The following JRF congregations are actively participating:

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Bet Am Shalom, White Plains, NY
Beth Samuel Jewish Center, Ambridge PA
Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ
Bnai Israel, Willimantic, CT
Chapel Hill Kehillah, Chapel Hill, NC
Columbia Jewish Congregation, Columbia, MD
Congregation Beth Am, San Antonio, TX
Congregation Beth Shalom, Naperville IL
Congregation Dorshei Emet, Montreal, Canada
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, West Newton, MA
Dor Hadash Congregation, Pittsburgh, PA
Dorshei Derekh, Philadelphia, PA
Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL
Kehilat Hanahar, New Hope, PA
Kehillat Israel, Lansing, MI
Kehillat Israel, Pacific Palisades, CA
Kol HaLev, Cleveland, OH
Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA
Or Hadash, Ft. Washington, PA
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Wyncote, PA
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, PA
Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, Plandome, NY
Reconstructionist Temple Beth Israel, Maywood, NJ
Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, NY
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia, WA
Temple Beth Sholom in Salem, Oregon
Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, West Roxbury, MA
Temple Sinai, Amherst, NY
University Synagogue, Irvine, CA
West End Synagogue, New York, NY

Learn more about this initiative...

JRF, in keeping with our own movement's resolution on the environment, our commitment as a Jewish People, and as stewards of the health and welfare of the planet, has joined as a sponsor and coalition member of The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and the Religious Action Center, "Climate Change Campaign" to address the global warming crisis. This is one of those calls to action that can change how North American Jewry responds to the daunting environmental problems confronting us and future generations.

See our list of related Resources for environmentally sustainable communities.  read more »

African, Arab, European and U.N. leaders agreed in principle Thursday, Nov. 16 to a joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force for Sudan's Darfur region.

The force could be as large as 27,000-strong, including the existing 7,000-member African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, but the leaders did not lay out a timetable for the force to begin work partly because Sudan had some reservations.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said additional personnel could include as many as 17,000 soldiers and 3,000 police officers.

"The next step is for the U.N. and AU to call a meeting of the non-signatories (of the Darfur Peace Agreement) ... and the government of Sudan. It should take place in the next couple of weeks to resolve outstanding issues by the end of the year," said Annan.

Photo of participants in the Mall in D.C. for the April 30th, 2006 Darfur rally.RRC students were quoted in a VOANews.com article following the September 17, 2006 rally:

See more photos of the April 30th rally.

On Saturday night, April 29, 2006, we had over 100 people at the 6th and I Street synagogues, where Rabbis Brant Rosen and Steve Gutow (who continued his inspirational words on Sunday) spoke passionately and eloquently about the situation. Dr. Carl Sheingold and John Riehl gave greetings on behalf of JRF, and we engaged in prayer and text study led by Rabbis Shawn Zevit, Micah Becker-Klein, Liz Bolton, Leila Berner, and Jason Klein.

On Sunday April 30, members of the JRF board and staff, RRC students and more than 25 JRF congregations sent rabbis and members to the rally. More details are in these news articles:

Jews For Justice In Darfur - CBS News
RRC Divests from Sudan - JTA

We were aware of the presence of the following JRF congregations at various rallies:
Adat Shalom, Bethesda, MD
Ahavas Achim, Keene, NH
Am Haskalah, Allentown, PA
Beit Tikvah, Baltimore, MD
Beit Hatikvah, Chatham, NJ
Bet Am Shalom, White Plain, NY
Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ
Chapel Hill Kehillah, NC
Columbia Jewish Congregation, MD
Dorshei Derekh, Philadelphia, PA
Hillel Bnai Torah, MA
Houston Reconstructionist Havurah, TX
JCA, Amherst, MA
JRC, Evanston, IL
Kol Ami, VA
Kol HaLev, Cleveland, OH
Kol Tzedek, Philadelphia, PA
Lev Ha-Ir, Philadelphia, PA
Mishkan Ha'am, NY
Mishkan Shalom, PA
Oseh Shalom, MD
RRC, Philadelphia, PA
RSNS, Plandome, NY
RTBI, NJ
Shir Hadash, Northbrook, IL
Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, NY
Valley Outreach Synagogue, Las Vegas
West End Synagogue, New York, NY

Climate change resources from the JRF Resources Library:

On the anniversary of the 2005 Anti-Hunger convocation, JRF was asked through Mazon and Second Harvest to represent the Jewish tradition and community's teachings on responding to hunger and poverty at a national symposium day on ending hunger in Washington, D.C., June 5th, 2006. Learn more about the symposium...

On June 6, 2005, the first ever Interfaith Convocation on Hunger assembled one of the largest gatherings of anti-hunger and anti-poverty activists in the nation's capital in decades. The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation was pleased to be represented at and endorsed this event and invited all people of faith to call for an end to hunger.

In 2006, the focus of JRF's Interactive Omer Study, was Tikkun Olam (repair of our world), specifically on the issues of hunger and poverty.

Visit the site to see the teachings and study texts from rabbis, hazzanim (cantors), educators, rabbinical students and members of JRF congregations, all accessible from its left side-bar menu.

By Rabbi Fredi Cooper

The obvious beneficiary of tzedaka is the needy recipient. The Rambam (the 12th century rabbi and philosopher also know as Maimonides) and others have noted, however, that the giver is also the beneficiary because the gift helps the giver become openhearted. One can learn to feel empathetic by acting empathetic. Furthermore, giving tzedaka can help the giver feel useful and needed.From A Guide to Jewish Practice: Tzedaka By David A. Teutsch, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Press.

In my teaching for the Omer period, I want to broaden this concept past the idea of tzedaka to include also gemilut hasadim. I believe that the Rambam is teaching us that we grow beyond our expectations when we extend our hand to another, to say that we care. Through our caring we can help another and help ourselves. The simple act of being open to opportunities for giving can alter our lives in a manner that is not always clear and straightforward. Once that first step is taken it has a way of being constantly reinforced and can delineate a rich and enduring road for our lives.  read more »

By Elana Richman, Rabbi Liz Bolton, and Robin Yasinow
Congregation Beit Tikvah

Many Reconstructionists have their most profound experiences of God through tikkun olam. It is not out of charity that they align themselves with people who are oppressed or less fortunate, but rather out of the teaching that all human beings are worthy of respect and opportunity… and tikkun olam may be the most concrete and palpable way to make God's presence manifest in our world. Rebecca Alpert and Jacob Staub, Exploring Judaism, p. 84

And God said, "Let us make adam in our image, after our likeness... And God created adam in God's image, in the image of God, God created adam, male and female God created them. Genesis 1: 26-27

Isaiah 5:16 teaches us that we can actually enhance holiness in the world through acts of tzedaka. We can expand the presence of the Divine in our midst through these acts of righteousness. We thereby help not only the recipients of our gifts, but our community and ourselves. Dr. Tamar Kamionkowski from RRC’s Guide to Jewish Practice, Tzedaka  read more »

JRF had been a partner with Mazon in the area of hunger and poverty relief for over two decades. As part of our affiliation with Mazon, we were invited to participate in a major international convocation and lobbying effort in Washington in June 2005. Out of that event a Religious coalition was formed that has continued to communicate through the auspices of Bread for the World and Mazon about national and international hunger and poverty concerns.

On December 1st, 2005, we were invited with a select group of national religious leaders to meet with Secretary Condoleezza. Rice Rabbi Fred Dobb of JRF congregation Adat Shalom in Bethesda, Maryland, represented the JRF. Secretary Rice learned that Bread for the World, Mazon and other groups will be pushing for a $5 billion increase in poverty-focused development assistance next year.

Read Bread for the World's report of the meeting...  read more »