Social Action

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

Adat Shalom is committed to Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, and provides members, young and old, numerous opportunities to get involved locally and globally.

Social Action Quick Links

Revising Adat Shalom's Tikkun Olam Guidelines

The Adat Shalom Board of Directors, in March, 2006, voted in favor of a new version of our congregation's existing "Tikkun Olam Guidelines" (originally adopted in 1995), along with some supporting documents. On May 21, 2006, during the annual meeting, the Congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor of these new guidelines, too. As a result of these votes, the following two documents were adopted:

1) The revised “Tikkun Olam Guidelines;

2) Adat Shalom Board Procedures for Adopting Congregational Positions (for information only).

These documents are the result of nearly two years of research, drafting, information sharing (Scroll, listserv), public forums (three, to be exact), incorporating feedback, negotiation, etc. on behalf of many members of the social action committee and others. We would like to thank everyone who has played a role in shaping the final draft you see here, while expressing our particular appreciation for the hard work and perseverance of the co-chairs of the Tikkun Olam Guidelines Task Force, Madeleine Levin and Peter Haas.

After all was said and done, the task force has concluded that the majority of members are comfortable with empowering the Board to speak out in the congregation's name as long as there is an appropriately "high bar" to taking any particular policy position. We believe that the current documents more than satisfy that requirement, guaranteeing that any position taken will have broad support in the congregation.

These new guidelines will alow the congregation to be able OCCASIONALLY to endorse a rally on the mall (i.e. Million Mom March, March for Women's Lives), to speak out when fundamental Jewish/Reconstructionist values are threatened (e.g. genocide in Darfur, gay civil marriage), and to seek to heal this broken world using our minds and voices (advocacy) as well as our hands and backs (service).

Social Action Priorities

These new guidelines will alow the congregation to be able OCCASIONALLY to endorse a rally on the mall (i.e. Million Mom March, March for Women's Lives), to speak out when fundamental Jewish/Reconstructionist values are threatened (e.g. genocide in Darfur, gay civil marriage), and to seek to heal this broken world using our minds and voices (advocacy) as well as our hands and backs (service).

On the housing and homelessness front, each spring a crew of Adat Shalom members helps a low income individual or family make much needed renovations to their home through Yachad's "Sukkot in April" program. We also provide meals and companionship at a homeless shelter run by Community Ministry of Montgomery County during a week in late summer and we have a year-long program to mentor a low-income family to help it achieve economic and family stability. Additionally, our "lunch bunch" group tutors elementary school children in a low-income neighborhood in reading.

In terms of efforts to bring Reconstructionist values into the local and wider community, we have several on-going and and currently evolving projects. After a process that lasted almost two years, the Congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor of modifying our Tikkun Olam Guidelines, in order to allow a limited amount of Congregationally-based advocacy. Our newly formed advocacy subcommittee is charged with implementing this in practice. We're also in the process of creating a Community Supported Agriculture project, which bring locally grown, organic vegetables to Adat Shalom. We are also pursuing interfaith outreach efforts with local Muslim and Christian groups. Activities have included and will continue to include dialog, study, and service projects.

More globally, the social action committee has engaged many members in raising consciousness about the genocide now occuring in the Darfur region of Sudan, and is also playing a leadership role in the larger Jewish community seeking to make our collective voice heard on this terrible tragedy.

Understanding that tikkun olam needs to start as early as possible for our kids, the social action committee is supporting the work of the Kids Care Club. Please explore our pages on this website, and watch for committee notices on the Adat Shalom listserv, for other on-going projects.

Quarerly, during Social Action Shabbat, our committee has an opportunity to speak directly to the congregation regarding one of our many projects. In other words, we're keeping busy trying to make the world a slightly better place to live, and need lots of help. Won't you join us?

Join us in making the world a better place. A pledge form is provided for your convenience.

For additional information about the Social Action Committee, e-mail or call 301-767-3333, Ext. 641. You may also e-mail either Committee Co-chairs, Ted Berman or Jay Marks.

Social Action Events

Social Action Shabbats

Activities Summary and Contact Persons

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)