Social Action



	Social Action "It is not the study of Torah that is the essential thing; it is the doing of Torah; And, the doing of Torah means the doing of social justice. Tikkun Olam, the creating of a better world, provides a powerful answer to the question of why be Jews." --Rabbi David Saperstein *The mission of our Social Action Committee is to:* Enable synagogue members to integrate Jewish values into community services. Promote social change in and out of the immediate community and provide help for people in need. Incorporate Tikkun Olam into all aspects of the congregation and into all aspects of the congregants’ lives. Darfur Background on the Crisis in Darfur Since 2003, the government of Sudan and their proxy militia, the Janjaweed, have been conducting a counter-insurgency operation against rebel groups in Darfur. Their primary strategy is a scorched earth campaign targeting communities that share the same ethnicity as the rebels. Government forces and Janjaweed continue to terrorize and kill civilians, rape women and girls, burn villages, and drive innocent people from their homes. More than two million people have been displaced and at least 450,000 have lost their lives to this genocidal campaign. Action Alert from American Jewish World Services (AJWS) With Barack Obama as our president-elect, we have new hope for stopping the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He has pledged "unstinting resolve" to protect civilians, pursue justice and achieve a lasting peace. Let’s make sure he turns his words into action. Please join me and thousands across America by sending a postcard to President-elect Obama, urging him to make Darfur a priority from day one of his administration. Together, we can ensure strong U.S. leadership to end the genocide. Just click here to sign the online postcard and add your voice: No Deferral of Justice for Darfur The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Bashir is trying to defer the court's investigation through action in the UN Security Council. In the last months of his administration, President Bush must reject any move to trade accountability for more empty promises. Take Action: Urge President Bush to stand firm on justice for Darfur. Rabbis For Human Rights Founded in 2002, Rabbis for Human Rights - North America (RHR-NA) is an organization of rabbis from all streams of Judaism dedicated to expanding support for the mission and work of RHR in Israel, and to education and advocacy on human rights issues in North America. ~ more information ~ Join with Jews across the country in urging for a presidential executive order to ban torture! On June 25, major American Jewish leaders joined a broad bipartisan coalition of religious leaders, former national security and defense officials, and top officials of every administration since President Johnson in calling for a Presidential Executive Order banning torture. In a joint statement, they said that such a ban would improve national security and recommit America to its values. The bipartisan statement calls for the President to adopt an executive order affirming principles including the rule of law, an end to rendition, Congressional and judicial oversight of detention and interrogation, uniform national standards for all prisoner treatment, and an end to any practice the US would not like to see used on Americans, such as water boarding. To sign the petition for a Presidential executive order to ban torture and for more ways to take action use this link: http://www.rhr-na.org/story/declaration-of-principles Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries CBSRZ has been a partner of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries for many years. Our congregants volunteer at local meal sites, donate food weekly, and support our annual High Holiday Food Drive. In March of 2008 we added a “stuff-a-truck” event at the Stop & Shop in Old Saybrook. ~ more information ~ *Bring Them Home:* Freethesoldiers.org is an advocacy and awareness campaign on behalf of the Israeli soldiers who have been captured. The campaign is a joint initiative of a broad coalition of Jewish organizations rallying together in an unprecedented display of solidarity and humanitarianism. FreeTheSoldiers.org and the Jewish community extend their condolences to the families of Ehud "Udi" Goldwassser and Eldad Regev, two Israeli soldiers killed by Hezbollah whose remains were recently returned home. Join the effort to bring international attention to their plight. Help us to make sure that their families know that they are not alone in their struggle to bring their sons, their brothers and their husbands home. www.freethesoldiers.org.
	Copyright© 2008: Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek. All rights reserved

"It is not the study of Torah that is the essential thing; it is the doing of Torah; And, the doing of Torah means the doing of social justice. Tikkun Olam, the creating of a better world, provides a powerful answer to the question of why be Jews."

Darfur

Background on the Crisis in Darfur

Since 2003, the government of Sudan and their proxy militia, the Janjaweed, have been conducting a counter-insurgency operation against rebel groups in Darfur. Their primary strategy is a scorched earth campaign targeting communities that share the same ethnicity as the rebels. Government forces and Janjaweed continue to terrorize and kill civilians, rape women and girls, burn villages, and drive innocent people from their homes. More than two million people have been displaced and at least 450,000 have lost their lives to this genocidal campaign.

Action Alert from American Jewish World Services (AJWS)

With Barack Obama as our president-elect, we have new hope for stopping the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He has pledged "unstinting resolve" to protect civilians, pursue justice and achieve a lasting peace. Let’s make sure he turns his words into action.

Please join me and thousands across America by sending a postcard to President-elect Obama, urging him to make Darfur a priority from day one of his administration. Together, we can ensure strong U.S. leadership to end the genocide.

No Deferral of Justice for Darfur

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Bashir is trying to defer the court's investigation through action in the UN Security Council. In the last months of his administration, President Bush must reject any move to trade accountability for more empty promises. Take Action: Urge President Bush to stand firm on justice for Darfur.

Rabbis For Human Rights

Founded in 2002, Rabbis for Human Rights - North America (RHR-NA) is an organization of rabbis from all streams of Judaism dedicated to expanding support for the mission and work of RHR in Israel, and to education and advocacy on human rights issues in North America. ~ more information ~

Join with Jews across the country in urging for a presidential executive order to ban torture!

On June 25, major American Jewish leaders joined a broad bipartisan coalition of religious leaders, former national security and defense officials, and top officials of every administration since President Johnson in calling for a Presidential Executive Order banning torture. In a joint statement, they said that such a ban would improve national security and recommit America to its values. The bipartisan statement calls for the President to adopt an executive order affirming principles including the rule of law, an end to rendition, Congressional and judicial oversight of detention and interrogation, uniform national standards for all prisoner treatment, and an end to any practice the US would not like to see used on Americans, such as water boarding.

Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries

CBSRZ has been a partner of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries for many years. Our congregants volunteer at local meal sites, donate food weekly, and support our annual High Holiday Food Drive. In March of 2008 we added a “stuff-a-truck” event at the Stop & Shop in Old Saybrook. ~ more information ~

Bring Them Home:

Freethesoldiers.org is an advocacy and awareness campaign on behalf of the Israeli soldiers who have been captured. The campaign is a joint initiative of a broad coalition of Jewish organizations rallying together in an unprecedented display of solidarity and humanitarianism.

FreeTheSoldiers.org and the Jewish community extend their condolences to the families of Ehud "Udi" Goldwassser and Eldad Regev, two Israeli soldiers killed by Hezbollah whose remains were recently returned home.

Join the effort to bring international attention to their plight. Help us to make sure that their families know that they are not alone in their struggle to bring their sons, their brothers and their husbands home. www.freethesoldiers.org.