Shalom Haverim! (Hello Friends)

I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer vacationing and visiting with families and friends. It’s hard to believe that the High Holidays will come so quickly (Sept 4) this year!

The Social Action Committee (SAC) had a busy year and we are beginning to plan events for the upcoming year. As you know we have strengthened our commitment to Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JF&CS.) Each month, members of SAC go to the Redwood Empire Food Bank to replenish the JF&CS pantry with fresh, canned, and frozen foods. In addition, every month we (CBA members) concentrate on supplying a few items that are specifically needed in the JF&CS pantry. For the month of Av, please bring these items to the synagogue:

Peanut Butter, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned soup (low sodium,) canned fruit (except peaches,) tofu (that doesn’t need refrigeration.) Of course you can always bring something that you would enjoy contributing that isn’t on the list.

Jewish Family & Children’s Services is very pleased with our commitment to help those in need in the Jewish and extended Sonoma County Community. We also continue to volunteer at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. More dates will follow – please join us when you’re able. Thanks for all your efforts. It is a way to repair the world, Tikun Olam.

The Soup Sisters will make soup after the holidays to replenish our freezer with healthy and hearty soup for anyone who needs a little TLC. We are very happy that the CBA Board has designated some $$ for us to use in making our soup. Thanks so much Beth Ami Board of Directors. Please contact Lizzie at office if you know someone who might benefit from CBA’s expression of comfort and caring.

As Beth Ami continues our theme of being a welcoming community, SAC is taking a careful look at ways that we are and are not meeting the needs of all our members. We want to know what we can do to be more welcoming and inclusive; we want to know what might be different that would make your experience more positive.

We have initiated conversations with member households in which couples come from two different religious, spiritual or cultural backgrounds. We are interested in speaking with as many members as are willing to engage in this conversation with us. Join members of the Social Action Committee on Monday August 19th, at the home of Ellen and Michael Mundell to engage in this dialogue together. Please contact Lyla Nathan for more info 526-7438.

On November 15th we are planning a Shabbat dinner and service to recognize the commitment of our interfaith families. We participate with Interfaith Family, a national organization dedicated to making interfaith families feel welcome in our Jewish community.

As has become our tradition over the last few years, the Social Action Committee is planning to have community conversations during the afternoon break on Yom Kippur. We will also have a chance to connect with our members on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. More details to follow.

Wishing you all an enjoyable summer vacation as we ready ourselves for the New Year.

Shalom,

Lyla Nathan
Social Action Committee