Prior Messages
January 2017
The new year has started and our congregation is in good shape. We have just had (1/8) an open board meeting where we discussed where we are going as a congregation with a social conscience, and how to express such conscience as actions. One of the opening statements was from Rabbi Karen, who reminded us that we are a vibrant and welcoming holy community of friends. We are a model of a progressive, mature, small Reconstructionist activist congregation. Although that is quite true, we don't know what it means, since the Havurah has not had a clear path on how we act and interpret our individual and group desire for social activism.
From this point, we saw that we had four broad questions in defining who we are:
What this means, at least from our shared talking, is that we remain a committed Havurah that is a member of Reconstructionism, Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation, Welcoming Faiths, and have started the discussion of how we choose our larger organisations.
We also wanted to create a method for members to share their passions, both Tikun Olam (Healing the World) and social/civil rights issues. These could be individuals announcing fund raising (PMC, Diabetes Ride, etc.), or announcing service opportunities (Habitat for Humanity, Cor Unum, Neighbors in Need, etc.), or direct action, (Supporting a 2-state solution, the Women's March, etc.). We have three members, Richie, Julie, and Joel, who volunteerred to organize an on-line listserv where members will get updates and info on these events/issues in a timely manner. And, of course, anyone can opt out and not receive it.
We talked about how we like to see most of our Tikkun Olam donations going to local organisations, and that we are also willing to put in sweat equity.
This is a process, not a statement. I was very moved on how well we work together, hear and speak to each other. Our passions are strong and real, and as individuals and as a Jewish group, we can have an affect on the world and our local communities.
The next meeting will be posted, so please consider coming and joining the folks from 11 of our families who showed up this past Sunday.
The new year has started and our congregation is in good shape. We have just had (1/8) an open board meeting where we discussed where we are going as a congregation with a social conscience, and how to express such conscience as actions. One of the opening statements was from Rabbi Karen, who reminded us that we are a vibrant and welcoming holy community of friends. We are a model of a progressive, mature, small Reconstructionist activist congregation. Although that is quite true, we don't know what it means, since the Havurah has not had a clear path on how we act and interpret our individual and group desire for social activism.
From this point, we saw that we had four broad questions in defining who we are:
- With what larger organizations should we have formal affiliations (currently, the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation, Reconstructionists and Welcoming Faiths)
- Should we link our tzedakah acitvities specifically to social justice causes and, if so, which ones
- How do individual members share and appeal to others for our fund raising efforts and projects
- How do we balance what may be political and also very Jewish for us to be involved in.
What this means, at least from our shared talking, is that we remain a committed Havurah that is a member of Reconstructionism, Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation, Welcoming Faiths, and have started the discussion of how we choose our larger organisations.
We also wanted to create a method for members to share their passions, both Tikun Olam (Healing the World) and social/civil rights issues. These could be individuals announcing fund raising (PMC, Diabetes Ride, etc.), or announcing service opportunities (Habitat for Humanity, Cor Unum, Neighbors in Need, etc.), or direct action, (Supporting a 2-state solution, the Women's March, etc.). We have three members, Richie, Julie, and Joel, who volunteerred to organize an on-line listserv where members will get updates and info on these events/issues in a timely manner. And, of course, anyone can opt out and not receive it.
We talked about how we like to see most of our Tikkun Olam donations going to local organisations, and that we are also willing to put in sweat equity.
This is a process, not a statement. I was very moved on how well we work together, hear and speak to each other. Our passions are strong and real, and as individuals and as a Jewish group, we can have an affect on the world and our local communities.
The next meeting will be posted, so please consider coming and joining the folks from 11 of our families who showed up this past Sunday.
UPDATED February 8, 2017