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.
Every Voice, Every Vote
Our Jewish tradition teaches: “A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is
first consulted” (Babylonian Talmud Berachot55a)
Congregation Beth Israel (with the support of WRJ/Beth Israel Sisterhood and our Social Action Committee) is a part of the Reform Movement’s 2026 “Every Voice, Every Vote” Campaign! We invite you to join with others in our CBI community to ensure all have an equal say in decisions that impact their lives by sending out postcards to empower voters across the nation.
At the center of this non-partisan initiative is a partnership between the Reform Movement’s Religious Action Center (RAC), WRJ and the Center for Common Ground to reverse the voter suppression that has disproportionately affected people of color.
We’ll also be supporting campaigns for ballot measures that reflect our values.
At our Every Voice, Every Vote Kickoff on July 23, we’ll be writing to voters in two states:
- Virginia voters in support of three ballot measures:
- Reproductive Freedom Constitutional Amendment- Provides a state constitutional right to make and effectuate one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy
- Freedom to Marry Constitutional Amendment- Repeals the state constitution’s ban on same-sex marriage
- Freedom to Vote Constitutional Amendment- Restores ability to vote to people with felony convictions who have been released from prison
- To Georgia- Get out the vote postcards to BIPOC voters
Please RSVP for kickoff event
Want to do more?
Order your own postcard kits from the RAC, write postcards on your own time, invite
family, friends and neighbors to join you.
The best way to protect our freedom to vote is to act on your right to vote and help others do the same!
Every Voice, Every Vote at CBI is co-sponsored by WRJ/BIS and CBI Social Action.
Thank You, CBI!
Thank You, CBI!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to our team of over 275 Mitzvah Day Menches who came together last Sunday for a brilliant day of service. Well-fueled by a pancake breakfast (shoutout to WRJ/Beth Israel Sisterhood), we:
- assembled 400 care kits for Blanchet House
- created 100 welcome home cleaning kits for Community Warehouse
- cleaned headstones and painted rocks for the CBI’s cemetery
- sorted clothing donations for Friends of Seasonal & Service Workers
- cleaned off graffiti throughout our neighborhood
- made dog and cat toys for the Pixie Project.
- made blankets and self-care kits for Project Lemonade
- created blankets with Project Linus
- made 650 sack lunches for Transition Projects and Bethanie’s Room
- collected and sorted men’s clothing for local charities.
- assembled hygiene care kits for Rose Haven Women’s Shelter.
- collected donations for our neighbors at NW Tower
- and were inspired by our youth Oneg! Choir
As always, please let us know how we can do better next year and/or if you have any ideas for new and exciting projects.
We hope you all felt you made a difference, helped build community and had a blast!
A gigantic thank you to you all!
Mitzvah Day Survey
Thank you for being part of Mitzvah Day! As we plan what comes next, our IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access) Committee would love your input.
We’re especially interested in how welcoming, accessible, and inclusive the day felt for you and your family, both what worked well, and where we can do better. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey; your feedback will help shape future Mitzvah Days and other opportunities
Upcoming Meetings and Ongoing Projects
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Social Action Committee Meetings |
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty |
Tikkun Olam Together: a CBI Circle |
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CBI’s Social Action Committee meets virtually, generally on at 3:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month. Our CBI calendar will have ongoing details. |
We play an active role in the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, which holds their meetings online at 12:00 PM on the first Thursday 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. |
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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
- Somali American Council of Oregon: $3,000
- Annual Community Holiday Dinner Food Distribution: $3,100
Social Action Spotlight
Menstrual Products Drive
Access to menstrual products is a matter of dignity and daily life. Throughout March, CBI is collecting new, unopened menstrual supplies for the Somali American Council of Oregon. We have set up donation bins in the Main Sanctuary and outside Pollin Chapel.
Thank you for showing up for our neighbors; small items make a meaningful difference.
Support Our Work
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CBI’S Social Action Funds |
The Robert Peltz (z"l) High Holidays Funds for Food |
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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. |
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Click here to make a Social Action contribution
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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.