Panim el Panim

BJBE wins national recognition for its innovative social action program

BJBE has been awarded a prestigious Irving J. Fain Social Action Award from the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. The award recognizes BJBE’s Panim El Panim program, which has reached hundreds of BJBE members since its inception in 2005.

Launched by Rabbi John Linder and Social Action chair Michael Taitel, Panim El Panim brings congregants together in face-to-face meetings to identify shared values and core concerns. These conversations help people connect on those values and issues about which they care deeply.

The initial outcome of these conversations has been to identify two broad areas of concern that were common to many BJBE members, Education Equity and Healthcare.

The organizing and outreach that has resulted from the Healthcare theme connected with longstanding BJBE activities in this area. Working in concert with United Power for Action and Justice - an organization representing Chicago-area churches, synagogues, mosques, and community and labor organizations - BJBE members have been a driving force behind the creation of the Illinois statewide programs KidCare and FamilyCare. These programs have broadened access to health care for the uninsured in Illinois.

At the same time, BJBE members also have begun discussing and organizing around the second area of concern, Education Equity. BJBE’s success with Panim El Panim led to its selection as the first Mentor Congregation for the Union for Reform Judaism’s “Just Congregations” program. BJBE has now conducted training and mentoring for several Chicago-area synagogues. The Fain Award was  presented to BJBE at the Consultation on Conscience in Washington, D.C., in April 2007.

More information about Panim El Panim is available from Judith Gethner, (847) 509-8281.