Social Action
Congregation Beth Israel is committed to Tikkun Olam, the repair of the world. We prepare and serve meals to the homeless, read to children in Chester, hold discussions on issues of social importance with experts both from within the Beth Israel community and with invited speakers. Each year we choose a few special projects to pursue in addition to several ongoing projects.
The most active ongoing project is our participation in feeding the homeless at the Upper Darby Life Center. Whenever there is a fifth Monday in a month, congregants prepare, deliver, and serve dinner at the Life Center. Typically, 140 to160 people are served on each of these evenings.
Every year during the High Holidays and on Passover, we hold food drives collecting bags of groceries that we donate to the Greater Media Food Bank that covers all of central and western Delaware County. We offer special Social Action Friday night services, organize a coat drive for the needy, and present to a deserving individual, the Friend of the Community Award. We have also begun an association with The Achievement Project (TAP) whose mission is to help Chester teens successfully prepare for college.
The Social Action Committee meets once a month, sometimes in the synagogue and sometimes in one of our homes. We welcome all members to our meetings and activities. The next meetings are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 11 at 7:30 PM at Martin’s Run, and Sunday, March 14 at 10 AM at BI.
Passover Chametz Collection
The SAC is collecting Passover chametz. Donations will be collected during the next food service drop off on Monday, March 22. Food may also be dropped off in the BI lobby from now through Sunday, March 28. All unopened, non-perishable food will be donated to a local food bank.The Achievement Project (TAP)
Our association with The Achievement Project (TAP) in Chester continues. There were two information sessions held on March 9 and 14 at BI. Additionally, some SAC members are already volunteering by tutoring/mentoring some of the students. TAP needs additional support in procuring a van for transporting their students to a variety of activities and events, help with fund-raising, providing snacks for their after school sessions, plus other "behind the scenes" help. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jean Fleschute, chair of SAC or Nicola Jefferson, Nicola Tollett Jefferson, Founder & Executive Director The Achievement Project (TAP) ntjefferson@tapofchester.org www.tapofchester.org 484-995-0828
Upcoming Tikkun Olam Talks
The following are being planned, so watch this site or your Israelight for dates and times:- Holocaust Survivors’ Talks
- Friend of the Community Award
Committee Membership
Please contact any of the committee members for information: Jean Fleschute, Chair, Ala Bernstein, Nancy Burlan, Heidi Carp, Lynn Cashell, Loren Ellis, Elaine Feldman, Louis Friedler, John Greenstine, Dotti Jenkins, Judy Kinman, Donna Kirshbaum, Susan Klein, Larrye Loss, Pam Loss, Lauri Mansky, Stuart Pittel, Joyce Romoff, Helen Schachner, Leslie Stein, Amy Strauss, Elaine Wasekanas