CBT - Social Action

Our mission is to engage congregants in seeking social justice and repairing the world, to model Jewish values for our children, and to make the world more just and caring. To accomplish these goals, the Social Action Committee is undertaking the following activities.

This is an interfaith group that works together to promote social justice. Past programs have dealt with truancy, preschool education, youth incarceration, and blighted housing.

These are held three times a year at Beth Tikvah. Many volunteer positions are available in addition to donating blood.

The Temple has adopted Como Elementary School in Colulmbus. Congregants tutor once a week at a time of their choosing. Children’s books are collected on an ongoing basis to be distributed free to the children twice a year. We collect school supplies and basic used clothing for preK-5 grade students. Packets of books and school supplies are assembled and donated to preschool students to be distributed during home visits by their teacher.. A parent support group called Parent Conversations has been started for Como parents by the tutors.

meets once a month to work on projects to support Mitzvah Day and other on going projects. This isn’t a craft group in the traditional sense.. Projects include teaching dolls and activity bags for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, hamsas and walker bags for Wexner Heritage House, and no-sew blankets for Temple newborns.

Volunteers write articles for the Beth Tikvah website to promote sustainability issues. Writers and researchers are needed to produce articles and activities.

This is our largest project. On this one day we attempt to engage the entire congregation for tikkun olam. We usually begin with a short religious service, share a light meal, and then donate our time and effort to repair the world. The projects range from visiting at Wexner Heritage House, making sack lunches for the homeless, to caring for animals at area shelters. One of our favorite activities has been a project at the YWCA family shelter. The entire congregation is encouraged to work on this activity.

This program is designed to engage the congregation in a monthly activity with a focus on Jewish values. Each month a project will be offered to the entire congregation as well as a second project that could be done at home with family or friends for those who can’t attend the congregation wide project.

These programs focus on the environment and its relationship to Jewish values to care for the earth. Our goal is to develop a community Tzedakah garden with the produce to be donated to area shelters.

Provide help for stressed congregational families. Gift cards at Hannukah and assistance in attending the Hanukkah dinner and the Second Night Seder are some of the projects.

Collections occur throughout the year in partnership with other Temple groups. The Yom Kippur Food Drive benefits Mid Ohio Food Bank and is undertaken with the Youth Group. Veterans and current troops benefit from the Membership committee’s Veterans Oneg. Canned Chicken soup for homeless shelters is collected in conjunction with Brotherhood’s Chicken Soup Cook Off. Sisterhood’s Tree of Hope project collects hats, gloves, and socks for homeless shelters.