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:
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 CONNECTICUTReturn to Tikkun Olam index!
REACHING
HOME CAMPAIGN
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.
Return
to Tikkun Olam index!
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. | |||
Return to Tikkun Olam index!
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:
Return to Tikkun Olam index! | |
OTHER LINKS OF INTERESTThe Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
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:
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
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:
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
| ||
Give
free food to the hungry
Improve
a child's health
Save
our rainforests
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.