Our congregation is passionately committed to Tikkun Olam (Repairing our World). This includes advocating for racial and economic justice, fighting for women’s and LGBTQ rights and inclusion, championing climate activism, and partnering with diverse local groups to change our world for the better!
Special Update: How to Help in Minnesota
Both the local Minnesota Jewish community and national Jewish movements have signed on to open letters decrying the ongoing injustices of the brutal ICE operations.
Here are ways you can help make a difference.
standwithminnesota.com: An extremely good, comprehensive master list of organizations, fundraisers, mutual aid asks, and more. People can use site to drill down and choose from multiple destinations for the types of support they’d like to give.
https://www.wfmn.org/funds/immigrant-rapid-response/: The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund (IRRF) gives where it is needed most, efficiently and rapidly, at every changing moment. It is rooted in communities most impacted by immigration-related harm. IRRF ensures that resources move quickly, responsibly, and with community accountability to trusted organizations responding to immigration-related emergencies across Minnesota.IRRF provides rapid, community-informed funding to organizations on the frontlines of response, care, and protection.
Collective Care: Raises funds to directly cover rent expenses for refugee and immigrant families whose housing stability has been threatened as a result of intensified ICE activities in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. 100% of funds collected will go directly toward rent payments for affected households, and all funds will be transparently tracked.
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) is a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.
DHH (Dios Habla Hoy) Food Distribution: A massive community outreach effort led by DHH Church to provide food and urgent assistance to families in need. It began when they saw a growing number of families struggling—many staying home and avoiding public spaces due to fear and uncertainty caused by immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis. What started by helping a few families has now grown into a full operation serving thousands across the Twin Cities.
Neighborhood House | Hope, Opportunity and Dignity for All This is an immigrant justice organization that has strong ties to the Jewish community. They are well positioned to help those most in need on the West Side of St. Paul.
The Hummingbird Initiative Coordinated through the West Side Community Organization, The Hummingbird Initiative is a community-led effort created in response to increased immigration enforcement activity and the growing need for accurate information, legal observation, and collective care for neighbors.Their work centers on education, preparedness, and community protection—led by residents, for residents.
ICE Out of MN: Day of Truth and Freedom, Friday, January 23, 2026 Organized by Indivisible Twin Cities and supported by MN Jewish social justice organization Jewish Community Action, there will be a unified statewide pause in daily economic activity demanding an end to the cruel and unjust ICE presence in Minnesota.
Ongoing Social Action Efforts at RSNSHere’s a run-down of social action projects either currently in place or planned for the future at RSNS. If you are interested in participating in any of these efforts, or to join our robust Social Action Committee, please contact Cantor Eric (). We need your imagination, dedication, and participation to help RSNS help the world!
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Click here for ways you can help during the current food insecurity crisis
Through our membership in TANS (The Tikkun Alliance of the North Shore), we participate in partnership collection drives throughout the year.
We also collect non-perishable food for the Harry Chapin food bank during the High Holidays, and for the Community Needs Bank of the Sid Jacobson JCC throughout the year.
Approximately 6 times per year, a member of our clergy team leads our community in a fun, intergenerational Sunday morning making 200 sandwiches that go into 100 bag lunches for Our Lady of Fatima Social Outreach.
B’nai Mitzvah Social Action Projects – Every student at RSNS commits to undertaking a social action project as part of their journey towards becoming b’nei mitzvah. They are given resources to help them find a project or a cause that is personally meaningful to them, and they speak about their efforts the Friday night prior to the service when they are called to the Torah.
Our Social Action Family Havurot program joins together to build connections, create community, and help make the world a better place. Each seasonal Havurah meets three times for social action experiences.
RSNS Junior and Senior Youth Groups (Or Hadash and Kesher Hadash) engage in a number of social action projects throughout the year, such as volunteering at a NYC soup kitchen, working with Habitat for Humanity, and supporting local fundraising efforts (walks, drives, etc.)
RSNS has been a congregational leader in greening efforts. We were an early adopter of energy efficient lighting, and through our membership in the Jewish Greening Fellowship, we undertook a complete high-efficiency upgrade of all general purpose lighting in our building. We also continue to use compostable plates, cups, and flatware made from natural material at all synagogue events. Our community is also committed to advocating for global change, and many of our members have participated in Climate Marches.
Mitzvah Day – Every year RSNS members come together to participate in a wide variety of social action projects in and around our community. Our hope is that this will not be simply a one-day experience, but will lead to continued and expanded social action engagement for our members. In addition to our own Annual Mitzvah Day, RSNS participates in the SJJCC Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day, and the Port Washington Community-wide Mitzvah Day, which brings together participants from every synagogue in Port Washington to perform acts of loving kindness, meet new people, form new friendships and work together in the spirit of community service.
Through our active partnership with Bend the Arc, our community has been involved in successful campaigns to raise the minimum wage, and fight for justice in the criminal justice system.
Our congregation is in the process of becoming a HIAS Welcome Circle, and we have made the act of welcoming and resettling a refugee family a priority goal for the coming year.
