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Social Action Committee

Social Action Committee

"If justice and righteousness define 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

Special Focus 5782:
Local Community Activism

If not now, when? How do you give back to your community?

This year, the Social Action Committee will highlight the importance of volunteering and engaging deeply in our local community.  On Social Action Shabbat, we want to hear from all Agudas members this year about how and where they volunteer!  By learning each others' stories, and the history of our own city, we can see the good our action does to repair at least one small corner of the world.

Events 

•    Fall: Voter Registration and Get Out the Vote for Virginia elections
•    Kol Nidre: Operation Isaiah food collection
•    October 10: Allyship and Sisterhood with the AAPI Community
•    October 24: Ugandan Jewish Music with Rabbi Gershom Sizomu (Postponed from 5781)
•    November 14: PowerPack food collection and Apple Gleaning 
•    November 21: Racial Wealth Gap Simulation for Teens 
•    December 10-11: Social Action Shabbat on Volunteering
•    January 17, 2022: MLK Day of Service Meal Packing 
•    March 30, 2022:  Charles King on Gods of the Upper Air
•    April 3, 2022: Good Deeds Day 
•    May 22, 2022: Spring PowerPack collection

   Get involved: Contact Committee Chair Ben Kraut. Our monthly committee meeting happens every second Thursday of the month and we hold our Social Action Book and Movie Club monthly as well. 

Mission
   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 social justice adn direct service around the following priorities :
   1. Combatting hunger and homelessness, including through our partnerships with ALIVE! and Yachad, and our annual MLK Day of Service projects.
   2. Anti-racism, including sustaining our relationship with Alfred Street Baptist Church.
   3. Citizenship engagement, including voter registration and partnership with other congregations on candidate forums.
   4. Refugee and immigrant support, in partnership with HIAS and other NoVA synagogue social action committees.
   5. Our committee also values and has engaged in activities to prevent gun violence and combat bigotry through Muslim-Jewish dialogue.
 
Get involved: Contact Committee Chair Ben Kraut.
Social Action Committee Activities
Special Focus 5781: Welcoming All Jewish Cultures
Special Focus 5780: Year of Song and Service
Special Focus 5779: Refugees and Immigrants 
Special Focus 5778: Safe Spaces
Special Focus 5777: Racial Injustice
 
Resources for B'nai Mitzvah Projects
 
Tue, May 24 2022 23 Iyyar 5782