Repairing The World – Tikkun Olam
Tzedakah – Tzedek - Gemilut Hasadim
Sharing– Justice – Acts of Kindness
Let’s face it – the world needs help! We believe that Tikkun Olam, “Repairing the World”, isn’t just a concept…it’s already a part of each of us. Think about the last time you saw something in your corner of the world that just wasn’t right. That feeling that you wanted to do something, but maybe you weren’t sure how…that’s the spirit of Tikkun Olam! At Temple Bnai Israel, we’re constantly pursuing our tikkun olam mission supporting and advocating for those who are disempowered and for policies that will protect them and our planet. It’s “social action”, the Jewish way.
We advocate for more fundamental change in our society.
Our Hochberg Holocaust and Human Rights Committee works to ensure human rights for all.
Our Tikkun Olam Committee spearheads our Temple’s advocacy on behalf of refugees, asylum seekers, and the climate.
Our congregation is engaged in promoting interfaith and inter-cultural understanding through the Windham Region Interfaith Working group and other groups in our area.
“A theology which is not a plan of social action is merely a way of preaching and praying. It is a menu without the dinner.”
Where to start? Many people want to help enact change, but aren’t sure where or how. Start small – Join us in volunteering at one of our local outreach activities, like at the Covenant Soup Kitchen (they always need hands). Or join an advocacy event or rally that we are hosting. It’s an easy way to start bringing that Tikkun Olam spirit inside of you, outside for everyone to benefit from.
Remember— you don’t need to change the whole world, just your little part of it!
We Want Your Ideas!
If you’ve read this far, we’re guessing that you’re interested in joining us on this mission. If you have any questions, or are ready to get involved and bring some fresh ideas to our work, click here to email us!
Merle Potchinsky, Chair
I serve as Chair of our Tikkun Olam (Repair the World/Social Justice) Committee at TBI. Our work currently centers on three areas: 1) Refugees : advocating for and educating about the plight of millions of people globally, trying to ensure their entry into the US, and supporting families being resettled in our area and 2) Climate Change : advocating for policies to protect our rapidly changing environment and those most vulnerable to these adverse changes. We are also exploring community organizing as a tool to make change in our own community; and 3) Supporting local organizations that serve our neediest neighbors, including Windham Area Interfaith Ministry, Covenant Soup Kitchen, and Windham Region No Freeze Project.
Board Liaison for Tikkun Olam Committee: Carol Polsky
I am beyond proud to represent the Tikkum Olam Committee. We do social justice projects and are always looking for ideas to help the community we live in. In the last few months, we rallied in Hartford against large banks and voiced our opinions to ask them to divest from fossil fuels and locally, we helped out at the WAIM Community Garden.