Exciting news! Rabbi Aaronson and the TJ solidarity mission have safely arrived in Israel, kicking off a trip packed with purpose and action. Our TJ community in Israel is already deeply engaged, from insightful discussions with journalist Shmuel Rosner and Lee Spiegel, whose brother remains a hostage, to hands-on volunteering with organizations like Brothers for Life and Leket.

While emotions run high - from tears and anger to moments of joy and hope - this journey is about all of us, transcending physical boundaries. Rabbi Aaronson will be sharing his experiences daily through videos and images, providing a window into his thoughts, like these snippets from video yesterday:

Overall impressions of Israel is a country that is desperate to have us come visit. That wants the opportunity to talk with us, to share their stories with us, whatever they are; however much they might not jibe with what we understand and we might even believe. They want to share, in a powerful way, their narratives, their stories. And they, I think, take great solace from knowing that so many Jews around the world are traveling to Israel to comfort them and to get comforted by them...

It is not easy to be here, but it's important to be here. And it's important to send our feelings and our prayers and our wishes that somehow things are going to turn the corner, but at the moment, that doesn't seem too possible. We do feel a great sense of accomplishment and a sense of community in coming here; and a great sense that the Israelis need us and we need the Israelis...

I'll keep you updated as best I can. But for now, let us know there is great power in Jews coming together, in overcoming their differences, in working for a better Jewish tomorrow. And I still, even after a long deal, believe that that can be true. Thanks!

Tomorrow, Rabbi Aronson and the group continue their travels, venturing to the Gaza envelope, the site of the Nova Festival, S'derot, and K'far Aza to bear witness. For daily updates on this impactful experience, follow Temple Judea's Instagram and Israel Mission story.

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E-WASTE COLLECTION

Spring cleaning season is upon us, and while you're gearing up to bid farewell to chamtez in April, let's not forget about another clutter culprit: electronic waste! Mark your calendars for April 14 @ 9am because Temple Judea is teaming up with California Recycles and hosting an e-waste recycling event. Drive-thru and drop-off your old gadgets and gizmos to do your part for the planet during Earth month. Can't make it on the big day? No worries! Swing by the TJ lobby through April 18 to drop off your items.  Just a heads up, we can't take household batteries, VHS/DVD/CDs, fluorescent light bulbs, or large appliances. Ready to declutter responsibly? CLICK HERE to find out more and check out our list of accepted items.

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RAC-CA Climate/Get Out the Vote Campaign 2024

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.

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ONE MONTH TO MITZVAH DAY 2024

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, and it’s not just for Social Action committee members. With specially planned activities for our Early Childhood Center families to our TJVillagers, and everything in between- EVERYONE is invited to come and participate! 

Mitzvah Day is a chance to get together with your TJ family for fun focused on social action projects and donation collections that demonstrate our core Jewish values. Although we're still finalizing the lineup of activities and partner organizations, we invite you to save the date. As you start your Spring cleaning, we also invite you to save any new adult socks, new or gently used books, and travel sized toiletries, which we will collect for donation at our Mitzvah Day event. By joining together in these mitzvot, Temple Judea will make a powerful impact. See you there!

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VALLEY DAY OF SERVICE

Registration is open for the San Fernando Valley Day of Service on Sunday, April 14th. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel is partnering with dozens of community groups and nonprofits to work on over 20 different service projects across the San Fernando Valley. We need amazing volunteers like you to come out and show your support for these wonderful organizations! For more information and to register, please visit www.bit.ly/VDS2024.

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SPOTLIGHT ON OUR TJ TEENS

The 7th Grade Tzedek Track participants met with residents at L.A. Jewish Health in March as part of their Senior Citizens and Elder Care unit. It was a Purim celebration that included bingo and bubbles as well as costumes, songs, and interesting conversations sparked by questions like, "Can you describe a moment that you were heroic like Esther?" and "Do you recall a moment where you stood up for yourself like Vashti?" The visit received rave reviews from residents and helped our students gain a greater understanding of what it means to age and the challenges older adults face. Moreover, the smiles from the residents as the students listened to their stories and shared Jewish traditions helped everyone feel a real sense of l'dor v'dor.

Our 8th & 9th Grade Tzedakah Transformed class has finished the bulk of their fundraising. You may have seen their booth at the Purim Carnival where they sold items for mishloach manot gifts. 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, values-filled decisions.  Want to chip in? Make a donation HERE and select "Teen Philanthropy." 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Help plan an amazing Mitzvah Day 2024! Wednesdays, April 3, May. 1 @ 7pm. Help us plan Temple Judea's Mitzvah Day, scheduled for Sunday, May 19! Let's ensure it's a day filled with tikkun olam. Learn More

Earth month E-waste collection. Sunday, April 14 @ 9am - 12pm & all week. Help the planet by keeping electronic waste out of the landfill. TJ's Green Team makes it easy by collecting items like cellphones, printers, TVs and more. Drop off all week. Learn More

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Donate sack lunches to support hungry neighbors. Mondays, Apr. 15 (TJ),  May 6 (TJ) @ 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, Apr. 15, May 6 @ 6:30pm. Jewish teens are invited to meet for connection, reflection, support and fun. Learn More 

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

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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!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT B'TZELEM @ TEMPLE JUDEA