December B'tzelem
12.04.24 | Btzelem
By now, you have probably noticed Temple Judea's new blue, green, and black three-stream waste stations! You may also find yourself wondering what goes where. Here are a few guidelines to help us get it right and be shomrei adamah (good stewards of the earth):
Green (compost) receptacle: The best rule of thumb for composting is that if it comes from plants or animals (and is uncoated), it can be composted. Bio-plastics and plastic-like items are NOT compostable at this time, even if labeled biodegradable. You can compost...
- ALL food waste (not just fruit & veggies!)—even chicken bones—following new California guidelines. This helps reduce methane emissions, a major contributor to climate change.
- Plates, Napkins, and Paper Items: Compost bamboo plates, cutlery, and UNCOATED paper plates, napkins, and clean pizza boxes. After eating, simply toss them with any leftover food into the green bin.
- Hot & Cold Cups: Paper cups that feel waxy are coated and should go in the trash. If the cup absorbs grease (like a pizza box), it can be composted.
Blue (recycle) bin: Free your recyclables! -- they should NOT be in bags to aid sorting. Plastic coated in film and trash bags are NOT recyclable in LA. If you are purchasing trash bags for your recyclables, you are literally throwing away money! In LA County, plastics with a 1, 2, or 5, can be recycled if clean and dry.
- Empty Cans & Bottles: Empty all containers before recycling; if they contain food, place them in the black landfill bin.
- Clean Paper Only: Compost used paper napkins and pizza boxes.
- Plastic Cups & Lids: Think 1, 2, 5, clean and dry. And, skip the plastic utensils and straws, which can’t be recycled.
Black (landfill) bin: This one is easy -it's or everything non-compostable or non-recyclable, like plastic bags, snack wrappers, and coated cups. As LA Sanitation says, "When in doubt, throw it out!" But let’s minimize landfill waste to reduce our environmental impact All it takes is a bit of mindfulness!
Planning an event? Consider a quick "trash talk" or assign a waste stream ambassador to guide participants. You can also attach sample items to bin tops to eliminate guesswork. The Green Team is here to help! E-mail for a free consult or for event assistance, or check out this graphic to help TJ be green!
SUPPORT OUR CARING COMMUNITY
At Temple Judea, our Caring Community embodies the spirit of Tikkun Olam—repairing the world—by offering compassionate congregant-to-congregant support during life's highs and lows. Volunteers are at the heart of this vital work, making personal calls and delivering gift bags and baskets to new parents, the sick, and the newly bereaved. They also write tribute acknowledgments, greet congregants as they arrive for Shabbat services, and provide meals to families in need. For the last five years, they've also honored our High School seniors with scholarships in memory of their beloved founder, Judy Scharf. Through their actions, they offer not just assistance, but a connection that strengthens the fabric of our community.
Caring Community depends on the generosity of volunteers and donors like you for the success of this work. There are countless ways you can help, and every contribution counts. By volunteering, you’ll experience the joy of making a real difference in someone’s life. By donating, you’ll help sustain our scholarship program and provide much-needed support to those in need.
Volunteer: No matter your availability, your time and kindness will make a lasting impact. Email to learn more about volunteering opportunities.
Donate: To make a donation, click here and, in the "Type" dropdown, select either the "Judy Scharf Memorial Scholarship" or the "Ellen M. Rose Caring Community Fund”.
In addition to these ongoing efforts and to help support its Scholarship Program, Caring Community is introducing community baking classes at Temple Judea on select Sundays during Religious School hours. The first class will take place on January 26 @ 9:00 am, and participants are invited to make a small $18 donation to support the Judy Scharf Memorial Scholarship. This initiative is just one example of how Caring Community continues to engage and support our congregation. Together, we can continue to build a community of support that lifts one another up!
GRATITUDE FOR THE THANKSGIVING MEAL BOX INITIATIVE
Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful community, the organization of our Social Action Committee, and the fierce leadership of our project chair, Jennifer Landis, this year's Thanksgiving Meal Box program was a huge success! TJ families donated over $8,000 together, we were able to support the Family Rescue Center in Canoga Park, which serves individuals and families across the West San Fernando Valley by packing and delivering 100 boxed Thanksgiving meals for families in need. Each box we packed contained enough food for an abundant meal for a family of four - including a voucher for a turkey and all the fixings! Thank you for making this project a resounding success again this year!.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE LUNCH AT A TIME
This year, our Sack Lunch program set a lofty goal of delivering 15,500 lunches to Hope the Mission to support our homeless neighbors in 2024. Thanks to the dedication of our TJ community, as of the end of November, we've already packed 11,739 lunches! As we approach the end of the year, the final opportunity to contribute in 2024 is Monday, December 16 between 10-11am. It's a great chance to make a meaningful impact—whether you involve your family or gather some friends to help. Plus, your donation is a tax write-off! Although this will be the last collection day for 2024, Temple Judea's commitment to feeding the homeless continues into the new year, starting Monday, January 2, 2025.
UPDATE: AN IMPACTFUL SOCIAL ACTION TRIP!
In November, 8th and 9th grade teens from Temple Judea traveled to the American South on a once in a lifetime Civil Rights experience in partnership with Tzedek America. Teens traveled to Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, Alabama as well as to Atlanta, Georgia to learn about the Civil Rights movement from a variety of guest speakers and hands-on learning experiences. Students met with a foot soldier who participated in the Children's March in Birmingham, walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and visited the Legacy Museum, Sculpture Garden and the Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. Teens had the opportunity to tour Selma with the son of Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal attorney and to meet MLK Jr.'s bodyguard. The trip culminated with a visit to MLK Jr.'s birth home and grave site. This unforgettable trip allowed teens to learn about the history of racism from the Transatlantic Slave Trade through today's mass incarceration epidemic. Students returned changed; with a new understanding of the plight of Black Americans along with ideas on how to use their own voices in the ongoing fight for truth and justice.
Our next trip is for 10th-12th graders. January 30 - February 3, students are invited to travel with Rabbi Rosenstein on the L’Taken Trip to Washington D.C. In the nation’s capital, students will have their voices heard, lobbying congress for a social justice cause they believe in. More info and registration here: Temple Judea/RAC L'Taken Social Justice Seminar.
7TH GRADE TZEDEK TRACK
7th Grade's Tzedek Track class has spent their last few sessions studying mental health. Students have explored the staggering statistics regarding Americans suffering from mental health conditions, learned coping skills and studied the effects of social media on mental health. 7th graders were visited by guest speakers from Jewish addiction recovery center, Beit T'shuvah, for a candid conversation about addiction and mental health. Students will soon be moving onto their next unit on Civil Rights.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Ongoing Initiatives
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All of the work we do aligns with initiatives and policies supported by the Union of Reform Judaism both nationally and in California. Every day, we are inspired by the thousands of volunteers in all of these different areas who work tirelessly to make a difference. YOU could be one! Learn more and get involved!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT B'TZELEM @ TEMPLE JUDEA
