Inspired by words in our Torah that teach us to not stand idly by, to love the stranger, and to pursue justice, our Social Justice work has had a lasting impact over Temple Beth El’s five-decade history, making our world a better place.
Through our Social Justice work, we endeavor to Repair the World – Tikkun Olam. We envision a world that is more fair, a world without poverty, homelessness, discrimination or inequality. And we are willing to do the work to get there.
Our Temple’s strategic plan, adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2023, describes the relationship between these efforts in a helpful and meaningful way. Our work of Social Action, helping meet people’s needs today with fundraising, supplies collection, and raising awareness of important causes, will continue and grow. We have added to that our work of Civic Engagement, advocating for a vision of our community grounded in and inspired by our Reform Jewish values, through things like ballot initiatives, lobbying elected officials, and partnering and collaborating with other organizations to amplify our voice and our influence.
Our signature social action program is The Giving Tree, a community-wide program which helps low-income and homeless children, families and seniors. Today, we help thousands of people all year long. The Giving Tree provides clothing, essential personal items, school supplies, and school uniforms to help eliminate some of the many insecurities faced by this population on a daily basis through Quiet Giving. In 2024, the annual Holiday Project served close to 2000 recipients referred by over 20 local service agencies throughout Palm Beach County each year.
We have also partnered with organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, Gift of Life, and Magen David Adom to raise awareness and funds for their important causes, built homes with Habitat for Humanity, gleaned produce for local food pantries, and collected supplies for disaster relief.
Over the past few years, we have answered our tradition’s call to advocate for a better world, as we stood up for marriage equality, supported voting rights for returning citizens who had repaid their debt to society, formed an Israel Response Task Force after October 7th, and most recently stood in support of reproductive rights.
Our teens learn about civic engagement and how to advocate for issues that are important to them. They have participated in the Religious Action Center (RAC)’s Teen Justice Fellowship, lobbied United States Congresspeople during L’Taken Teen Experience, and lobbied our Florida Representatives for gun safety measures in the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting.
Ongoing civic engagement initiatives include Racial Equity, Voter Engagement, Candidates’ Forum, and LGBTQ+ Pride.
Members of Temple Beth El are regularly invited to attend our Civil Rights Journey to Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham. As Jews we ask ourselves what our responsibility is to combat oppression and reconcile historical injustices, and this Journey is an opportunity to more deeply understand this critical period in our nation’s history.
Is there an issue or topic you are passionate about that is aligned with our Jewish values?
Learn more at our Social Justice Committee Meetings – Any Temple Beth El member interested in Social Justice at Temple Beth El is invited to attend.
The Giving Tree Quiet Giving Program runs year-round, and provides basic necessities including clothing, school uniforms, shoes, socks, underwear and more, to families and children in need. With a concentration […]
