“The world depends on three things: Torah, Worship, & Loving Deeds.” -Ethics of the Fathers 1:2
  Social Action and Mitzvah Opportunities

Temple Israel has a long history of embracing social action causes and helping others.  Please check the calendar for current opportunities. Ways to help and get involved:
   Environmental Task Force       Dear Adam and Eve     God's Unfinished Business (GUB)
   Mitzvah Day       Temple's adopt-a-school, Wells Station      Common Ground

Blood DrivesBlood drives will be held at Temple on the these Sundays from 8:30am-1:30pm: December 11, 2011; February 12, 2012; and April 15, 2012. Please e-mail Julie Klein or call her at (901) 335-9981 to let her know you'll be there.

Environmental Task ForceAs the "Rethink-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle" concept incorporates Torah-based ideals, the Temple Israel Environmental Task Force seeks to:
    •Raise the level of awareness and consciousness regarding the need to use our resources in a forever sustainable manner
    •Educate the Temple Israel family, the Memphis Jewish community, and the greater Memphis area regarding getting "green" and going "greener"
     •Initiate and support "green" events, such as Cycle the Germantown Greenway (see Cycle photos) and the Eco Expo.
   •Establish communications with and encourage other "green" groups, particularly religious-based groups and youth groups

Rethink-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle with these Green Tip Sheets
Global Warming Global Warming Update Saving Gas
CFL Bulbs Disposal of CFL Bulbs Recycling
Composting Water Conservation

Rethink-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle with "Dear Adam and Eve" Advice
Green Power Blocks Germantown Recycling Hazardous Waste Facility
Catalog Cut-Backs Plastic Bottles Ozone Season
Barrels of Oil Less Trash Use Baskets to Recycle
Recycled Paper Leftover Paint Styrofoam Peanuts
Ride a Bicycle Home Habits Impact Energy Use Save $ w/Greener Products
When to Compost Make Gift Giving Less Materialistic The Story of Stuff
Addicted to Plastic? What can YOU do to Help? Eco-Expo Serious Fun
Recycle Alum Cans Save Trees with Toilet Tissue Earth Hour & Earth Day
Going Green-for Me? Save Petroleum Oil in Laundry The Story of Stuff 2
Spinning Our Wheels Organically Challenged? Green Living for Dummies
Plastic Water Traveling Recycle Status Traveling Recycle Status-2
Eco Travelogue-3 Eco Travelouge-4 Container Deposit Bill
  How to Get Started  
Email your "Dear Adam and Eve" questions to: DearAdamAndEve@timemphis.org.

The URJ's website, Greening Reform Judaism, is a comprehensive web resource on greening and other environmental issues.

If you are a Temple member and would like to get involved with the Environmental Task Force, please contact Linda Kaplan.

Cycle the Germantown Greenway The 2011 and the 2010 events were wonderful! (And thank you to the over 250 people who participated in the 2009 Cycle that raised $7,000 for the Wolf River Conservancy.)  Check out pictures and this video:



Eco ExpoEco Expo coverage from the Commercial Appeal:
     • God's Work
     • Raising Eco Awareness
     • Eco Expo Preaches Waste Not Resources

We look forward to Eco Expo IV on Sunday, February 5, 2012!

 

God's Unfinished Business
It all started with a sermon from Rabbi Danziger over 25 years ago.  Temple members have been helping other Temple members with this outreach program, affectionately known as GUB, ever since.   Condolence telephone calls, hospital visits, and delivering meals are a few of the loving deeds that volunteers perform.

If you are a Temple member in need of a service GUB provides, contact Cantor John Kaplan at (901) 937-2763 or email GUB.   If you are a Temple member and would like to help provide the services GUB offers, download and print the GUB pamphlet, fill out the form, and return it to Temple.

The image of the hands pictured above was drawn by Cantor Kaplan's mother, Peggy Kaplan, and it captures the spirit of GUB: working hand-in-hand to help others.

Moving On support group, fall of 2011
Haiti event Oct. 15, 2011
Daniel Pearl "Harmony for Humanity" Concert Oct. 23, 2011
HIV/AIDS Healing Service Oct. 23, 2011
Cooking for Estival Communities, Oct. 26, 2011
GUB Training Session, Nov. 2, 2011
Cooking for Estival Communities, Nov. 16, 2011
Keep Kids Safe Community Wide Forum on Child Safety, Nov. 20, 2011
Community Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, 2011
Temple members and friends will join with other houses of worship on Nov. 22 at 7pm at Second Baptist Church, 4680 Walnut Grove Road, for this annual event. A message from The Reverend Carla Meisterman, Balmoral Presbyterian Church, "Our annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service which will be held at Second Baptist Church, Tuesday November 22, 2011 at 7:00pm. During worship we will gather the offering for The Hunger Banquet, a consortium of religious institutions and community agencies coming together to address the severe hunger issues in our city. Memphis been ranked the number one for hunger in our nation. Donations that supply meals to hungry people through the Food Bank and MIFA are down. As we gather for Thanksgiving, be reminded that there are many tables in our city that will not be laden with a healthy abundance of food. Support this emerging effort for broad based education and communication for our community and the development of dependable support to feed the hungry in our midst. Plan to attend this service and give generously."


Mitzvah Day Mitzvah Day, on November 13, 2011, was Temple's 14th annual congregation-wide day of community service.  Filled with the spirit of tikkun olam, the repair of the world, hundreds of volunteers of all ages reached out into the community to make a difference. Check out this photo album!
The chairs for 2011 were:
standing (l-r): Brett Cohen, Elaine Cohen, Jimmy Ringel, Raymond Evans
sitting (l-r): Marilyn Glazer, Susan Edelman, Janice Ringel, Susan Evans, Connie Sherman


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