Social Action

Be a part of our community’s ongoing work…

The Social Action Committee works to engage our CBI community in efforts to promote social justice. Our Jewish values guide us in education, inspiration and creating opportunities for action.

We are connected to the Religious Action Center (RAC) of the Union for Reform Judaism. The RAC’s vision of “a world overflowing with wholeness, justice and compassion” nurtures our Tikkun Olam partnership with Reform Congregations throughout North America.

All members of CBI are welcome to join the Social Action Committee.

Upcoming Meetings and Ongoing Projects

Social Action Committee Meetings	Interfaith Alliance on Poverty	Tikkun Olam Together: a CBI Circle
CBI’s Social Action Committee meets virtually on at 3:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month.	We play an active role in the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, which holds their meetings online at 12:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month (with the exception of an August summer recess).	For more direct action, our CBI Circle, Tikkun Olam Together, organizes monthly (and more) opportunities to pitch in for our community partners across the Portland area.
Click here to get in touch with our Social Action Committee	Click here for more on the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty	Click here to get in touch with Tikkun Olam Together

Social Action Allocations

Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food

This year (2025/5786), the CBI Community raised over $70,000 for the Robert Peltz (z”l) High Holidays Funds for Food, greatly exceeding our goal of $40,000. We have allocated these funds to support the efforts of the following community partners:

LiftUP: $10,000
Northeast Emergency Food Program: $7,000
IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization): $5,000
Stone Soup PDX: $5,000
NARA (Native American Rehabilitation Association): $5,000
Sunshine Division: $5,000
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center: $5,000
Urban Gleaners: $6,000
William Temple House: $5,000
Blanchet House: $5,000
PSU Smallwood Food Pantry: $3,000
Rose Haven Day Shelter and Community Center: $4,000
Fred Meyer Gift Cards for Clergy Distribution $2,000

Social Action Spotlight

Community Holiday Dinner

As we do each year, CBI will hold a Community Holiday Dinner on December 25 in partnership with LiftUP, during which we will provide take away holiday dinners and gifts of lovingly knit winter weather hats and scarves for neighborhood guests.

Knitters and other fiber artists, please help us share the warmth with your donations of hats and scarves.

Cranberry Drive for JFCS

CBI has committed to collect (at least) 160 jars of cranberries for JFCS’s annual Thanksgiving Boxes; please bring your contributions to the bins in the Schnitzer Family Center or Main Sanctuary.

Nut Butter Drive

Starting in December, we will have bins out in Pollin Chapel and the Main Sanctuary to collect nut betters, the most-requested item by food panties nationwide.

Support Our Work

CBI’S Social Action Funds	The Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food
Three CBI funds—the Social Action I Have a Dream Fund, the Social Action Food Fund, and the Social Action General Fund—support the work we do, and allow us to support our community partners in turn. If you are remembering a loved one or marking a special simcha with a donation to CBI, please consider ensuring that our efforts continue!	Each year, we mark the High Holidays with a Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food drive. Contributions to this fund go toward the purchase of food (including culturally-appropriate foods and emergency support) for our Partners in combatting food insecurity.
Click here to make a Social Action contribution Please note that CBI funds are listed on this form alphabetically; you will need to scroll down to the “S” listings for our Social Action Funds.	Click here to donate to the Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food

CBI’S Social Action Funds

The Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food

Three CBI funds—the Social Action I Have a Dream Fund, the Social Action Food Fund, and the Social Action General Fund—support the work we do, and allow us to support our community partners in turn. If you are remembering a loved one or marking a special simcha with a donation to CBI, please consider ensuring that our efforts continue!

Each year, we mark the High Holidays with a Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food drive. Contributions to this fund go toward the purchase of food (including culturally-appropriate foods and emergency support) for our Partners in combatting food insecurity.

Click here to make a Social Action contribution

Please note that CBI funds are listed on this form alphabetically; you will need to scroll down to the “S” listings for our Social Action Funds.

Click here to donate to the Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food

Donation Requests

CBI’s Social Action Committee manages two funds—the Social Action General Fund and the Social Action Food Food Fund—which, along with the Seasonal Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food, provide grants averaging $1,000 to organizations addressing pressing needs like hunger. Requests are reviewed twice yearly, with time-sensitive needs considered as they arise. Funding requests may be submitted online.

Click here to request support