BE Involved

BE A PART OF SOCIAL ACTION AT TEMPLE BETH-EL

There are many opportunities for you to help with Tikkun-Olam through your Birmingham Jewish Community Social Action Projects. Below describes those areas we support at Temple Beth-El.

Birmingham Hospitality Network

  • Bringing meals to homeless families in transition (Linda & Howard Weiner represent TBE)
  • Sleep over at night as a chaperone for those homeless in transition (Linda & Howard Weiner for TBE)
  • Gift-wrapping during the holidays to raise money to help the homeless (Toby & Bert Siegel chair)
  • Helping with their annual fundraiser reception and silent auction
  • Check out the BHN website here

RUSH Initiative

  • Help with gifts for the holiday drive -- Feeling Gelty program
  • Help pick up donations from the Jewish community and transport them
  • Become a volunteer Parent Coach -- work with impoverished families for First Teachers@home, a highly effective parent-centered education program for families with preschool kids
  • Check out the RUSH Initiative website here

Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM)

  • Help financially support those in need in Birmingham by helping through difficult and critical times such as electric bills and housing to keep a roof over their heads
  • Be an advocate for the homeless by tracking political moves throughout the city and state. 
  • Help educate the community about social and economic justice for our citizens.
  • Donate coats and gloves during winter coat drive. Donate food for the patry. Help communicate the need for Alabama Constitutional Reform. (Karen Weinrib & Sherrie Grunfeld represent TBE)
  • Check out the Greater Birmingham Ministries website here 

Local Area Walks

  • Volunteer to help raise money through walking for BAO, NCCJ, Komen Walk for the Cure-Team Kate has Hope, Cropwalk

Food Drives

  • Fill a bag of canned and dried foods for the homeless during high holiday season and year round. Food is distributed to the following locations from our food drives: GBM, CJFS, The Table, BAO, RUSH, Pathways

Interfaith Blood Drives

  • Give blood during blood drives -- TBE Brotherhood sponsors one at Temple every Chanukah

Community Kitchens

  • Help serve the homeless and those in need during their Thanksgiving, Christmas, & Easter season (Eva Wilensky chair)
  • Help get food donations for the holiday meals (Eva Wilensky & Julie Bernstein chair)
  • Donate coats and gloves during the winter coat drive

Pathways

  • Help serve holiday meals to homeless women and children in December
  • Collect toiletries and clothing for homeless women
  • Check out Pathways website here

World of Opportunity (WOO)

  • Help student residents of Gate City who are not in public education in literacy, GED testing and other specific projects to help combat hunger, homelessness, domestic violence, illness, legal problems, lack of transportation, single parenting and more.
  • Check out the World of Opportunity website here

The Table

  • Prepare part of the meal for The Table 
  • Throughout the community most of the homeless shelters in Birmingham have volunteers on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but during the summer, when many of us turn our thoughts to swimming pools and family vacations, the numbers of volunteers drop. We are counting on people who understand that homelessness is a problem 365 days a year. The Table has served more than 34,000 meals to hungry and homeless men and women. Please help us continue to provide food and hope to those in need. 
  • For more information, please email Chris Retan 

Collat Jewish Family Services

  • Local Jewish Community Social Service Organization
  • Food Closet- Organize a food drive, organize the food closet
  • Friendly Visitor- Visit an elderly person twice a month
  • Friendly Callers- Chat weekly with homebound or isolated individuals
  • English tutors and teachers -- Have fun and teach English 
  • Make birthday, holiday, and get well cards (a job especially for kids!)
  • Office Assistance- Make phone calls, run errands, organize, data entry
  • Technology and marketing expertise
  • Special Projects- Baskets of Blessings, etc.
  • TLC Day- Teens Lend a Caring Hand - Tikkun Olam V'Chesed
  • Check out the CJFS website here

Chesed Committee

The Chesed (loving kindness) Committee is a group of Temple volunteers committed to honoring our homebound members and residents of retirement homes.

  • Nichum Aveilim: Comforting the Mourners: Following the death of a loved one, a platter of cake along with a card from the Chesed Club will be taken to the home of any mourner who is a member of Temple Beth-El.
  • Bikur Cholim: Erev Shabbat visits to Temple Beth-El members: Volunteers will make Friday visits to Temple Beth-El members who are in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. A training session will be held for those who would like to participate in this worthy mitzvah.
  • Birthday Cheer: Birthday cards sent to senior members of our congregation: Birthday cards will be sent to let our senior members know that we are thinking of them on these special occasions.
  • Transportation: Rides to and from Shabbat services.

There has been a request that we offer transportation to and from worship services for those who are unable to drive.

For more information, contact Cantor Gale, or Co-Chairs Dorothy Ziff or Cindy May.