Serving the Community at FVJC
Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark of Reform Judaism. It teaches us to strive to bring peace, freedom, and justice to all people. Reform Jews believe that all human beings are created in the image of God, and that we are God’s partners in improving the world.
The Social Action Committee of FVJC works on projects to help bring about Tikkun Olam and we would love to have you join us on our committee work or on one of our projects. Here is a synopsis of the type of projects we do as a congregation.
Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy: This is an opportunity to become a reading mentor for a Hartford area child and to help that child become a better reader. It entails one-half hour a week tutoring a child one-on-one in their school. If you’re interested, please call the Coalition at 727-6151 or call Elaine Rothenberg at 651-8352 for more information. You will have a choice of schools in Hartford, Bloomfield, New Britain or East Hartford to work in. Even if you can’t make a commitment every week during the school day, they have other opportunities for volunteering.
Food Drives: At Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving, and Passover with the food going to Jewish Family Services.
If you’d like to do some volunteer work on your own with your family, following are some volunteer organizations that could use your help:
a) FOODSHARE – This is a wonderful opportunity for families or individuals, even for children as young as 5 years old. It’s called gleaning and it involves going into farms and picking ripe produce that has not yet been taken. This produce then gets distributed through Food Share to organizations that feed the needy. This work should be ongoing through the Fall. You’ll get to be outside and make a direct contribution to hungry people. Call Christa at 286-9999, X- 104 or John at X-124.
b) HANDS ON HARTFORD – This is a new agency whose purpose is to connect volunteers with agencies needing help. If you and your family want to try volunteering, these are the people who can hook you up! They can be reached at 860-728-3201 or visit www.handsonhartford.org.
c) A HAND UP, Inc – This is a group that will accept all sorts of household goods to help people transitioning from homelessness to independent living. They can be reached at 860-424-2980 or email at AHandUp2005@sbcglobal.net.
Fighting Poverty and Expanding Opportunity in Hartford
You are invited to attend this community-wide event on Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 1:30 – 4:00 PM at Congregation Tikvoh Chadoshoh, 180 Still Road in Bloomfield, CT.
Learn from a panel of experts about poverty’s impact on children and families in our capital city and how all of us are affected. Scheduled panelists include Elizabeth Brown, CT Commission on Children, Miriam Morales Taylor, former principal of Bulkeley High School and currently an assistant Hartford school superintendent and Oz Griebel, president of the Metro Hartford Alliance.
Find out how the Jewish community, with our rabbis’ support, can make a difference and fulfill our Jewish mandate of tikkun olam. R.S.V.P. to Betsy Richards at 860.727.6169 or brichards@jewishhartford.org
Lastly, we’d love to have you join our Social Action Committee. Contact Elaine Rothenberg, Social Action Committee Chairperson, or call her at 651-8352.
