RiSe Up! House of Social Action
Emergency Relief
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, our hearts go out to all in our community, their family and friends, and all who suffered loss or were affected by the storm. If you or your family were personally affected by the storm and would like to talk, please be in touch with our clergy. In Judaism, in response to natural disasters such as this, our thoughts immediately turn tzedakah. The URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) is raising funds to support the relief efforts and we strongly encourage our congregants to give through the URJ.
U.S. Donations can be made online to the URJ Hurricane Relief Fund or by mail:
Hurricane Relief Fund
Union for Reform Judaism
633 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017
The Reform Movement Stands With Israel
November 15, 2012 | 1 Kislev 5773In response to Israel's military efforts to stop the barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, and the subsequent escalation in violence, today the arms of the Reform Movement, representing 1.5 million Jews in North America, as well as numerous professional organizations and affiliates, are joining together, calling for spiritual, political, and financial support for Israel.
The Reform Movement has long been an unwavering voice for Israel and today we reaffirm our staunch support for Israel in this moment of crisis. Our Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) has been in touch with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), and today our prayers go out to all those affected by the violence, as we hope for a speedy resolution, and a lasting peace. The entire Reform Jewish Movement is working together to provide support for Israel's people who find themselves in the line of fire from Gaza rockets, including those in our communities.
We pray that the day will come when our brothers and sisters in Israel can live in peace, without the fear of rockets landing on their homes and schools, and with the prophets' vision for peace fulfilled. Today, sadly, is not that day.
To that end, we are joining with partners from across the North American Jewish landscape in establishing an Israel Terror Relief Fund. This effort is being coordinated by the Jewish Federations of North America. All donations will go to direct aid, including to our community in Israel, through organizations such as The Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, as they work to provide respite and support to the thousands of children and families in Israel's southern region, food and emergency kits to the elderly and disabled, and many other relief and emergency services.
Your generosity will allow for an immediate response from the North American Jewish community as we demonstrate our continued collective support for Israel.
Donation information, as well as a wide array of other resources - including liturgical suggestions, background information from many of our affiliates, including ARZA, and curricular materials - are available at urj.org/israel.
As we approach Shabbat we pray that it will be a true "Shabbat Shalom," a Shabbat of peace and wholeness that carries into the coming weeks.
ABOUT OUR RISE UP HOUSE OF SOCIAL ACTION: Reform Judaism motivates us to repair physical, economic and
social brokenness wherever it exists: in our families, our local
communities, and our nation, Israel, the Jewish Diaspora and the world.
Rodeph Shalom provides a gateway for volunteers to contribute energy,
talent and resources in pursuit of social justice. We build bridges
with other faith groups and organizations. Through our advocacy,
actions and philanthropy, we pursue the work of Tikkun Olam.
When, as individuals or with our fellow congregants, we take action,
learn about the circumstances of others, respond to crisis, or advocate
policies for social justice, we are working to heal the world, to grow
as individual Jews and to build relationships in our community. At
Rodeph Shalom, our social action work is coordinated, planned and
promoted through our RiSe Up! House of Social Action. This Committee
serves as a forum for ideas and energies and as a conduit for action to
bring our community together. Through RiSe Up! our congregants can share
their interests and activism. RiSe Up! evolves as needs and issues
change. Any member of our community can propose and spearhead a program
and as we throw our communal weight behind that idea, it grows and
thrives. Our tradition calls us to RiSe Up! to the challenges in our
community with creativity, with deep conviction, and with our faith in
one another and in God.
We are excited to have our tzedekah bench with its monthly collections, along with all of the other volunteer opportunities.
If you have any questions, comments or ideas about Social Action please
direct them to the the education office at 215-627-6747 x22.