Social Action

Acting for Tzedek and Chesed

We have a very strong social action group at RTBI dedicated to the principles of Tzedek, or charity, and Chesed, or loving-kindness. These principles are cornerstones of the social action committee’s mission of Tikun Olam, or repair of the world. Caring congregants give support to the under-privileged members of our society, raise funds for a variety of social, political and environmental causes, collect food and supplies for those in need and raise awareness of issues of injustice and inequality in the world.

Caring (Chesed)

In the past our activities have included:

RALLIES AND DONATION DRIVES
Members of RTBI attended a rally in Montclair, NJ, to raise a unified voice against the genocide in Darfur.

SHELTER OUR SISTERS
Volunteers wrapped gifts during the Holiday season at major retailers; patrons paid for the wrapping and the stores donated the funds to Shelter our Sisters, an agency in Bergen County providing emergency shelter, transitional housing and life saving programs to women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

MEALS FOR THE HOMELESS
Several times a year RTBI volunteers prepare and serve a meal for up to 200 people at the Bergen County Homeless Shelter in Hackensack. For many of the beneficiaries, this is the only meal they will eat this day.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
RTBI participated in A Light Among the Nations, a national campaign launched by the Coalition for the Environment and Jewish Life. We presented a showing of An Inconvenient Truth and sold compact fluorescent light bulbs in an effort to bring more awareness of global climate change. We also sold green bags from EarthWise to use in lieu of plastic grocery bags. We continue to “green” the synagogue through the products and practices we use such as recycled paper products, environmentally friendly cleaning and janitorial supplies, and real plates and silverware (as we reduce our usage of paper & plastic disposables). RTBI supports the efforts of GreenFaith to improve the environment and the lives of others.

VOLUNTEERING FOR THE ELDERLY
Committee members volunteer at area senior nursing residences on holidays to give the staff members some time off; they entertain residents with arts & crafts, song and games.

CENTER FOR FOOD ACTION
Our generous members support the Center for Food Action (CFA) year ’round with donations of need pantry staples. We ask all visitors to bring non-perishables to RTBI to help us stock CFA’s shelves.

Social Action (Tzedek)

In addition to collecting food and pantry items for Center for Food Action, we  also collect items for other charitable endeavors throughout the year such as school supplies, books and toys for needy children; linens to line cages and rescue boxes for Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge; and toiletries for clients of the Bergen County shelter. Please contact Social Action Chair Sue Coleman for details or look in our bulletin for information.

We are currently involved in collected new or gently used shoes to support Soles4Souls (http://www.soles4souls.org), through December 2011. Please bring your children’s, men’s and women’s shoes of any kind to RTBI — athletic, dress, casual, flats, heels, boots. The shoes will be distributed worldwide and will make the difference for many in terms of being able to get an education or a job.

We have collection bins in our lobby.

Please remember to collect your plastic bottle caps and bring to the box in our coat room for recycling through Aveda’s program to save marine mammals from the hazardous effects of having these be dispersed into waterways when plastic bottles are recycled.