Blog - Social Action Committee

Social Action Committee Chair Steve and I have been Mishkon members since 2017. When I retired in 2018 as a full-time social worker, I felt a loss. It occurred to me that being involved in my synagogue's Social Action Committee would be a next good step. At that time, there were no social action activities taking place at Mishkon. When I approached then-President Carole Stein and Michele Prince with ideas for how Mishkon could get involved with the community, they happily cheered me on.

What I wanted was not just a committee that planned events but a community of people who felt connected, purposeful, and proud of the impact we could have together, to participate in projects that were meaningful, hands-on, and responsive to the real needs of our local wider community.

Rabbi Katzan and the committee started and continue to meet every third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. We brained-stormed activities that could make an impact in Santa Monica/Venice and beyond. The amazing and creative Mishkon staff made our upcoming activities easy to participate in by posting announcements in the weekly Mishkon Messenger and events on the website Calendar. Staff posted pictures of us at activities so others could see. New faces showed up, and old ones returned. People tell me they feel proud to be part of a congregation helping the local community meet their basic needs.

Some of the projects we have participated in and continue to do are serving breakfast to the homeless at the Bread and Roses Café, meal preparation at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, beach clean-up, serving lunch and kibbitzing with seniors at the Jewish Federation Bar Center (which is walking distance from Mishkon), doing food and clothing drives for the High Holy Days and Passover, gardening at Safe Place for Youth's community garden, and being Hannukah Angels in December. We are currently brainstorming ways to help our brethren in Israel.

If you are interested in joining our committee, please reach out to Sandy Solomon, Mishkon Tephilo Social Action Committee chair, at solomonlcsw@gmail.com, or contact the Mishkon office at 310-392-3029 or office@mishkon.org.

L.A. is a city encompassing a variety of lifestyles, a kaleidoscope of people from across the nation and around the world, beautiful natural spaces, and spiritual home bases to many. At Mishkon Tephilo, we are fortunate to stand outside the front doors and gaze at the ocean, walk to the corner for gourmet coffee and, a few blocks further, stroll the beach and the Venice boardwalk. However, if you exit by our back doors or walk on the boardwalk with eyes and heart open, you will also see a large homeless population living on the street. Many have dogs or tents for comfort and protection; many more have only a cart filled with plastic bags holding their few possessions. Looking further, we often miss the hidden hungry and the need for healthy food in our own circles and, increasingly, in immigrant families afraid to seek assistance for fear of deportation. Mishkon members are acutely aware of the challenges that many face. As the High Holy Days approach, we give thanks and search our souls for ways to make a difference, and our Social Action Committee offers just such an opportunity. Adopting the premise of "thinking globally, working locally," the committee maintains food donation bins in the synagogue lobby and administrative office. We collect pantry staples and shelf-stable goods that we take to the Westside Food Bank in Santa Monica.

The food bank partners with several local agencies, including the St. Joseph Center across the street from Mishkon, to feed individuals, families, children, and veterans. Paired with their committed social services assistance, they provide lifesaving assistance beyond meals, helping with referrals to housing, rehabilitation facilities, and vocational training. You can read first-person stories of their successful efforts on their inspiring website. What makes Mishkon's food donation effort successful is its ease of use! You don't have to go out of your way to contribute in a meaningful manner: driving to shul? Keep a bag in your car and add an extra box of food when you leave the house. Going shopping? Pick up an extra can or jar, and put it in the bag, where it's handy. Walking or biking? Snack packs and pouches travel well and fill our bins - and hungry stomachs. Think about the ways in which you can give comfortably and creatively, and share your ideas with the committee (or join us to learn and do more)! We look forward to working together. As the Talmud says, "Whoever saves a single life, it is as if he saved the entire world."