Tikkun Olam

BY RACHEL MEISEL & JODI ROSS Co-Chairs

become close, even though their children are not the same age. It makes Sara feel like a piece of her family is here, too.

As Jonathan explained, “If you grow up attached to a synagogue there is an implicit dream of having the same rabbi do your same life cycle events . . . We obviously went through a number of rabbis but now we are thirteen years with Rabbi Wiederhorn. He didn’t do my bar mitzvah but he did our wedding, our daughters’ baby namings, our son’s bris, and with any luck he will be doing their B’nei Mitzvah in eight years. Having that community was an important aspect of what we saw our life being as a family once we had kids.”

The sentiment Jonathan so eloquently expressed is shared by the children who grew up and chose to come home. Martina Israely overheard her daughter Ruth explaining it her own daughter Caroline. “When you have TCS, you always have a home.”

Spring is a great time to engage in Tikkun Olam — repairing the world! The Tikkun Olam team has organized several initiatives for congregants to engage in meaningful volunteerism.

First is Mitzvah Day, which will be held on Sunday, April 30th. Our main theme is addressing food insecurity, but we also have several other off-site volunteer activities available. There are activities appropriate for all age groups and on other days so as many people as possible can perform mitzvot. So, please check them out and decide what works for your family.

There will be no Kehillah that day and parents must accompany children younger than 7th grade to any Mitzvah Day activity. Details can be found on the weekly Shabbat Shalom email newsletter or on the Tikkun Olam page on the TCS website. If you are interested in leading a volunteer activity, please email Rachel Meisel at meisel.rae@gmail.com.

Second, TCS, through its partnership with the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee (IRRC), is welcoming another Syrian refugee family. The first resettlement effort was a major success, and we need additional volunteers to help settle this second family.

We are looking for volunteers for these task groups: Healthcare Advocate, Employment, Transportation, Social Services, Financial Literacy, and IT/Application Support. For more information, reach out to Jodi Ross at jodirosnick@yahoo.com.

Lastly, TCS will be hosting a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Thursday, July 20th from 12:30PM to 5:30PM. Please look for details in late spring.