Temple Isaiah is a Social Action Congregation!

Temple Isaiah's Social Action Committee and Mitzvah Day Committee are actively involved coordinating the efforts of Temple Isaiah's multifaceted activities, fulfilling the mitzvah of tikkun olam (repairing the world). We address current issues of social justice on the local, national and international levels.

• Social Action Committee – This is our principle organization that coordinates efforts ranging from service (Tzedakah) to the needy in our community to social justice (Tzedek) programs that seek to address root causes of social injustice.
• Mitzvah Day – A separate committee organizes this annual Spring event that offers young and old numerous opportunities to help make the world a better place. Activities range from environmental cleanup programs to serving lunch at local shelters.

Temple Isaiah is the proud recipient of the prestigious 2007 Irving J. Fain Social Action Award, received for our "Congregation Based Community Organizing" project. The Fain Awards are awarded every two years by the Union for Reform Judaism to congregations whose work in the area of social justice is exemplary. And we were a member of a five congregation team that received a 2009 Irving J. Fain Social Action Award, for our "Vote No on Question One" campaign.

Join the Social Action Committee email list.

Social Action Committee

Temple Isaiah's Social Action Committee includes both service (Tzedakah) and social justice (Tzedek) programs.

Our service programs include Jewish Family Table, Literacy Project, Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen, Lexington Food Pantry, Project Ezra, MAZON, and the annual Blood Drive. Projects include advocacy (e.g., Darfur), raising funds for special causes (e.g., hurricane relief), and work with our Religious School and youth group.

Our social justice programs fall under our Temple Isaiah Organizing Project and are focused on addressing the root causes of injustice. Organizing is fundamentally very different from how we have traditionally done our social action work. We engage people based on their own self-interests and identify the specific issues that are actionable (we can do something about it); winnable; important to the members of the Temple as well as people in other communities; and address a root cause of a problem, rather than a symptom.

Our organizing projects connect us to congregations from diverse religious, racial, and economic backgrounds, and together we become a potent voice for change. Health care, aging with dignity, the environment and affordable housing are but a few of the issues we are tackling through congregation-based community organizing. We are a founding member of the Greater Boston Synagogue Organizing Project and are a member of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) comprising over 55 churches and synagogues working together to change our world.

Let us know you want to be involved with Social Action and we’ll help you find a way! Send email to socialaction@templeisaiah.net.

Mitzvah Day

Each year (typically a Sunday in May) the entire Temple Isaiah community participates in day of Mitzvahs (doing good deeds on behalf of the community). We volunteer at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and senior centers. We help clean up parks, plant our Temple garden, and join in the Boston Walk for Hunger. We make crafts to give to homeless women and children as well as making gifts for our friends at Or Hadash Synagogue in Haifa. Hundreds of Temple members of all ages contribute to the day long effort.

Information about the 2011 Mitzvah Day project.

Or contact our Mitzvah Day co-chairs at mitzvahday@templeisaiah.net.