Tikkun Olam

Welcome to JRF's Tikkun Olam Pages

Shawn ZevitJRF is committed to leading and supporting congregations in Tikkun HaNefesh V'Olam, the healing and repair of the individual person and the world at large.

Browse our growing library of tikkun olam resources, organized by type.

"Justice, justice you shall pursue" (Deut. 16:20).

“A theology which is not a plan of social action is merely a way of preaching and praying. It is a menu without the dinner.” (Mordecai Kaplan, Not So Random Thoughts)  read more »

In Links, What JRF is Doing in Tikkun Olam

In preparing my report for the JRF board meeting, I've collected a handy set of web links which describe JRF's active initiatives in Tikkun Olam. I thought it would useful to share these on the JRF web site.

  1. 2009/5769 Year of the Sun/ Solar and Alternative Energy Initiative http://jrf.org/birkat-hahammah
  2. 4th annual Jewish Social Action Month http://jrf.org/jewish_social_action_month
  3. Tents of Hope initiative for Darfur, Nov 7-8, 2008 http://www.jrf.org/Tents_of_Hope
  4. Rabbis for Human Rights, 2nd international conference http://www.jrf.org/rhr-conference
  5. Addressing labor ethics, kashrut and humane treatmant of animals, http://jrf.org/agriprocessors-update
  6. Supporting voter registration and rights, http://jrf.org/get-out-the-vote-2008
  7. World-wide and national poverty and hunger alleviation, http://www.jrf.org/ONE-AntiPoverty, including video link
  8. JCPA/Interfaith national Colaition on Ending Poverty: http://jrf.org/fight-poverty-with-faith
  9. JRF has a long history of supporting justice in our country's immigration policies and working with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS, http://www.hias.org/) in ensuring humane treatment of immigrants and fair Federal immigration policies. We have been part of an interfaith coalition and process that has developed an interfaith statement on integration.

Together we can make a difference: JRF's Sustainable Synagogue Initiative

With the enthusiasm around JRF's Omer Learning Initiative, as well as the solid response of JRF congregations in the Climate Change Initiative, JRF is continues to deepen its greening work with member communities next year.

Our hope is to motivate and educate our congregations in sustainable practices, with the goal of reaching 100 percent participation in the years ahead, recognizing those JRF communities who excel at sustainable practices at the JRF Convention in Boston, 2008.

Learn about the Sustainable Synagogue Initiative on the JRF website's environment pages at jrfSustainable_Synagogue_Resources.

For more information contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam, SZevit@jrf.org

Darfur Action

Photo of a child from Darfur.Do not stand idly by while your neighbor's blood is being shed. —Leviticus 19:16

What is at stake is our own humanity. —Elie Wiesel

Whoever can prevent any person throughout the world from committing a sin but does not, is responsible for that person's sin. —Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 54b

The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is participating in the Save Darfur Coalition effort to stop the atrocities and impoverishment in the Darfur region of Sudan.

View our Darfur resources.  read more »

Places to Donate to Support the People of Darfur

American Jewish World Service Logo The American World Jewish Service, The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief and The Save Darfur Coalition recommended agencies for making donations to support the people of Darfur.
 read more »

Heshvan: International Jewish Social Action Month

JRC New Orleans Service Trip

The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation is once again enthusiastically joining Jewish communities, organizations and individuals from around the world in celebrating a month of social action and Jewish unity. The Hebrew month of Heshvan – which in 2009/5770 will be from October 19-November 17, 2009 – has been declared Jewish Social Action Month (JSAM).  read more »

Or Hadash joins "YES" coalition

Yes Coalition

Has Or Hadash always been welcoming to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people?  Yes!  Has Or Hadash been officially listed as a welcoming congregation so that people searching for a synagogue will know that?  Not until now!  read more »

Fast for Darfur

Fast For Darfur

On April 27th, Mia Farrow began fasting in solidarity with the people of Darfur, who face ever worsening suffering since Sudanese President Bashir expelled over a dozen aid organizations from the country.  read more »

JRF co-sponsors Judaism and Sustainability Leadership Conference

Rabbis Epstein, Zevit, Eisenstat and DobbRabbis Epstein, Zevit, Eisenstat and DobbOn May 11 and 12, 2009, JRF’s Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Rabbi Nancy Epstein, Rabbi Jeff Eisenstat, JRF affiliate Adat Shalom’s Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb represented the JRF at a meeting of more than 40 leaders from across the broad spectrum of the organized American Jewish community for the first national Jewish Sustainability Conference. We gathered at the incredible Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center outside Baltimore for two days of learning, workshops, and discussion on Judaism and sustainability.  read more »

2009 Omer Study and Action Initiative

2009 JRF OMER STUDY AND ACTION INITIATIVE (APRIL - JUNE 2009/5769)

"Justice, justice you shall pursue" (Deut. 16:20).

“A theology which is not a plan of social action is merely a way of preaching and praying. It is a menu without the dinner.” (Mordecai Kaplan, Not So Random Thoughts)

Dear Hevre,

Thanks to all of you who have been helping to promote the various JRF and other national/international initiatives happening this Pesach and beyond. Our Omer Initiative this year is focused on partnership activities, additional PEARL tikkun olam calls and program/ritual resources. Please keep drawing people's attention to these initiatives, and where you can let us know what they are up to so we can highlight local/regional activities on our webpages.

2008 Omer teachings on community building and sustained action
2007 Omer teachings on environmental sustainability
2006 Omer teachings on hunger and poverty
2005 Omer teachings on Pirke Avot

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam
Congregational Consultant
215.885.5601 x 24 / fax: 215.885.5603
Cleveland Office: 216-591-1886

For Tikkun Olam see http://www.jrf.org/to
JRF ~ Transformative Judaism for the 21st Century www.jrf.org

ANTI-HUNGER AND POVERTY INITIATIVES  read more »

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