TI's Mentor Connections Program

By Rachel Alexander

Five months ago, I had never heard of “one-on-ones.” This summer, they became the highlights of my day. As part of my

Temple Israel Social Justice Internship, I engaged in a series of one-on-ones with social justice leaders and young adults in the

Temple Israel community. The justice work spearheaded by TI leaders constantly inspired me, and I found comfort in sharing feelings of frustration and passion with my peers.

When I started to develop a long-term project, I used these experiences with one-on-ones as the foundation. How could I best use TI’s resources to help others? How could I relieve feelings of uncertainty in this stressful time? Through working with Tali Puterman, the Assistant Director of Social Justice Engagement, I organized a core group of social justice leaders to help me with my project.

I initially brainstormed a social justice project that allowed people with similar justice passions to engage in conversation and build connections. However, after hearing about the similarities in what my friends Jack Pierce, Callie Rabinovitz, and I were feeling (confused, anxious about the future, seeking inspiration, etc.), the plan shifted. The “TI Mentor Connections Program” was born as we recognized the value of connecting young adults to social justice leaders with similar justice interests.

I made a list of current RYFTI students/alumni. Jack, Callie, and I reached out to those we knew, and slowly the list of mentees increased. I worked with Tali, Fran Godine, and Susan Michaels (the other leaders on this project) to contact leaders in the community whose interests matched those of the students. We created space for 28 mentors/mentees to connect over shared passions, with many interested in participating again.

Going forward, I hope to continue finding innovative ways to build relationships within the TI community. When so many of our members are deeply passionate, thoughtful, and open-minded, the possibilities for future programs are endless.

TIkkun Central by the Numbers

Temple Israel’s commitment to pursuing Righteous Impact was on full display over the summer and early fall. Here are just a few numbers which highlight the incredible justice work our congregants have achieved over the past few months! 94 Honey Jars and Condolence Cards delivered by TI Cares to members who lost loved ones in the past year. 42 Immigrants bonded out of detention through the work of our Immigrant Justice team and other parenting bond funds. visits to our online Shuk of Black-Owned Businesses.1,899 181 Participated in the GBIO police reform campaign to promote legislation to hold police accountable. 43 Organizations our Green Team partnered with for Dayenu’s “Chutzpah 2020”campaign, a non-partisan get-out-thevote effort engaging thousands of climate-concerned voters.