Social Justice
Using Jewish values as a guide, Temple is engaged in many justice areas. Temple lay leaders have built task forces focused on specific topics. If you want to get involved in any or all of these, please email Rabbi Ricky Kamil at rkamil@templeisrael.com, Marcy Frost at mfrost@marcyfrostlaw.com, or Steve Liss at sliss24@gmail.com.
Anti-Semitism – Anti-Semitism has risen sharply over the last few years. We are bringing educational programs on this issue to Temple and actively engaging the wider Twin Cities community in these critical conversations.
Housing Justice – We believe that everyone should have a home. Join us in our advocacy efforts, and attend the Families Moving Forward Housing Celebration on
Friday, October 6.
Immigration Justice – In January, Temple Israel began hosting a family in need, living the value of welcoming all. Our current family includes a 40-year-old Angolan woman seeking asylum for herself and her 11-year-old son. Both she and her son are enthusiastically enrolled in school. They are native Portuguese speakers but learning English quickly. Our responsibilities as hosts are varied. We help with collecting items for an apartment, school, transportation, and just learning about the community. There are many opportunities to volunteer.
The most oft-repeated commandment in the Torah is to “love the stranger.” In these difficult times, we have a sacred opportunity to put these words into action by helping one or more refugee families who are resettling in the Twin Cities. Temple Israel is committed to this work. Over the last few years, through the leadership of the Immigrant Justice Task Force, Temple has been a leader in loving the stranger. Recently, we were contacted by the Minnesota Council of Churches who needed to house a Somali refugee family in just under a week. There was a quick turnaround and with the help of some great volunteers, we were able to get the apartment ready in one of the buildings owned by Temple, adjacent to the synagogue parking lot for the arrival of the family. Through the nonprofit Bridging, we were able to furnish the apartment, and through a great collection of volunteers, we have been able to handle all the tasks of welcoming a family to Minneapolis. We still need help. If you are able to help with the cost of the apartment, we are asking if you would be willing to donate a day, a week, or a month of rent. If you are able to do so, please click here.
There are other ways you can help; we are still looking for volunteers to help with some day-to-day tasks. If you would like to help in other ways, or talk about this initiative and learn more about Immigrant Justice at Temple, please email Rabbi Ricky Kamil rkamil@templeisrael.com to set up a time. To donate, please click here. Under the fund to which you’d like to donate, please choose the “Immigration Justice Fund.”
Rent Costs: Day: $30/day, $225/week, $900/month Grocery Costs: $54/week Clothes Costs: $18/week
Racial Justice – As our congregation continues to expand our understanding of race and racism, we gather on the third Tuesday of each month to discuss books, podcasts, and videos that help us confront our implicit biases and practices and examine public policies that have limited opportunity for people of color. If you are interested in joining in these conversations, email Wendy Schwartz at wschwartz@templeisrael.com for the links. More Resources: For a Temple-curated book list on confronting racial bias, click here. To hear from members of Temple's BIPOC group, click here. To watch The Shofar Calls: Three Great Voices for Racial Justice, click here. To watch Revisiting Thanksgiving: An Anti-Racist Perspective with guest Dr. Joe Hobot, click here. To watch Skin in the Game: How Anti-Semitism Animates White Nationalism with guest Eric K. Ward, click here.
Reproductive Rights – We are committed to safe reproductive rights for all. Our group is building partnerships with Minnesota organizations helping in this effort.
Sustainability and Climate Action – Temple Israel is setting a goal to become Gold LEED Certified in the coming months, the culmination of a multi-year effort.
Key Dates:
October 1 – Sustainability and Climate Action at TEKO Grand Opening Event
October 6 – Families Moving Forward Housing Celebration
November 3 – Thankfulness Weekend
November 10 – Immigration Justice Weekend
November 17 – Make Sure Everyone is Fed Weekend