Social Action in Action
July 15, 2018
Childhood knows no borders. Humanity knows no citizenship. Temple Emanuel’s Social Action Committee has been actively engaged over the past few weeks in an effort
The Social Action Committee is a small group of Temple Emanuel members who are dedicated to Tikkun Olam (repairing the World). The committee is open to anyone interested in being involved in Tikkun Olam within Temple Emanuel, and reports to the board at monthly board meetings or more often as needed.
The mission of the Social Action Committee of Temple Emanuel is to take meaningful action on the most pressing social inequalities of our time in order to:
The Social Action Committee is a hub for our Temple’s Tikkun Olam work. We partner with other local nonprofits to progress local changes, to raise awareness of pressing and timely issues and policies, coordinate volunteer activities to serve beyond the Jewish community, raise funds for important local causes, and motivate nonpartisan political advocacy.
We recognize our special international role, as McAllen is ground zero for many of the unaccompanied children who arrive in the United States and are delivered by Customs and Border Protection to the Catholic Charities Respite Center. We partner closely with the Respite Center, located in Downtown McAllen is directly across the street from the McAllen Bus Station. The Respite Center has the capacity to handle hundreds of children, providing a clean environment, a change of clothes, good food, personal hygiene items and travel document for their ultimate destination.
In the past, Temple Emanuel was chosen by the RAC as a primary contact to help in delivering Tikkun Olam on the border. In 2014-2016 over 200 congregations from around the country sent trucks loaded with of clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items, and over $45,000 which we delivered to Catholic Charities so they could buy what they needed for the children, and distribute these vital supplies to migrants. The Social Action continues to support this and other timely causes, which you can learn more about here:
Religious Action Center (RAC) Advocacy Issues
Mike Blum serves as Chair of the Temple Emanuel Social Action Committee, as well as a member of the Temple Emanuel Board of Directors. He is also a member of the CSA In that capacity, Mike is actively engaged with the Commission and RAC-Texas which is focused on many items affecting our community.
Lisa Franklin is the Co-chair. She is a member of the Temple Emanuel Sisterhood Board. She also serves as the VP of Social Justice for the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) Southwest District.
Childhood knows no borders. Humanity knows no citizenship. Temple Emanuel’s Social Action Committee has been actively engaged over the past few weeks in an effort
Temple Emanuel member Pat Blum published this powerful article on the Women Of Reform Judaism website a few weeks ago as a call to action
Sender
We are a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, warm and welcoming community in deep South Texas. We embrace our cultural differences, even within our faith, as we join together to celebrate, mourn, study, and worship together.
4300 N Chai (“C”) St | McAllen, TX 78504
