Bringing Judaism to Life and Light Through Innovation and Celebration

Social Action
Co chairpersons: Sharon Silver and Judy Godorov
The mission of the Union for Reform Judaism includes the mandate to “foster the vibrancy of Reform Judaism through Torah (lifelong Jewish education, avodah (worship of god through prayer and observance) and g’milut chasadim (the pursuit of justice, peace and deeds of loving –kindness).
Our mission is to work with all the CRJ groups in organizing Social Action projects for our adults, youth and children that serve and empower those who are disadvantaged or in need.

Ongoing throughout the Year
• Coalition for the Homeless Committee members cook and deliver dinner the third Monday of every month to the families residing there. Another group then serves the meal later on in the evening.
• American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) is the exclusive US fundraising organization supporting the life saving efforts of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel. MDA is a humanitarian organization providing medical and critical lifesaving services, blood products and disaster relief 365 days a year, 24 hours a day , to every man, woman and child in Israel and wherever it is needed.

August
• School supply drive for Jewish Family Services, Lake Weston Neighborhood Center For Families and A Gift for Teaching, which helps put school supplies into the hands of needy children in the Greater Orlando area through their teachers.

September
• Donated grocery bags are given out with envelopes for the Pearlman Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services (they are able to purchase the food we buy at the grocery store cheaper at Second Harvest Food Bank and Mazon envelopes gives grants primarily to agencies in the United States that are actively fighting hunger such as Second Harvest Food Bank during Rosh Hashanah. After Yom Kippur, this healthy non-perishable food is sorted and delivered by our students to the Pearlman Pantry at Jewish Family Services.

October
• Collection of Pet Food for Judy’s Pet Rescue

November
• Mitzvah Day: Sunday, November 2, 2008. - We are commanded to do Mitzvot every day and carry out one of God's commandments, tikkun olam - repairing the world. On a single day, the Social Action Committee brings the congregation together to volunteer for a project involving either social justice, an activity in the community or Israel. Projects will cater to diverse interests, capabilities and ages. Contact Carrie Miller, 407-617-0252 or millweb100@aol.com.
- Click HERE to download Mitzvah Day Registration Form (Word Doc)

• Thanksgiving - This Thanksgiving holiday whether a guest or preparing for your family and friends think of the hungry who can’t afford what we take for granted. Please purchase gift certificates for area grocery stores such as Albertsons, Publix, Wal-Mart and Target or make a monetary donation to the Social Action fund ear marked Thanksgiving and place in the Social Action box in the office or bring healthy non-perishable food to the grocery cart in the hall way.
• Sneakers that Fit is a joint effort with other area synagogues and concerned citizens to supply new sneakers to needy students identified by the teachers at 4 title one schools (at least 60% of the children are on the free lunch program) in the Central Florida area.

December
• Sunday, December 2 - We will have be collecting donations at the Sisterhood Bazaar for Ner Shel Tzedakah (the 6th night of Chanukah) for Jewish Family Services and Mending Hearts, Magen David Adom and Sneakers That Fit.
• Sunday, December 9 - The 6th night of Chanukah, we join other congregation’s in the Union for Reform Judaism by participating in Ner Shel Tzedakah (“candle of righteousness”). Congregants should devote this night to learn about the problem of poverty and donate the value of the gifts (or the gifts themselves) to organizations that assist the poor.
• Friday, December 14 - Social Action Shabbat
• Sunday, December16 -We kick off Mitzvah Day Weekend with a Social Action Shabbat on Friday, December14th leading into Mitzvah Day where congregants and guests participate in a large-scale community service day where we work a variety of projects simultaneously
• Christmas Day, December 25 - Hubbard House a group cooks lunch for their guests allowing their staff to have off for the holiday. Hubbard House is a facility where families can stay at a low cost while their family members are hospitalized at Arnold Palmer Hospital, M.D. Anderson Hospital or Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Meals on Wheels through the Seniors First agency work with a team of volunteers from CRJ, others in our Jewish Community, employees from Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ, UPS, and volunteers through the United Way to help prepare and deliver meals to approximately 475 needy senior citizens in Central Florida.

January
• Sunday, January 20 - A fundraiser for the Women of Reform Judaism’s Yes Fund as well as to honor those that are cancer surviviors• A joint effort with our Religious School (Steinmetz Family School of Chai), we will work on outdoor projects at CRJ and area non-profit agencies to help celebrate Tu-Be-Shevat on Tuesday, January 22

February
• A joint project with Sisterhood, we will be having a games day fundraiser in the afternoon for the American Cancer Society for Relay for Life

March
• Feinstein Challenge food drive for the Pearlman Pantry at Jewish Family Services
• Join the CRJ team on Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 at the Crop Walk an interfaith fundraiser to help fight hunger on a local and on an international level.

April
• Easter Sunday, April 8 - American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Altamonte Springs will be held April 11-12 beginning at 6:00 PM – 10:00 AM. The event is on Shabbat, but we can show our support by supporting this team and ACS. The website is http://www.acsevents.org/relay/fl/longwood/donnasbuncobusters Hubbard House group cooks lunch for the guests allowing their staff to have off for the holiday
• Yom Hashoa (Holocaust Remembrance Day) on Sunday, April 15 at 4:00 pm in the JCC gymnasium
• Yom Ha’at zma’ut (Israel Independence Day) on April 23 - A joint effort with our Religious School, we will collect items (camouflage paint, sunscreen etc) for the Israeli soldiers in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) as well as monetary donations to the Social Action Fund clearly marked Magen David Adom or IDF Pizza donation which will be made in memory of David Solomonov (Nephew of Congregants Ava and Michael Maxwell and Cousin of Rebecca and Alex Maxwell killed Yom Kippur 2003)
• Aids Walk Orlando 2007 benefiting the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida will be held Saturday – April 9:00 a.m. at Lake Eola. As the event is on Shabbat, we can show support by contributing to our “virtual team” called CRJ Social Action. Please visit www.aidswalkorlando.org to make an online donation to our team.