Beth El

Jewish Life Lived Together

  • About Us ברוך הבא
    • Welcome
    • Beth El in Pictures
    • History
    • Our Rabbi
    • Professionals
    • Board and Committee Leadership
    • Membership
    • Cemetery
    • Job Openings at Beth El
  • Pray With Us עבודה
    • Live Stream
    • Religious Services
    • Children’s Services
    • Gabbaim at Beth El
    • Orthodox Kehillah
    • Shabbat Tunes
    • High Holidays
  • Learn With Us תורה
    • Early Childhood
    • Youth Groups
    • Youth Education
    • Lifelong Learning
    • A selection of D’vrei Torah from Rabbi Greyber
    • A Selection of D’vrei Torah from Guest Speakers
    • Engaging with Rabbi Emeritus Steve Sager
    • Sicha
    • Beth El YouTube Channel
  • Act With Us חסד
    • Shabbaton
    • Community of Caring
    • Social Action
    • Synagogue Life
    • Sisterhood
    • Men of Beth El (MoB)
    • Volunteer at Beth El
    • Chevra Kaddisha
    • LGBTQ Alliance/Kol Koloteinu
    • Growing Thru Grief
    • INTERFAITH WORKING GROUP
    • Racial Justice Task Force
  • Be With Us חברה
    • View Calendar
    • Weekly Services
    • Weekly Newsletters
    • Beth El Bulletin
    • Community Resources
  • Support Us לתרומות
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Join
  • Login

Social Action

Social Action is an integral part of the Beth El community. We frequently hold Social Action events and encourage the entire membership to get involved in helping our surrounding community in need.

Gemilut hassadim, acts of lovingkindness, and tikkun olam, repairing the world are both fundamental to Judaism and its mandates for social action. The Torah tells us to feed the hungry, relieve suffering, promote justice, and respond to the needs of our fellow human beings in as many ways as we can.

Our Social Action Committee’s current main focus is Hunger/Nutrition and Child Poverty. We support various organizations and programs concerned with relief efforts in these fields.  Click here to make sure you are up-to-date on all current and forthcoming events and issues by joining the Social Action Google Group.  After joining, you can configure the settings to your particular preferences.   Click here for information on specific programs and be sure to watch for updates as more projects are added throughout the year. Many projects are supported through the generous donations given to our Mitzvah Fund.

Purpose:

  1. Beth El’s Social Action Committee organizes and sponsors a variety of social action projects such as food and blood drives, days of service and fundraisers.
  2. Our goal is to cultivate a culture of social action and community engagement at Beth El through the planning and promotion of opportunities for volunteering, donating and becoming educated about issues impacting the community-at-large.
  3. The Committee also serves as a central information point for individual and group volunteer opportunities, and a resource of collected information on social action engagement.
  4. Social Action partners and collaborates with Jewish and interfaith organizations.

In addition to our year-round and annual hunger/child poverty relief efforts, programs include:

  • Pew Tzedakah Project
  • Ongoing food drive (click here for an updated list of requested items and guidelines)
  • Cooking and serving meals in local shelters
  • Participation in the local CROP Walks
  • Our annual Yiddish Songfest benefiting Durham Urban Ministries
  • MLK Day of Service
  • Annual Blood Drive in cooperation with the Red Cross
  • We also have a knitting chevra that makes hats, sweaters, and other items for those in need, and also collects other clothing.  Our Social Action committee participates in many other programs of local and international agencies which positively affect the lives of others.
  • Mensch of the Moment: Please help us to identify worthy individuals who we can honor as a “Mensch of the Moment.” A mensch is a decent, responsible and honorable person who works diligently in the Beth El community without a lot of fanfare or notoriety.  For more information, please contact Norma Gindes or Lisa Berley. To nominate a person that you feel deserves this title, click on one of the following applications: Mensch Application: Word / Mensch Application: PDF
  • Beth El is a member of Durham Congregations in Action (DCIA), the Interfaith Council of Chapel Hill (IFC), and the HIAS Welcome Campaign.

If you have any questions or are looking for ways to get involved, please contact our Social Action Committee Co-Chairs:

  • Rachel Bearman
  • Evelina Moulder

 

Hebcal Shabbat and Holiday Times

Powered by Hebcal Shabbat Times

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

1004 Watts Street, Durham NC 27701
(919) 682-1238 • Email Us
Site by The Splinter Group

Proud Member of USCJ