Social Action
From Rabbi George
Are you looking for a meaningful response this election year to the deluge of calamity across the United States? Living in the bubble of Sonoma County, it is hard to know how to act to save our democracy and the progressive values so many of us share.
With the help of the Social Action Committee, Congregation Shomrei Torah members can do more than mark our ballots and yearn for a way to make a difference beyond our county and state. The SAC will connect us to "Postcarding for Democracy", a non-partisan nationwide campaign to bolster democracy in areas rife with voter suppression. Completing postcards is easy to learn, is stress-free, can be done in the comfort of home, and has proven to increase registration and voting in these targeted areas.
To kick off this five-month project, Shomrei Torah has committed funds to purchase
postcard packets that are available to CST members at no charge. Look for the basket in Shalom Hall that includes packets and instructions.
I encourage you to get involved. As Jews, we are especially aware of the possibility of redemption, even from the most dire situations. Every time we sing Mi Chamocha (“Who is like You?”) during services, we recall the moment in our mythic past when we struggled to escape Egypt. You recall the scene: With the Red Sea ahead of us and Pharaoh's army behind us, we were stuck in a dangerous and frightening place. And then, as Torah tells the story, Divine intervention parted the waters, and we walked to safety “in the midst of the sea on dry land.”
But according to Jewish legend, God did not immediately step in and part the sea. It took the action of an activist named Nachson, who walked into the water, one step at a time, until it came up to his neck and he was about to drown. Only following Nachshon’s courageous action did God split the sea. The story of Nachson illustrates the idea that we are “the hands and feet of God.”
Stuck now in a dangerous and frightening place, we can’t wait to be saved. We must take action ourselves. “Postcarding for Democracy” is one way to start.
Postcarding for Democracy
Are you looking for a meaningful way to help protect our Democracy?
YOUR ACTIONS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! GET INVOLVED TODAY.
CST has again teamed with Reclaim Our Vote in a
postcard campaign targeting get-out-the-vote efforts in communities nationwide where voter suppression is a concern. Non-partisan messages are specific to
given areas of the country and have proven to
increase voter registration and voting in targeted
districts.
Our current campaign continues the fight against
voter suppression-- this time in Florida. Postcards
alert voters to the importance of registering to vote and voting in the August 23rd primary and in the general election.
New postcards for different states will be released
periodically until the November election.
“Every word has consequences. Every silence too.” Jean Paul Sartre
We invite YOU to be a part of this campaign.
To kick off this 5-month long project, we have committed funds to purchase packets of
Postcards that will be distributed free to CST members and friends.
We provide packets that include 20 Reclaim Our Vote postcards, stamps, clear instructions, voter address lists, a script to follow and labels to affix with voter registration information.
You pick up the packets from the information table in Shalom Hall at Shomrei Torah, fill out the cards in the comfort of your home and mail them.
If you are unable to pick up your packets at CST, delivery can be arranged.
For more info contact Sue Smith, 707 823-2377 or Susan Daniels,707 538-0138.
This is a project of the CST Social Action Committee.
Social Action Events at Shomrei Torah
Watch or Re-watch SAC programs from 2021
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A Conversation with Mike McGuire, originally aired October 2021.
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Life After Incarceration in the Age of Covid, originally aired June 2021.
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SAC Climate Change Panel, originally aired April 2021
Social Action Committee Accomplishments in 2021
January
Our new chairperson, Judy Kay, came aboard.
March
“They Have Arrived. Now What?” We initiated a program in conjunction with Passover to encourage donations to immigrant organizations.
April
Members helped plan the Sonoma County Yom Hashoah Commemoration
We presented an Earth Day Climate Forum via Zoom.
May
Several committee members worked on social justice legislation with The Religious Action Center of California and also met individually with elected officials, including state Sen. Mike Maguire, state Assemblymember Cecelia Aguiar-Curry and state Sen. Bill Dodd. We advocated for the AB 731 criminal justice reform bill, among other issues.
June
We presented the “Life After Incarceration in the Age of Covid” Zoom panel.
August
Several committee members met with Assemblyman Marc Levine and Sen. Bill Dodd advocating for the “Time Done” criminal justice bill.
We encouraged the congregation to contact our representatives in Washington to protect voting rights.
October
We organized congregants to march under the Shomrei Torah banner in the Women’s Reproductive Rights Rally Santa Rosa.
We held a Zoom “Conversation with Senator Mike McGuire.”
December
We helped with the Toy Drive of the North Bay Organizing Project and Christ United Methodist Church.
We organized our annual Winter Clothing Drive for Elisha’s Pantry
We presented “The Challenge of Mass Incarceration,” a Zoom forum with the Equal Justice Initiative.
Ongoing SAC Projects
Elisha’s Pantry
We partner with Christ United Methodist Church and Bethlehem Lutheran Church to distribute food to people in need. The pantry, which is at 1717 Yulupa Avenue, is open on Thursday afternoons. To sign up to work at the pantry, click here.
Redwood Empire Food Bank
We have special shifts of CST volunteers helping pack food and do other tasks at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Sign up here.
Other Projects
The Social Action Committee has presented films, forums, and panel discussions highlighting current issues. Past programs have addressed criminal justice reform, homelessness, election concerns, gun violence, money bail, immigration issues, the climate crisis and much more. If there is an issue of specific importance to you, please let us know – and join us. For information email chair Judy Kay jlkay@sonic.net or members JulieAnn Steinberger julieannsteinberger@gmail.com, Doris Fried dfriedlcsw@gmail.com, or Stephen Harper kelev2@comcast.net.
Social Action Resources
The Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, California is a valuable resource with up-to-date analyses of key social justice topics through a Jewish lens. The RAC also has action guides for urgent social issues specifically within our state. https://rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-ca.
Thu, July 7 2022
8 Tammuz 5782
Upcoming Social Action Events
Click Here to volunteer for a shift at Elisha’s Pantry food distribution site.
Check out a Social Action Committee meeting! For date, time, location or Zoom link, email chair Judy Kay or members JulieAnn Steinberger, Doris Fried, or Stephen Harper.
Calendared Events:
There are no upcoming events at this time.
A Message from your Social Action Chair
Welcome to 2022!
I have now been Chair of this committee for a year. And just as we thought the pandemic was on the way out, it has surprised us again. But we remain optimistic and will continue to do all that we can to make our community and our world a better place. We are excited about planning for this new year, and we will pivot as needed to continue serving the congregation and our community.
In 2021 we had programs involving asylum seekers, the climate crisis, criminal justice reform, and immigration. We initiated a program in conjunction with Passover to encourage donations to immigrant organizations. We had an informative and lively Earth Day presentation on the climate crisis, we met with state legislators and advocated for criminal justice reform and addressed criminal justice reform with three formerly incarcerated men. We hosted our state Senator Mike McGuire, who always keeps us informed, and we had a program with an attorney working with death row inmates in Alabama. We worked with NBOP and Christ United Methodist Church on their holiday toy drive and organized a warm clothing drive which provided much-needed outerwear to local people in need. And we continue to provide food to those who are food insecure every week at Elisha’s Pantry. As we head into 2022, we will focus on local and national issues, voting rights and more.
We meet monthly, currently by Zoom due to the Omicron upsurge. We would love to have you come to check out a meeting. To get the meeting time and link, or just for more information on the committee, email me Judy Kay or members JulieAnn Steinberger, Doris Fried, or Stephen Harper.
You can also email us to suggest social action issues the congregation might want to address. What matters to you?
As we move forward and can be together again, I look forward to meeting more of you and connecting with lively discussions as well as just having some laughs and some hugs.
Warmly,
Judy Kay, SAC Chair
Our Mission
The Congregation Shomrei Torah Social Action Committee was founded over 30 years ago with the intent to put the principles of social justice and tikkun olam into action by creating programs and events that support the mission of the congregation.
We are a committee of over 20 people who are dedicated to making our community a better place for all. We meet monthly.
New folks and ideas are always welcome, please join us!
For more information, contact Judy Kay, Chair, or members JulieAnn Steinberger, Doris Fried, or Stephen Harper.