Meeting the World Where It Is—With Love and Sandwiches
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Tikkun Olam meets the world where it is, with love and sandwiches—providing critical assistance to those experiencing troubles. Tikkun Olam translates to "repairing" or "healing the world"—a core concept of Reform Judaism that calls on individuals to engage in social action, philanthropy, and community service to make society more just, peaceful, and equitable.
BJBE's engaged volunteers work to transform the world as it is into the world as it ought to be. Our power comes from building relationships, strengthening communities, and forming alliances and coalitions across lines of difference. G'milut Chasadim is one of BJBE's five core values. It is the Jewish obligation for each person to give away three things: time—to make the world a better place; money--to ease someone's pain: and kindness--to heal a world that is broken. All BJBE families are invited to join in our wide range of activities that offer real impact on our local community and beyond. |
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Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day
You've likely heard, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. But teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." A modified version goes further: "Give a person a fish, so she can eat today, and then go petition the owner of the lake for the right to fish whenever she wants." Let's work to change the rules of the game so everyone gets a fair shake and a fish.
Tikkun Olam Contacts: Joel Newton and Erin Dubin
You've likely heard, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. But teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." A modified version goes further: "Give a person a fish, so she can eat today, and then go petition the owner of the lake for the right to fish whenever she wants." Let's work to change the rules of the game so everyone gets a fair shake and a fish.
Tikkun Olam Contacts: Joel Newton and Erin Dubin
Ongoing Initiatives
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Critical Needs Collection: Moraine Township Food Pantry Each month, Critical Needs Collection and the Moraine Township Food Pantry request donations of specific, highly needed household or personal items. Each item requested is unavailable through government programs like SNAP, and Congregation BJBE is the pantry’s sole source of these items. Summer Focus: Paper Towels. Please drop donations off in the Tzedakah Nook in the Village Center. Contact: Laurie Egert Weissler Project Nourish Every month we pack 350 lunches—helping our neighbors who could use some love and sandwiches. Read more. Contact: Rachel Tzinberg Deerfield Free Store The Deerfield Free Store (DFS) provides individuals and families with essential household items and clothing. DFS assists people facing challenging personal circumstances who are moving to new housing. The household items, ranging from appliances to furniture to clothing, enable Chicagoland families to create a safe and comfortable home environment. Since DFS opened in 2022, over 1500 families have been helped and BJBE has played an integral role. If you are interested in volunteering with DFS visit their website. Contact: Erin Dubin |
PADS (Providing Advocacy, Dignity, and Shelter)
Congregation BJBE supports people experiencing housing insecurity. This effort began in 2013 when congregant Ruth Miller led support for the Lake County shelter at First Presbyterian Church in Deerfield. Beginning in the fall of 2023, PADS Lake County began housing individuals in hotels in Waukegan and Mundelein. As part of a monthly effort, BJBE leads a grocery and toiletries collection drive to add to the PADS food pantry. Contact: Naomi Weitzel LBGTQ+ Advocacy The Torah teaches that each human is created “b’Tzelem Elohim” (Bereishit 1:26), in the Divine image. LGBTQ+ people deserve to be heard, witnessed, and advocated for. True belonging, inclusion, and justice are built on this foundation. Our Social Action/Social Justice Committee supports LGBTQ+ advocacy initiatives and believes that Jews must work for a world in which LGBTQ+ people — and all people — can live in dignity. Contact: Erin Rosenberg |
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Reproductive Justice BJBE stands with a person’s right to choose. For thousands of years, our tradition has understood that the decision to keep or terminate a pregnancy is ours to make. Jewish law is overwhelmingly clear on abortion: it is permitted in most cases; it is required in some. Our texts explicitly say that we prioritize a person’s life, including both physical and mental well-being, over a potential life. Read more. |
Special Events
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