1001 Plandome Road 
Plandome, NY 11030
(516) 627-6274 Email: rsns@optonline.net
Social Action Committee
During the last few years our Synagogue Social Action Committee has been working hard to enable congregation members to meet social service needs in our community. Activities like "Mitzvah Day", Food Collections, and the Community Garden etc. have spurred us on to perform these important mitzvot. In addition, a focus of the Committee is to increase members' awareness and understanding of issues in our society that create the social service needs we try to meet so that we can begin to address some of these underlying concerns effectively.Why are so many of our neighbors hungry? Why do upwards of 35,000,000 people lack health insurance? Why is the right to choose to be pregnant or not at such risk? What about the serious environmental issues that threaten the quality of life on our planet? Though many specialized organizations exist, we believe that it is important to address issues as Jews. Reconstructionist thought certainly encourages, even requires, such activity. After all one of the important reasons that Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan organized the first Reconstructionist Congregation was to have the freedom of the pulpit that would permit him to rail against the sweat shop owners in his congregation who exploited employees and prevented them from organizing labor unions. Kaplan looked at the Jewish tradition and believed that it required us to pursue social justice. For example, on Yom Kippur we read the prophet, Isaiah, who tells us that God requires us to pursue social justice:
“Is this not the fast I Choose?
To loose the fetters of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And to break every yoke?
Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry,
And to take the homeless into your home?
When you see one who is naked, to clothe him,
And not to hide yourself from your fellow man?”
We encourage you to lend your voice and inspiration to the ongoing work of this committee. Meetings are normally held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Synagogue. Please join us. If you cannot attend the meeting, please feel free to send your thoughts on any issues that you would like to see addressed to Tina Rothpearl, the committee chair, who can be reached by phone or by email (please see Synagogue Directory for contact information).
It is our hope that as many congregants as possible will engage as a community, through learning and acting, in the process of Tikkun Olam - healing the world through social justice. As we work together to define our obligations to the larger world, these acts of social justice will in turn help define who we are - a synagogue that is first and foremost a caring community.
Projects
Latest NewsIn addition to the ongoing projects listed below, check this spot for a description of our latest social action programming described in the current issue of the Shaliyah.
Community Garden
In conjunction with our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Shelter Rock Road, we are entering our second season of jointly tending a community garden on the grounds of the Unitarian Congregation. Last year, our two congregations grew pounds and pounds of gorgeous vegetables, which were all donated to local food pantries. If you'd like to be involved with our ongoing efforts (digging, planting, weeding, tending, harvesting, etc), please email or call Cantor Eric or Tina Rothpearl for more information.Food Drive
We always welcome donations of kosher, non-perishable foods (no glass, please), which can be left in one of the clearly marked bins located in either lobby. We regularly give these donations to local food pantries or other organizations that we have relationships with, such as Project Ezra, a group who assists elderly Jews on Manhattan's lower east side.Warm-Up America
Warm Up America meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Anyone interested in working on this worthwhile and fun project is invited to join us. We welcome knitters, crocheters, sewers, savers, and kibitzers as we continue to create beautiful afghans to donate to those in need.Synagogue School Social Action
Tzedakah KidsLast year, this group of intrepid entrepreneurs, under the leadership of teacher Lauren Pulver raised nearly $1,000 through a student-led synagogue school store.
Family Projects
Starting in the fall of 2003, there will be an opportunity for families of students in each grade to participate in an age-appropriate social action project on one Sunday during the school year. Check back soon for project descriptions, dates and locations for your grade.
Links
Here are some links that may help lead to further information, inspiration, and action!
www.rac.org - the Religious Action Center of the Reform movement - an excellent resource for information on how our government is progressing on social justice issues that are important to liberal Jewish community.
www.jrf.org/to/to-main.html - the social justice section of the Reconstructionist Federation website
www.socialaction.com - social action links and information from a Jewish perspective.
www.dosomething.org - a great social action resource for kids and teens!
www.islandharvest.org - we strongly encourage all members who celebrate simchas at our synagogue to ask their caterer to work with Island Harvest, who provide an easy way to distribute leftover food to needy food pantries and soup kitchens throughout Long Island.
www.mazon.org - Contributions to MAZON are granted to a broad spectrum of nonprofit organizations confronting hunger in the US and around the world. MAZON (the Hebrew word for "food") asks American Jews to support our efforts by contributing 3% of the cost of life-cycle celebrations such as weddings, b'nay mitzvah, birthdays and anniversaries - every joyous occasion.
www.nif.org - The New Israel Fund supports Israeli organizations working for religious pluralism and tolerance, civil and human rights, Jewish-Arab equality and co-existence, improving the status of women, bridging social and economic gaps, and environmental justice.
More Social Action Committee News
Back to RSNS Programs