Social Action

Students preparing for B-Mitzvah at Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael learn quickly that being a Jewish adult means that tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (charity) are obligations, not just nice things to do. Each student tells the community what they see is broken in our world and how they will fix it. Their commitment to making our world a better place is reflected in the many acts of chesed (lovingkindness) that our full community undertakes.

Some examples of how the TBAY community strives to repair the world:

• We have an ongoing food drive for the Kosher Food Pantry of Jewish Family Services.
• Our Caring Committee reaches out to congregants in need and/or homebound.
• We have packed toiletries for homeless shelters through Jersey Cares.
• Our religious school and early childhood students collect tzedakah (charity) each week and each class choses an organization to donate the funds to at the end of the year.
• We have an annual Israel Bond drive to support the State of Israel.
• We participate in Community Mitzvah Day, a day of service sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, and the daffodil project in memory of the children who died in the Holocaust.
• We work with the Interfaith Clergy Association of Springfield on various needs in the community, including childhood hunger and disaster response.

In addition, the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund is used to help individuals in need, as well as organizations that serve the greater community. You may donate to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund here.