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

Quick links to topics on this page:
     Environmental Task Force
       (including Green Tip Sheets & Dear Adam and Eve)
     God's Unfinished Business (GUB)
     Mitzvah Day

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:
      Mitzvah Opportunities February 2010      Temple's adopt-a-school, Wells Station
       Common Ground

Blood DriveSunday, April 18, 2010
8:30am-1:30pm
Email Julie Klein, or call 335-9981

Help Victims of January 2010 Earthquake in HaitiTo make a donation, send your checks payable to "Rabbi's Discretionary Fund-Haiti" and send to Temple Israel.  The funds go to the Episcopal Relief and Development.

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

Unto the Seventh Generation This speaking series, which is a product of Temple's Environmental Task Force chaired by Linda Kaplan, focuses on ways in which we can reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink!

The program's name, "Unto the Seventh Generation," comes from The Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy: "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

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 advice from "Dear Adam and Eve"
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."  Check it out.

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

Cycle the Germantown GreenwayThank you to the over 250 people who participated in this terrific event on June 7, 2009 that raised $7,000 for the Wolf River Conservancy.  Check out pictures and a video!

Eco-ExpoSunday, January 31, 2010, 11am-4pm!

Read what the Commercial Appeal said about 2009's event:
•Raising Eco Awareness
•Eco Expo Preaches Waste Not Resources

 

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.


Mitzvah Day Mitzvah Day is Temple's congregation-wide day of community service.   Filled with the spirit of tikkun olam—the repair of the world—hundreds of volunteers of all ages reach out into the community to make a difference.The chairs for 2009 were Paul and Natalie Royal, Judy Edelson, Cathy Poulin, and Lynn Eisenstatt.

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