1972 NW Flanders Street, Portland, Oregon 97209 | (503) 222-1069
1972 NW Flanders Street, Portland, Oregon 97209 | (503) 222-1069
Lift Every Voice Oregon’s two initiative petitions (IP17, IP18) to reduce gun violence have cleared the OR Supreme Court’s review of the ballot titles.
We are ready to start the final phase of signature gathering to move these measures to the Oregon November 2022 Ballot.
Taken together, IP17 and IP18 would ban the manufacturing and sales of semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines with an exception for use in law enforcement or the military.
Other components of the measures include requirements for passing a background check, completing safety training and obtaining a license before purchase of a gun.
More information is at lifteveryvoiceoregon.com.
Want to help? Please email us at sac@bethisrael-pdx.org.
Leading up to and throughout the Chanukah holiday, CBI’s Social Action Committee will be holding a winter coat drive for the Refugee Care Collective. Drop off new or gently-used winter coats of any size at Rabbi Joseph’s Chanukah Open House on Monday, November 29, CBI’s Chanukah Family Celebration and Shabbat Evening Service on Friday, December 3, or Religious School on Sunday, December 5 or Sunday, December 12. Donations are also welcome at the Schnitzer Family Center during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM). Ring the bell to be let in and look for the collection bins at the base of the stairs.
The Oregon Jewish Museum and Holocaust Resource Center and Jewish Federation of Greater Portland are partnering with the Refugee Care Collective to collect “Restart Kits” for newly arrived Afghans
Announcing the launch of the Reform Movement’s 2021 Racial Justice Campaign: What You Need to Know.
How do you go from being not racist to being antiracist? CBI’s Social Action Committee, Adult Education Committee and WRJ/Beth Israel Sisterhood Social Action invite you to participate in a 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge to better understand how racial inequity and social injustice impacts our community. To participate
By addressing issues of race, power, privilege and leadership we can connect with others to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.=
Click here to sign up for the 21-Day Equity Challenge
Click here to let us know you plan to participate
The 21-Day Equity Challenge was created by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. (#BlackMind) and co-developed with Debby Irving, and Dr. Marguerite Penick (#DiverseSolutions). The plan has been adopted by Organizations, Associations and Corporations all over the nation/world. Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. is the Director of the Privilege Institute in Green Bay, WI. Dr. Moore created the Challenge to not only help people better understand issues surrounding equity, inclusion, privilege, leadership and supremacy, but also to do so in a way that would build a habit of learning by stretching it over 21 days. We are excited to be offering you this 21-DayChallenge in partnership with Dr. Moore. As you engage in the various activities over the next 21 days, be sure to tag, comment, and follow (1) 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge | Facebook
Congregation Beth Israel’s Social Action Committee works with Rabbi Joseph to promote social justice and set priorities for CBI’s call to action through programming and volunteer opportunities. This group provides a myriad of programs that support causes through education, advocacy, direct service, and interfaith coalition building. This committee is only open to members of CBI.
The Social Action Committee is responsible for recommending allocations from the Social Action Tribute Funds to the CBI Board.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic we have allocated over $100,000. Most of these funds have been directed to organizations that have pivoted their activities to meet immediate increased needs (especially food insecurity) related to the Pandemic. The CBI Board approved the following allocations.
From Food Fund:
April 2021
Mercy Connections – $2,000
Lift Urban Portland -$2,500
Sunshine Pantry -$2,500
March 2021
Urban Gleaners – $1,000
February 2021
Blanchet House – $2,000
Sunshine Pantry – $1,000
Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) – $1,000
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) -$1,000
January 2021
Blanchet House – $2,000
Oregon Food Bank – $1,000
2020
Lift Urban Portland – $2500
Sunshine Pantry – $2500
Urban Gleaners – $2500
Northeast Emergency Food Pantry – $2500
Portland Backpack Project – $ 1,000
Urban Gleaners – $ 3,000
Oregon Food Bank – $ 8,000
Stone Soup PDX – $ 2,000
Lift Urban Portland – $ 2,500
From General Social Action Tribute Fund:
April 2021
Black Resilience Fund – $1,000
Cascadia Clusters – $2,000
Stone Soup PDX – $3,000
Sunshine Division – $2,000
Northeast Emergency Food Program – $1,500
CODA – $1,500
March 2021
Rose Haven Shelter for Women and Children -$3,000
January 2021
North By Northeast Community Health Center – $1,000
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty -$500
Lift Urban Portland (Holiday Gifts) – $300
Holiday Gifts for NW Towers Kids – $333
2020
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (for Every Voice, Every Vote) – $700
Partners for Hunger Free Oregon – $ 5,000
HIAS (Humanitarian Aid and Advocacy for Refugees) –$ 7,500
CODA (Treatment for Substance Abuse Disorders) – $ 1,000
Rose Haven (Day Shelter for Women and Children) $ 2,000
More information about these organizations and the work they are currently doing is available in the Social Action content on the CBI website.
From the Robert Peltz (z”l) High Holidays Funds for Food 5781:
Robert Peltz was the energy, passion and conscience of our High Holidays Funds for Food from the time of it’s inception until his unexpected death in early 2020. The fund has been renamed as a tribute to his efforts.
Robert’s widow Leslie Peltz, and his good friend Jim Richman, carried Robert’s legacy forward this year. Under their thoughtful and dedicated leadership the fund had a huge increase in both the number of donors and the amount of money raised.
Number of donors – 191
Total Donations – $35,304
Allocations:
Lift Urban Portland -$5,000
Sunshine Pantry – $3,000
Oregon Food Bank – $6,804
Urban Gleaners – $1,500
Stone Soup – $1,500
Northeast Emergency Food Programs – $1,500
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) – $4,000
Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) – $4,000
Sunshine Division – $4,000
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center – $4,000
CBI is a Brit Olam (Covenant with our World) committed congregation, joining over 200 other Reform Congregations in linked social justice work.
Our Beth Israel Community has a full slate of social action activities, from direct service to advocacy, that reflects our social justice teachings.
Your help is needed. Volunteer for an event or ongoing activity, or to help with the development and implementation of new programs. Participation in the Social Action Committee is open to all congregants. The following is a description of some of our programs.
The Social Action Committee welcomes requests for allocations from the Social Action Food Fund, Robert Peltz (z”l) High Holidays Funds for Food, and the Social Action General Tribute Fund. Please click to learn more and to submit a request.
Even in this time of physical distancing, we have ongoing projects to support our community. We continue our neighbors at NW Towers, including assisting with the resident-run food pantry.
With a long list of activities, there are always opportunities to help our community. These projects are open to the larger Portland- area Jewish community.
Click here for opportunities to volunteer.
Questions about how you can get involved with the Social Action Committee? Email SAC@bethisrael-pdx.org or call Program and Communications Coordinator Tracy Manaster Alifanz at (503) 222-1069 to learn how you can make a difference!
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