2009 JRF OMER STUDY AND ACTION INITIATIVE (APRIL - JUNE 2009/5769)
"Justice, justice you shall pursue" (Deut. 16:20).
“A theology which is not a plan of social action is merely a way of preaching and praying. It is a menu without the dinner.” (Mordecai Kaplan, Not So Random Thoughts)
Dear Hevre,
Thanks to all of you who have been helping to promote the various JRF and other national/international initiatives happening this Pesach and beyond. Our Omer Initiative this year is focused on partnership activities, additional PEARL tikkun olam calls and program/ritual resources. Please keep drawing people's attention to these initiatives, and where you can let us know what they are up to so we can highlight local/regional activities on our webpages.
2008 Omer teachings on community building and sustained action
2007 Omer teachings on environmental sustainability
2006 Omer teachings on hunger and poverty
2005 Omer teachings on Pirke Avot
L'Shalom,
Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam
Congregational Consultant
215.885.5601 x 24 / fax: 215.885.5603
Cleveland Office: 216-591-1886
For Tikkun Olam see http://www.jrf.org/to
JRF ~ Transformative Judaism for the 21st Century www.jrf.org
ANTI-HUNGER AND POVERTY INITIATIVES
See also http://delicious.com/JRFtikkun/hunger
In partnership with the JCPA and their local CRC's, we are offering a Children's Nutrition Seder to draw attention to and take action on child hunger and poverty and in the process we are hoping to mutually deepen the ongoing relationship between local CRC's and JRF congregations.
See JCPA's Omer Resources for JRF attached below.
International poverty and hunger alleviation
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SUSTAINABLE SYNAGOGUE INITIATIVES
U.S. National Judaism and Sustainability Conference
Birkhat HaChammah, Wed. April 8, 2009. Every 28 years the Jewish people mark this event and this year a national Jewish coalition, Bless-the-Sun is promoting sustainable energy as well. We hope you will look to at very least do something in your own congregation or havurah, at best- partner with others with the emphasis on sustainable energy from solar and other alternative sources.
Solar Energy Slide Show with Music
Article from Cleveland Jewish News
Teva Environmental Seminar
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Pesach Freedom initiative as indicated on the webpage- this initiative is in concert with HIAS who provide the support and materials.
See HIAS' Omer resources attached below.
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Seder for Darfur and April Darfur Sermon Initiative
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CONGREGATION-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING (CBCO)
A number of congregations in each region are beginning to get active in this area, and Chapel Hill Kehillah took the lead in getting a chapter started where there was none. Our work with Jewish Funds for Justice and the individual national organizations (IAF, Gamaliel, PECO) continues individually as well.
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JRF is committed to leading and supporting congregations in Tikkun HaNefesh V'Olam, the healing and repair of the individual person and the world at large. JRF continues to organize our communities, consult and provide resources for our affiliates and external partners. Visit www.jrf.org/to or click on the titles below to learn more about the range of our Tikkun Olam programming and involvement:
Additional Ongoing JRF Resources and Initiatives
Sign-Ons, Resolutions and External Affiliations
Inclusion of Persons with Special Needs
GLBT Inclusion and Same-Sex Marriage Rights
Guidelines for Congregational Decision Making and Social Justice Actions
Tikkun Olam Resources Outside JRF
JCPA 2009 Plenum Resolutions (JRF Member Religious Organization)
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OMER STUDY INITIATIVE 2009/ PEARL TELECONFERENCE CALLS (REGISTER AT www.jrf.org/PEARL)
Sustainable Synagogues 3.0
Start: May 14 2009 - 12:00pm - 1:15pm, EST
As part of JRF's ongoing Sustainable Synagogue Initiative, this call is a follow up to previous successful synagogue greening calls of last June, featuring some of JRF's leading communities and their work in creating sustainable Jewish communities. Special focus on sustainable practices in ritual, programming and policy aspects of Jewish communal life.
CBCO-Congregation Based Community Organizing
Start: Jun 4 2009 - 12:00pm- 1:15pm
Since 2006, JRF has partnered with the Jewish Funds for Justice, the Interfaith Organizing Initiative and other social justice networks in the field of congregation-based community organizing to help promote and develop spiritually activist communities. Many of our clergy and lay leaders have led the way in their communities to start and grow "CBCO" networks, transforming their own congregations in the process. This call is for anyone who is interested or has embarked on this powerful method of social justice organizing in faith community.
Growing the Soul of Your Community
Jun 11 2009 - 12:00pm - 1:15pm
While we understandably focus on the technical aspects of running and growing our communities (especially in difficult times), there are core spiritual, cultural, ethical and identity issues that bring us together as religious communities. This call will explore some of the key elements that are crucial to keeping our selves grounded in core religious values, spiritual values, and social justice principles as we grow our faith communities. Topics will include ritual life, prayer, Jewish values-based decision making as spiritual practice, spiritual direction, tikkun olam and more.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Omer project 2009 - immigration.doc | 14.98 KB |
| Counting the Omer 09- JRF communities and the JCPA.doc | 45.5 KB |