MITZVOT

It is our obligation and enjoyment as Jews to perform Mitzvot or Tikkum Olam, acts of kindness to make the world a better place. It very rewarding to make the efforts to perform acts of charity for others.

Beth Shir Sholom joined with Calvary Baptist Church in Santa Monica to bring Thanksgiving in April to the homeless.  Event chair, Ari Hahyar, organized volunteers to help cook, serve and share conversations in the spirit of giving and community service on Sunday, April 27th at Calvary Baptist.

There are many ways you can be involved.  Our temple can only exist, and in fact thrives, on the many contributions of its community. Why not make virtuous acts, peace, compassion and love a part of your everyday life? Depending on your area of interest, we have many involvement opportunities. Look for areas that may interest you or be creative and get involved in something new. For example, assist on a committee.

Listed below are some current ongoing and annual projects and some other suggested ways to be involved. In a prior Kolenyu article encouraging Acts of Kindness: There are three areas of kindness where one can focus: volunteering, giving tzedakah (charity) and making Beth Shir Sholom a community where each of us takes collective responsibility for one another and with outreach efforts in our community. One need not travel to some distant land in order to make a valuable contribution to society and to one's faith. We appreciate anything you can do for temple activities, ongoing projects or committees.

Volunteer to Help

Everyone can help in any of the following areas.  If you would like to chair or work in other temple events or participate in another way, please contact the temple office or a committee chairperson. We welcome and encourage your involvement!

• Preparing meals at the Turning Point Transitional Housing in Santa Monica.   About every other month, on Sunday evenings, volunteers from Beth Shir Sholom prepare and serve dinner to 50 clients at Turning Point Transitional Housing.  We meet in the kitchen at Turning Point around 4:00 pm, prepare the meal and serve dinner at 6:00 pm. Please volunteer to purchase and prepare one component of the meal.  Salad, Vegetables, Potato’s (rice or noodles) a main dish (chicken, meatloaf, brisket, etc.) and a desert and next day sack lunches for 35 residents to take to work. Please call Jude Kanter at 310-459-2431 for more information.

2008 Sundays are as follows:
September 7, 2008
November 2, 2008

• Preparing meals for County USC Outpatient Aids Clinic in East Los Angeles.  When a month contains 5 Thursday’s volunteers from Beth Shir Sholom prepare and serve brunch at County USC Outpatient Aids Clinic in East Los Angeles. Sandwiches for the brunch are prepared on Wednesday Night at 7:00 pm in the temple kitchen.  On Thursday at 10:00 am volunteers are needed.  Please meet at the temple and carpool to deliver the meals to County USC and serve brunch. If you can help in the preparation or delivery of the meals, please call Jude Kanter at 310-459-2431 to volunteer for this VERY important Mitzvah!

  2008 Sandwich Preparation Dates:
  Wednesday July 30, 2008
  Wednesday October 29, 2008

• Facilities. Assist with coordination of the internal and external design of the Temple facility.
• Fundraising. Help with coordination and planning of fund raising events, grant writing, memberships and financial strategy.
• Membership. This committee focuses on welcoming new members and encouraging retention.
• Religious Education. Work with the religious school director and help with programming and activities for the religious school.
• Social Programming. Assist with organizing social events, family retreats, chavurot

Ongoing Projects
How We Support Israel
   Trees
   ARZA jewelry
Parents Circle
AIDS Brunch Sandwich Preparation and Delivery the following morning
Turning Point Brunch
Westside Food Bank
Social Action
Community Outreach
Upward Bound
ARZA
PATH

Annual Mitzvot
Big Sunday
Giving Tree Planting
Torah Trope Shabbaton
Youth Group PATH Drive
Upward Bound Shalom (Walk)-A-Thon
Meals on Wheels Christmas delivery
Homeless Seder