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Create a M'gillah, Purim Puppets, and a Haman Piñata
Get involved with the megillah by making one, acting out the story with homemade puppets, and taking a whack at a villainous Haman piñata.
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman
Chair, North American Board of Trustees
Body
Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman, of Congregation B’nai Israel in Sacramento, has served on the URJ Board since 2003 in a variety of roles across all of the organization’s efforts, including as chair of the Commission on Social Action and chair of the Resolutions Committee.
Engaging and Enriching Older Immigrants to Israel
by Sharon Mann
Congregations are always thinking of new ways to attract and interest younger members. While this is, of course, essential, it is perhaps just as important for congregations to consider what they are doing to engage and enrich older members who want to remain connected as they deal with circumstances that arise later in life.
At my congregation, Kehillat Emet VeShalom (the only synagogue in Nahariya, Israel, affiliated with the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism), we’ve been dealing with a unique version of this scenario. Looking at our community, we asked ourselves: What happens to olim (immigrants) who make aliyah (move to Israel) at an advanced age? Many of these olim live on low, fixed incomes and have difficulty learning Hebrew well. Our congregation saw that these challenges limited new residents’ ability to take part in Israeli society and that, despite the passage of time, they continued to struggle with difficulties adjusting to life in Israel.
Between 2002 and 2003, a large wave of older immigrants from Argentina settled in Nahariya. Our congregation stepped up to the challenge of working with these olim, as well as with veteran immigrants, to provide them with support and the opportunity to participate in Jewish social and educational programs that they otherwise could not afford or understand. We've also embraced new and veteran English-speaking immigrants from across the religious spectrum.
Yom Kippur Social Action Guide
Ideas for incorporating social action themes into your Yom Kippur observance.
This Month in The Tent: No Summer Slowdown Here!
Much of the world slows down during the summer, and even synagogues aren’t the hustling, bustling places they typically are during the rest of the year. Nonetheless, conversations continue unabated in The Tent, the URJ’s online communication and collaboration forum.
Many of the current discussions focus on planning for 5776, with these conversations proving especially popular:
Year Long Commitment to Tikkun Olam
Social Action calendar was created to allow congregants to choose activities that fit in their schedule. Community Contact Information: Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation Indianapolis, IN www.ihcindy.org Goals: Make social action a flexible “one stop shopping” for the congregants.
Judaism and the Physically Challenged: Just Do It!
Shul-In educates youth about the special needs of physically and mentally challenged adults. Community Contact Information: Congregation Schaarai Zedek Tampa, FL http://www.zedek.org/ Goals: Teach children about issues of physical and mental disability.
5 Ways To Welcome Them Home: Building Bridges Between Camp and Travel Programs and Your Synagogue
The young people in your congregation spent the summer volunteering, experiencing joyous Judaism at camp and Israel, and traveling the world. We want to help you to leverage their incredible enthusiasm.
Temple Isaiah Organizing Project
Temple Isaiah in Lexington, MA engaged in congregation based community organizing Temple Isaiah in Lexington, Massachusetts along with three other synagogues came together and formed the Greater Boston Synagogue Organizing Project to transform their social justice work by applying community
Racism and Economic Justice
The synagogue's goals are to dismantle racism and economic injustice. They do this by working with other inter-faith groups, by mentoring at local schools, by helping out at Habitat for Humanity, and in many other ways. Central Reform Congregation 77 Maryland Plaza St.