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)
In Links, What JRF is Doing in Tikkun Olam
October 28, 2008 - 10:46am — Rabbi Shawn ZevitIn 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.
- 2009/5769 Year of the Sun/ Solar and Alternative Energy Initiative http://jrf.org/birkat-hahammah
- 4th annual Jewish Social Action Month http://jrf.org/jewish_social_action_month
- Tents of Hope initiative for Darfur, Nov 7-8, 2008 http://www.jrf.org/Tents_of_Hope
- Rabbis for Human Rights, 2nd international conference http://www.jrf.org/rhr-conference
- Addressing labor ethics, kashrut and humane treatmant of animals, http://jrf.org/agriprocessors-update
- Supporting voter registration and rights, http://jrf.org/get-out-the-vote-2008
- World-wide and national poverty and hunger alleviation, http://www.jrf.org/ONE-AntiPoverty, including video link
- JCPA/Interfaith national Colaition on Ending Poverty: http://jrf.org/fight-poverty-with-faith
- 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
November 19, 2007 - 4:43pm — Lisa TuttleWith 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
December 15, 2006 - 1:20pm — Rabbi Shawn Zevit
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.
Places to Donate to Support the People of Darfur
December 15, 2006 - 1:11pm — Rabbi Shawn Zevit
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. JRF's Sustainable Synagogue Initiative - NEW RESOURCES JUST ADDED!
December 15, 2008 - 3:47pm — Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Shawn Zevit and Derek Rosenbaum on Greening Conference Call: Derek takes the idea of a "green" call very seriously.On In 1990 JRF passed a movement-wide resolution (see attachments below) on the environment and congregational life. Since 2006 we offered conference calls and resources on Sustainable Synagogues and Living a Jewish Life Rooted in Ecological Values.
Read the notes from the 2007 call.
With the enthusiasm around JRF's Omer Learning Initiative, as well as the solid response of JRF congregations in the Climate Change and Blessing the Sun (Solar Energy) Initiatives, JRF continues to deepen our work with member communities, other religious movements and partner organizations (JCPA, COEJL) in the area of sustainability.
JRF Sustainable Synagogue Honorees
December 2, 2008 - 3:34pm — Rabbi Shawn Zevit
In 1990, JRF passed a movement-wide resolution on the environment and congregational life. Since 2006 we offered conference calls and resources on Sustainable Synagogues and Living a Jewish Life Rooted in Ecological Values.
- http://jrf.org/Sustainable_Synagogue_Resources
- http://jrf.org/sz-2007-omer-intro
- http://jrf.org/omer/2007
As part of the Sustainable Synagogue Initiative and the 2008 JRF Biennial convention, we honored 15 of the individuals and communities leading the way in our movement in integrating Jewish values and religious life, and sustainable communal policies and practices. Read more to see the full list!
Birkat HaHammah - The Blessing of the Sun, April 8, 2009
November 6, 2008 - 10:33am — Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Birkhat HaChammah - The Year of Blessing the SunNorth American Solar and Renewable Energy Campaign in the Jewish Community
http://jrf.org/birkat-hahammah
The year 5769 (2008-2009) will be the little known Jewish year of “Birkhat HaHammah” the “blessing of the sun.” Every 28 years, the ancient rabbis demarked a time in the Jewish calendar that celebrates the ceremonial return of the sun to its original place in the cosmos during creation.
JRF is part of a national coalition that will use this rare event to focus on solar power and energy stewardship.
See www.blessthesun.org and the Birkhat HaHammah blog http://coejlblog.blog.com/4360537/
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Ritualwell.org- managed through Kolot: The Center for Gender Studies at RRC and in coordination with JRF has also uploaded resources for Birkhat Hachamah at http://www.ritualwell.org/holidays/sitefolder.2008-09-16.5411107743/
Additional Resources on Judaism and the sustainability are available at:
http://jrf.org/omer2008-enviro
JRF Supports HIAS Faith Leaders’ Statement on Immigration
November 4, 2008 - 5:28pm — Rabbi Shawn ZevitA Faith Leaders’ Statement on Immigration
Supported by the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, 2008
http://www.jrf.org/external-affiliations http://www.hias.org
As the leaders of different faith groups and denominations across the country, are gravely concerned with the current political and policy environment surrounding the issue of immigration. We are troubled by signs that our nation is turning away from reforming our nation’s immigration system and is instead pursuing enforcement policies which are ineffective and inhumane.
Enforcement raids, state and local anti-immigrant ordinances, and harmful rhetoric against immigrants are just a few of the signs that our nation is moving away from civil discourse and toward discord and division. As a result, immigrant families are being separated and immigrant and ethnic groups targeted, creating a climate of fear in all of our communities.
Now is the time to restart the debate on immigration reform and develop fair, balanced, and humane solutions to immigration. We offer the following principles to help guide our country in reaffirming our identity as a nation which welcomes immigrants and believes that the best of America is shown in how we treat those who come to our shores:
Anti-immigrant rhetoric has no place in public discourse and should not be used.
Chapel Hill Kehillah Receives National Grant for Interfaith Social Justice Initiative
November 3, 2008 - 4:14pm — Rabbi Shawn ZevitLearn more at www.chkehillah.org/socialaction.htm
We are pleased to announce that the Chapel Hill Kehillah, a synagogue in Chapel Hill, NC, affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, has received a matching grant from the national organization Jewish Funds for Justice to support our first year of congregational membership in the Orange County Organizing Committee.
The Orange County Organizing Committee (OCOC) is building a broad-based organization with the power to take collective action in the name of justice and the common good.
Darfur
