Social Action Committee

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"If justice and righteousness defines what it means to be a Jew, then we must constantly search for ways to implement our values. If it’s the foundation of our covenant, we cannot say, “I tried, I did my share.” Rather, every day we have to wake up and ask, “Is there something that I can do? Is there something that I didn’t do? Is there something that I could try again?” --Rabbi Steven Rein, Kol Nidre Sermon, 2017

The goal of the Social Action Committee of Agudas Achim is to create opportunities for Agudas Achim members to perform Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), Tzedakah (Righteous Giving), and Gemilut Chasadim (Deeds of Loving Kindness). We provide opportunities for our membership to engage in education and dialogue, advocacy, and direct service around the following priorities of Loving Kindness.

1. Combatting hunger and homelessness. This includes our congregation’s long term relationship with ALIVE! and Carpenter's Shelter, our Good Deeds Day service projects, and our upcoming MLK 2020 Day of Service meal packing event.

2. Anti-racism, with a special focus on restorative justice in our education and criminal justice systems, and building our relationship with Alfred Street Baptist Church.

3. Refugee and immigrant support, in partnership with HIAS and other NoVA synagogue social action committees.

4. Citizenship engagement, including voter registration and partnership with other congregations on candidate forums.

5. Gun violence prevention, in the interest of the very Jewish value of preserving life.

6. Muslim-Jewish dialogue and anti-bigotry work, including our relationship with a local mosque.

Get involved: Contact Committee Chair Katherine Allen at socialaction@agudasachim-va.org.

Racism and Police Brutality

"The Book of Ecclesiastes teaches us, “עת לחשות ועת לדבר - There is a time to be silent and a time to speak out.” As a community we cannot remain silent after watching the shattering video of a police officer keeping his knee on the neck of George Floyd who was crying out “I can’t breathe.” Such inhumane treatment of another human being requires a collective response from all people of conscience. The pursuit of justice is a fundamental tenet of Judaism, and thus we stand together with our brothers and sisters to declare that all life is sacred, and all people are equal before the law in a democratic society. " - Rabbi Rein, June 1, 2020

The Social Action Committee of Agudas Achim has as one of its key areas of focus working with our brothers and sisters of color to combat racism in our community. We say that black lives matter. Get involved with our work to increase our reach!

Here are some resources for this time.

1. A video message and letter from the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria Chief of Police.

2. Speak Out: The NAACP has a petition in support of justice for Floyd George and we encourage people to sign.

Our partners at Alfred Street Baptist Church recommended that social media statements showing support for our African American friends and their community at this time are deeply meaningful.

3. Self-Education: This is a critical part of racial teshuva. Avodah has resources to support white Jews' racial teshuva on their blog and web site, including videos and workshops from Jewish leaders of Color such as Dr. Koach Frazier and Yavilah McCoy, and a Shavuot piece by National Program Director Sarra Alpert on the racial divisions of COVID-19, and "The Torah Case for Reparations," by Avodah’s spiritual advisor, Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein. In support of Jews of Color, we urge congregants to consider supporting the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative, which now has a fund to support Jews of Color affected by COVID-19.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a "Talking about Race" portal with useful resources as well. Families with children may want to explore Embrace Race to learn how to help our children short circuit the subconscious racism many white children, including Jews, learn from American culture.

4. Congregants may also want to consider learning further from the organizations Campaign Zero or Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). Campaign Zero can give you ideas on what you might do to help end police violence and it also tracks legislation. Anti-racism work also involves asking uncomfortable questions about our own biases about the world around us, and SURJ facilitates such difficult discussions, questioning assumptions, and learning to have conversations that include strong views of different people. SURJ will hold a June 9th Zoom workshop on Alternatives to Calling the Police.

Social Action Committee Activities

Resources for B'nai Mitzvah Projects

Resources on Gun Violence Prevention

Special Focus 5780: Year of Song and Service

Special Focus 5779: Refugees and Immigrants

Special Focus 5778: Safe Spaces

Special Focus 5777: Racial Injustice

Ongoing Projects

Carpenter's Shelter News

Note from Shelter Staff:

For more than 30 years, Carpenter’s Homeless Shelter has opened its hands to lend much-needed support to thousands of men, women and children in Northern Virginia. Founded by an interfaith effort in a church basement in the winter of 1988, Carpenter’s has relied on churches and synagogues to provide meals, clothing, tutoring, and most importantly, listening ears to homeless families and adults as they strive to live a more productive and healthy life.

The shelter is incredibly grateful for their many years of support of our good work in the community.

Many thanks to the following congregations which have graciously supported the New Heights campaign:
Agudas Achim Congregation
Alfred Street Baptist Church
Christ Church
Christ the King
Commonwealth Baptist Church
Good Shepherd Lutheran
Grace Community Church
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill
St. Paul Christian Center
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Washington Street United Methodist Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church

Shelter Redevelopment News
The new shelter is much more than just a building, it is a safe, welcoming refuge for all. Shelter staff are working with vendors to make sure the furniture, technology and security are in sync with one another. They are striving to make residents’ transition from homeless to housed as productive and positive as possible.

Sun, September 20 2020
2 Tishrei 5781

Social Action Soiree

Monday, October 19 | 8 PM

Our next book selection will be "Homegoing" by Yaa Gyasi.

Connect with Zoom.

Meeting ID: 951 4380 0186
Passcode: 861348

Dial-in: +1 301 715 8592

All are welcome to a monthly Social Action Committee initiative wherein participants will read books, watch films and visit museum exhibitions (online and in person when permitted) of current interest related to social action, racial justice and other relevant issues consistent with the mission of the Social Action Committee. For information please contact Deborah Rosen.

Read ahead:

Potential Book List

The books we've read:

"The Color of Love" by Marra Gad, September 2020

Casa Chirilagua Urgent Needs

Just to the north of shul, Arlandria is the home of many immigrants and refugees from Central America and has been hit particularly hard by the virus. Across Alexandria, the Latinx population has the highest number of infections, with nearly a quarter of the city's total concentrated in the 22305 zip code. Many of the residents of this neighborhood are also lower income, leaving them with smaller safety nets to cope with the economic consequences of the stay-at-home order.

Because of the conditions, demand for Casa Chirilagua’s services has become enormous. Guided by the commandment to love our neighbors, we maintain a responsibility to step up and help others. Please donate directly to CASA.

Requested items:
Clorox Bleach
Laundry Detergent
Cleanser
Household cleaner/disinfectant
Dish Soap
Maseca/ Corn Flour
Rice
Pasta
Dry beans
Canned Goods

Donate directly to Casa Chirilagua.

2020 Voter Engagement Campaign

Tuesday, July 7 | 8 PM

Join with Zoom.

The Social Action Committee of Agudas Achim is excited to launch AAC’s 2020 Voter Engagement Campaign.

The mission is to empower all people to exercise their right to vote, regardless of party or politics, through a range of congregation-wide, non-partisan activities. The campaign's goals are three-fold:

1. Mobilize all members of our congregation to vote in the November election and strive to attain 100% voter participation.

2. Outreach to under-represented and minority communities in Virginia and beyond to support voter participation.

3. Engage our teens: We believe it is a priority to engage AAC teenagers in learning about civic engagement by offering them the opportunity to write postcards and send texts to encourage voter participation.

Voting is a basic right in a democracy. In the 2016 elections, nearly 43% of eligible voters did not exercise their right to vote, according to the Washington Post. We believe that in these times, with so many important issues at stake, it is incumbent on all of us, regardless of our political views, to help increase the percentage of individuals exercising their right to vote.

Who Can Participate? We invite all members of Agudas Achim to volunteer and join this nonpartisan effort to encourage civic engagement in the 2020 election.

Is it permissible for Agudas Achim to have a get out the vote program? Yes. According to the IRS, tax-exempt religious organizations are not prohibited from conducting voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides), voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, if conducted in a non-partisan manner.

What? Given the context and constraints of COVID-19, we will chiefly use the tools of phone banking, postcard writing, and texting from the safety of our own homes.

How do I get involved? To pledge to vote or to volunteer, please fill out this Google Form. Save the date to join AAC’s 2020 Voter Engagement Campaign Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, July 7 at 8 p.m. to learn more. We will hear from Rabbi Rein about what’s Jewish about civic engagement; learn about local voting and access, how to get involved and next steps.

SAC Update

updated May 6, 2020

Financial Donations Needed for Food and Housing

ALIVE! needs cash donations to purchase food by the pallet-load for the hungry in out midst. Please consider a financial donation to ALIVE!.

Other organizations that have been supported by our community and continue to have great need include:

Capital Area Food Bank
Arlington Food Assistance Center
Carpenter's Shelter
United Community (serving a range of needs along the Route 1 corridor)
Pathways to Housing DC (serving the homeless on the streets of DC)

Donations of food are not being accepted at this time. Some of these organizations may list on their websites ways that healthy individuals can safely volunteer.

Care for Community Volunteers Needed in Alexandria

Volunteer Alexandria is looking for healthy adults and teens who can help with various food distribution programs, particularly for children.

Virginia Hospital Center Donations Needed

VHC has requested unopened packages of gloves, goggles, hand sanitizer, face shields, masks, and bleach/bleach wipes. They cannot accept homemade masks. Please call 703-717-4653 or email to coordinate donations via their safe and approved acceptance process.

Social Action Ongoing Activities

For a list of ongoing projects and partners, click here.

Sun, September 20 2020 2 Tishrei 5781

Social Action Committee