It's a Mitzvah! Your May B'tzelem

05.01.24 | Btzelem

Like many of you, we are profoundly saddened by the disturbing events taking place on college campuses around the country. While freedom of speech and diversity of perspectives is a core tenet of Reform Judaism, during the past few days this value has been undermined by many instances of violence, antisemitism, and intolerance. As we all try to process what is happening in the world, we encourage you to watch Rabbi Aaronson’s video message in this Friday’s Shabbat Judean, where he will be speaking specifically on this issue. If you have a student of any age and you would like pastoral support or help connecting with resources to cope with antisemitism on campus, please email Tammy Lerman at and she can connect you to a member of our clergy team.

Mitzvah day is around the corner

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and turn your Jewish values into action because Mitzvah Day is coming on Sunday, May 19! This opportunity only comes once a year! With specially planned activities for our Early Childhood Center families to our TJVillagers, and everyone in between- the whole community is encouraged come and participate! It's a chance to get together with your TJ family for fun social action projects and donation collections that allows us to practice our core Jewish values.

TJ is partnering with a number of organizations -- including School on Wheels, Family Rescue Center, LA Jewish Health, Deity Dog Rescue, The Assisted Living Specialist, Red Cross, Hope the Mission, and Reclaim our Vote -- to offer plenty of activities for you and your family including:

Creating bookmarks and fleece blankets
Packing pencil cases, hygiene kits, and Skid Row "Doggie Bags"
Writing non-partisan voter outreach postcards and letters to IDF soldiers
Giving blood during our Red Cross Blood Drive from 9am - 3pm
Hearing from our 7th graders as they present their final Tzedek projects and share experiences and insights about the various social justice issues they've explored.
Participating in our donation collection of new or gently used books (starting May 13), travel sized toiletries, and kid's costumes

By joining together in these mitzvot, our Temple Judea community will make a powerful impact. We look forward to seeing you there!

Learn More

CYCLES FOR SMILES

Tuesday, May 14, our ECC will hold Cycles for Smiles, an annual fundraiser and "awareness raiser" for Beit Issie Shapiro, our sister school in Israel for children with severe disabilities. Our TJ ECC children will learn about differences in a variety of ways -- from playing with dolls and participating in activities that explore how we deal with physical differences to reading books about differences and similarities -- followed by participating in an exciting “bike-a-thon” and other fun Israeli-themed events. All money raised will go to Beit Issie Shapiro, so that they can provide adaptive play equipment for the severely disabled children at their campus in Israel. This is an incredible way to teach our children about kindness, empathy, acceptance, and Jewish mitzvot.

What can you do to support this event? Give Generously! In Hebrew, the word “chai” means life. “Chai” also stands for the number 18. We are asking our families to sponsor the children in increments of $18. Give $18, $36, $54, $72, $90, $108… Please help us surpass our goals, and give generously. Ask grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and friends to help by donating “chai” too! Please make checks payable to Beit Issie Shapiro or donate online HERE. Let’s be grateful for what we have and reach out to those we can help. If everyone donates, we can make a real difference in the lives of some very special children. ECC parents are also invited to come to school on Tuesday, May 14th to cheer their class class on and participate in some activities together. Your participation will take less than an hour but will have a powerful impact.

RAC-CA Climate Campaign 2024 & Reclaim Our Vote Non-Partisan Voter Outreach Campaign 2024

CLIMATE CAMPAIGN: Join with fellow Jews from across SoCal on May 5th, 1:00-4:00 @ Temple Israel of Hollywood to learn about RAC-CA’s campaign for 2024. Our work will center around educating voters to KEEP the law which creates a buffer zone around new oil drilling, creating a 3200 ft. setback from schools, homes and other sensitive areas. This is a campaign encompassing climate, racial justice, public health, get out the vote and democracy; all our voices are essential to combat the oil/gas industry. Our day will be fun and educational--building community and momentum to win this battle! Click here to register.

VOTER OUTREACH: Temple Judea's social justice group is excited to start our 2024 non-partisan voter outreach with a Reclaim our Vote postcard campaign partnered with RAC and Center for Common Ground. We've worked with these groups for several election cycles because this program has a proven track record of effectively increasing voter turnout at a higher rate than other programs. Plus, they maintain high standards and use accurate and targeted mailing lists, contacting voters who often are not on other mailing lists including purged voters, voters who do not have phones or live in rural areas. You can confidently participate in this program knowing your effort can make a difference in the 2024 election by helping others to register and vote.

Our first round of postcards are going out between April 26 and June 3. We'll provide postcard kits - each kit has 30 postcards, addresses, printed labels & instructions. All you have to do is write some short and non-partisan postcards, supply postcard stamps, and then drop them in the mail! We have much work ahead of us between now and mid- October, and we hope you'll help us grow our group and hit our goal of 25,000 cards this election. Friends are welcome to join our efforts too! Ready to lend a hand? Reach out to and request your postcard kits today!

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR TJ TEENS

The 7th Grade Tzedek Track participants concluded their unit on LGBTQ+ rights by learning from an educator with JQ International about the ways teens can show respect for their LGBTQ+ peers. They also discussed and explored paths to community, further education, and support. Teens chose a Jewish value to connect with issues that queer teens face and made posters for JQ International to carry in June's LA Pride Parade.

Our 8th & 9th Grade Tzedakah Transformed class has finished the bulk of its fundraising. They're close to their goal and have begun the process of reviewing the requests their Philanthropy Board has received to determine how to distribute the funds. These teens have been learning how to go before other philanthropic boards to request funding as well as how to listen to one another in order to make challenging, value-filled decisions. Want to chip in? Make a donation HERE and select "Teen Philanthropy."

UPCOMING EVENTS

Learn about RAC-CA's 2024 Campaign. Sunday, May 5 @ 1pm, Temple Israel of Hollywood. Our day will be fun and educational--building community and momentum to achieve our goals. Learn More & Register

Donate sack lunches to support hungry neighbors. Mondays, May 6, May 20, June 3 @ 10am. Pack sack lunches at home (every first and third Monday of each month) for our hungry neighbors at Hope the Mission. Bring them to the designated location and our volunteers will deliver them! Learn More

A brave space for LGBTQ+ Teens.
Mondays, May 6, May 20 @ 6:30pm. Jewish teens are invited to meet for connection, reflection, support and fun. Learn More

Book collection to benefit School on Wheels. Monday, May 13 - May 19. We’ll be collecting books - new & gently used! Books that are donated will be turned in for credit to a bookstore that takes used books and the credit will be gifted to School on Wheels when we pack backpacks in August. Learn More

ECC Cycles for Smiles. Tuesday, May 14 @ 9:30am. Cycles for Smiles is a fundraiser and “awareness-raiser” for our sister school Beit Issie Shapiro in Israel. The money raised will go directly to helping children with severe disabilities. Learn More & Donate Here

Mitzvah Day 2024! Sunday May 19. Activities @10:30am, Blood Drive @ 9am-3pm. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and turn your Jewish values into action! This opportunity only comes once a year, and it’s not just for Social Action committee members - EVERYONE is invited to participate! Learn More

Interfaith Solidarity Network: One Heart. Sunday, May 19 @ 4pm, First Presbyterian Church, Encino. ISN, in partnership with LA City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, present a festival of music, dance, poetry for building peace, inspiring hope & spreading love. Learn More & Register

Pathways to Citizenship Workshop. Saturday, June 1 @ 9am, Parish Center. Who do you know that wants to become a citizen? We will help them achieve that goal. Attend an upcoming workshop or call Judy Rutt at 213-700-9363. Learn More

Ongoing Initiatives

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!
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