Social Action
Chairs Lisa and Leon Seidman
The founders of Temple Israel formed this Congregation based on a mission that included strengthening the
Jewish community and assisting those in need in the community at large. We continue to uphold this mission as a Temple Family, by supporting programs, projects and services which adhere to this important mission. We provide meaningful community building and social action opportunities for adults, singles, teens, tweens and families with small children.
Bring a Can
Our goal is to make donating a routine and, thus, to emphasize its importance as part of what we do at Temple Israel. We hope you will bring a can every time you come to Temple Israel, whether it is for services or a program, for adult education classes or if you are attending a committee meeting. We hope that every Friday our ECLC families will bring a can or box of food to be donated to YCP and we hope that, once a week, our Religious School students will bring a can or a box to be donated.
Mitzvah Day
Temple Israel’s annual day of mitzvot and community service. We help support over 20 local and Israeli charities through hands on activities at this event, performing over 2500 Mitzvot in a single day. Mitzvah Day is on Sunday, May 5, 2013.
Mitzvah Day Logo Contest
Help us create a logo to memorialize this important day! The winning logo will be used on all print ads & promotional materials, including T-shirts to promote Mitzvah Day. ECLC - grade 12 students are eligible to enter.
Knitzvah Circle
Join our multi-generational group every Monday morning for knitting, crocheting and socializing. We create scarves, blankets and hats for clients of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, Seidman Lovescarf Project and neighborhood hospitals. More info. and schedule.
Homebound Cooking Program
Join our group of young (and not so young) professionals on Wednesday evenings as we cook 300 hot and nourishing meals for homebound individuals, many who are living with HIV/AIDS.
Tu B’Shvat - Tree Planting
We conduct an annual drive to raise money to plant trees in Israel during Tu B’Shevat.
Achilles Track Club
Tuesday Nights in Central Park at 6:15pm stroll, walk or run with the special needs members of Achilles Track Club (ATC). Meet at 5th Avenue and 90th Street inside the gates. ATC is for individuals who like to socialize and need help walking or running. Volunteers are grouped according to their own ability and should be at least 14 years old. Come once or come every Tuesday! To participate, please email David Feinman at: dfeinman@tradition.com We also participate in the NYC marathon by helping individuals with special needs to walk or run all or a portion of it.
Hand in Hand with Haiti
If you would like to make a donation please call or email the Temple office.
Dorot Holiday Friendly Visitor Program
Families visit DOROT seniors and deliver holiday packages.
Project Ezra Annual Brunch
Each year we invite approximately 100 elderly men and women from the Lower East Side for brunch, dancing and entertainment by our clergy.
Holocaust Survivor Programs
Every year we host impoverished Holocaust survivors at our Temple Passover Seder.
Annual Passover Appeal
We provide Passover meals for Jewish soldiers in the US armed forces and impoverished Jews in the NYC community.
Darfur Awareness Projects
We provide educational events concerning Darfur and have created a special Temple Israel Solar Cooker Fund for providing solar cookers to Darfurians.
Sandwich Making
During the holiday of Sukkot and before ShabbatLIVE services we make sandwiches for the for Yorkville Common Pantry to help feed the hungry.
Monthly Drives throughout the year
We hold a variety of drives throughout the year for many organizations including: Yorkville Common Pantry, Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter, Midnight Run and many more. We have many drives on-site through out the year but here are some places to donate all year long.
Environmental Task Force
Introduce Green ideas into the routine of the Temple, provide education on how to protect our environment and work on projects sponsored by the Coalition for the Environment and Jewish Life.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Walk/Run
We partner with the Women's Leadership Council to sponsor Team Temple Israel NYC.
High Holy Day Food Drive
We collect food for the needy year-round with a special drive during the High Holy Days.
We welcome any type of canned/boxed food donations year round. Each month there is a particular need for the specific food/items.
Our Committee is always expanding to meet the needs and interests of the Congregation.
We always welcome new ideas, new members and new projects. For more information, please contact Social Action Committee Chairs, Lisa & Leon Siedman.