The mission of the Social Action Committee is to provide Adat Shalom members with individual and communal opportunities to practice the Jewish teaching of tikkun olam, repair of the world. We provide support to members as they pursue their goals, both locally and beyond, to make the world a better place.
We recognize that many Adat Shalom members already participate in Social Action efforts through their professional and personal pursuits. The Social Action committee strives to offer additional and unique options for congregants, and to provide opportunities for Adat Shalom members to come together as a community to perform tikkun olam.
From the point of view of the sovereignty of God as immanent in human society, the responsibility of ushering in the Kingdom of God on earth rests squarely with mankind.—Mordecai Kaplan
Some Social Action events occur just once during the year; others take place on a regular cycle.
Among these opportunities are the following:
On the housing and homelessness front, a crew of Adat Shalom members take up hammers and
other tools each spring to help a low income individual or family make much-needed renovations to
their home through Yachad's "Sukkot in Spring" program. We also provide a full week of meals in
late summer to the residents of the Wilkins Avenue shelter.
We address hunger in our community in a variety of ways, including a monthly visit to Manna Food
to assist in packing food boxes for those in need, CanJam--a monthly effort to collect nonperishable food, and
an enormously successful annual Kol Nidre food drive. We also deliver holiday baskets to needy
Jewish families in time for Passover and the High Holidays.
We actively pursue interfaith outreach efforts with local Muslim and Christian groups. Adat Shalom
regularly engages neighboring congregations in dialog, study, and service projects.
Our efforts to preserve the environment begin at our front door with the Mishnah Garden, and also
include educational and hands-on environmental action events for the whole family. See Adat Shalom and Eco-Justice.
We also address international issues with our Haiti project.
We always welcome new volunteers and new ideas. Take a look at this year's list of Social Action
opportunities and join us in making the world a
better place. Contact the Adat Shalom Action Committee and commit to a worthy project today.
Contact Jean Hochron or Jayme Epstein at social.action@adatshalom.net
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
7727 Persimmon Tree Lane
Bethesda, MD 20817
E-mail info@adatshalom.net
Phone: 301-767-3333 x106 | FAX: 301-767-3340
Shabbat Services: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.
We are an affiliate of the
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
and part of the
Chesapeake Region of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
(CRJRF)