Temple Israel

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

Temple Israel has a long history of embracing social action causes and helping others.  Please check the calendar for current opportunities.   Other ways to help and get involved include:
          Common Ground
          Current Mitzvah Opportunities (Dec. 2008)
          Blood Drive (Sun., Dec. 14, 2008)
          Temple's adopt-a-school, Wells Station

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 2008 are Lynn Eisenstatt, Judy Edelson, and Barbara and Norm Towbin.

Thank you to the 800+ volunteers for making Mitzvah Day 2008 a success! Enjoy these pictures from this year's Mitzvah Day.

God’s Unfinished BusinessAlso affectionately known as GUB, Temple members help other Temple members with this outreach program.   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.

Environmental Task Force Read about this exciting new initiative starting Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 9:30am.

As 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; check out Cycle photos from June 2008 )
• Establish communications with and encourage other “green” groups, particularly religious-based groups and youth groups

Use the following hints to incorporate "Rethink-Reduce-Reuse-Recycle" into your lives:

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

Remember:  Rethink!  Reduce!  Reuse!  Recycle!

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