By Margie Chachkin and Susy Krimker
As the Social Action chairs for Congregation Beth Or, when we were planning our fall 2022 Mitzvah Months, we paused simultaneously with expressions of wow.
How could it be that our collections and activities grew from last year’s calendar, which was already full, and how can we handle it as volunteers with full-time commitments outside of synagogue?
The answers were easy. Our Social Action Committee is 30 members strong. Guided by Jewish values and rituals, with Shabbat on the top of our combined list, we realized that we’d been given precisely what we needed to continue growing and supporting outreach efforts. With Shabbat comes R&R (rest and renewal).
Torah study brings greater understanding and reinforces the past with a bridge to the present. Singing “Lech Lecha” with fellow congregants and participating in a kugel cook-off and other synagogue offerings builds fellowship and lay leaders. Coupled with inspiration that radiates from the pulpit courtesy of Rabbis Gregory Marx and Jason Bonder, and with words like tikkun olam and chesed in our vocabulary, we are on the path for reflection and forward motion.
Social action is ever-expanding, and we’re up for the challenge. Our roster of collections this fall will benefit several organizations including Our Closet, Cradles to Crayons, HIAS PA, Mitzvah Circle, Joy of Sox, Bread Drop, Distributing Dignity, Nike Grind, BREM, Manna on Main, Gemma Residential Treatment (for children), and the Bucks County SPCA.
In addition, we will deliver hundreds of pounds of vegetables grown on our Corner of the Land garden (located on Beth Or’s property) to a food pantry and meals cooked in the synagogue kitchen to KleinLife. We’ll also host an Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
On our annual Mitzvas Day (Mitzvah on Christmas), Dec. 25, more than 100 congregants of all ages will roll up their sleeves to do good deeds such as visiting children at St. Christopher’s Hospital, delivering candy baskets and cards to local police stations, making hand-tied, no-knit blankets for hospital patients, and creating sleeping mats for the displaced under the guidance of Integrate for Good.
And new for this fall, we are collaborating with Sisterhood, Brotherhood and the recently launched Beth Or Cares and Mental Health Task Force on programming that helps build awareness and support for important health and wellness topics, addressing issues such as LGBTQ, caregivers, and addiction awareness.
We are honored to hold the title of Social Action co-chairs at Congregation Beth Or and excited to see how our impact continues to evolve. We feel blessed to have Jewish traditions that keep us balanced.