Social Action
Temple Emanu-El is known throughout the San Diego area for its commitment to the tradition of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the world)—demonstrated by its wide-ranging Social Action programs.
High Holy Day Food Drive
It is estimated that one of four residents of San Diego is nutritionally insecure. This includes large numbers of children, seniors, and active duty military members and their families.
Each year, the Social Action Committee coordinates Temple Emanu-El’s collection of non-perishable food and grocery store gift cards to be donated to the Jewish Family Service Hand Up Food Pantry. Though many congregations hold food drives during the High Holy Days, we are proud that our Temple often collects more than all other congregations combined. We would like our record to continue this year.
During Yom Kippur, we will have a truck in the Temple parking lot, and you can drive up to unload before finding street parking. If it is more convenient, you will be out of town or you plan to livestream services, drop off your food donations in the Temple office any time during October, donate gift cards to local groceries, or contribute to the Social Action Fund: Food Drive.
Most needed items this year are canned food, including soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, peanut butter, and high protein items such as canned tuna and canned chicken. Also welcome are pasta, rice, oatmeal, breakfast cereal, cake mixes, and dehydrated mashed potatoes. Please – no glass jars.
Please bring your donations to the white barrel in the front office lobby of the Temple, and the Social Action Committee will make sure they are delivered.
For any questions, please contact coordinator Ron Reff at socialaction@teesd.org.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Ongoing monthly efforts include serving 600-800 hungry San Diegans at the St. Vincent De Paul Hunger Project and our Mitzvah of the Month collections. Our Bagel Brigade volunteers deliver unsold bagels donated by Einstein Brother’s to Rachel’s Women’s Center. Temple members also reach out to the community by making and distributing blankets for the Linus Project, participating in the annual Stand Down for homeless veterans, marching in the Pride Parade, and clipping coupons for the Navy Marine Relief Society. We also have an Annual Food Drive during the High Holy Days for Jewish Family Service, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, and other organizations.
Temple Emanu-El was twice awarded the prestigious Irving Fain Award from the Union for Reform Judaism. Our Social Action Committee was honored for the wide array of social action opportunities that are provided to the congregation, ranging from direct service to advocacy, and once specifically for our work with the Interfaith Shelter Network.
By getting involved in Temple Emanu-El’s Social Action projects, you can make an important difference in our community. Please contact those listed for each project to participate, or send an email to socialaction@teesd.org. Social Action Committee meetings are held at 6:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month at the Temple.
Bagel Brigade
St. Vincent De Paul Hunger Project
Annual Stand Down for Homeless Veterans
Linus Project
Pride Parade
Navy Marine Relief Society
Annual Food DriveInterfaith Shelter Network
Hunger Project at St. Vincent de Paul
The Hunger Project started its 37 th year on March 12, 2023, and can again use volunteers. Temple Emanu-El has partnered with Congregation Beth Israel since the very beginning, and we have supplied most of the volunteers on the first Sunday of each month. The dining room at St. Vincent de Paul is now open after being closed for almost three years during the pandemic. Though we transitioned to serving meals on paper plates to those who waited outside, we re proud of the fact that the project did not miss a single Sunday during the pandemic.
All volunteers (children 12 and older are also welcome to serve with an accompanying parent), whether from our congregation or not, need to create an account at Father Joe’s webiste, and sign up for the date you would like to attend at: http://congregationbeth.neighbor.volunteerhub.com/
Join us on 1st Sunday of the month, 8:30 am–11:30 am to make a difference in our community. For any questions, please contact Emanu-El’s project coordinator Jennifer Nemeth at lftyjen@cox.net.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
People of different faiths and different cultural backgrounds come together for the good of the San Diego community. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Make it a “day on” rather than a “day off” to honor Dr. King’s work.
Bagel Brigade
Every Wednesday afternoon Einstein Brothers Bagels on Lake Murray and Navajo donates their unsold bagels when the store closes at 5:00 pm. Our job is to transport those bagels to Rachel’s Women’s Center, an emergency shelter downtown for women and children.
To become a member of the Bagel Brigade (your turn will come every 3 – 4 months) or try it once, please contact project chair Ron Reff at (619) 224-3087 or rrbp@aol.com
Monarch School
Founded in 1988, the Monarch School and its committed team of teachers, administrators and volunteers is dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs.
Today, more than 300 kids between the ages of 4 and 19 are enrolled at Monarch School. They have an exceptionally successful program that serves those in our San Diego community most in need.
Temple Emanu-El’s Social Action Committee is organizing different ways in which we can help the Monarch School, including toiletries collection and tutoring.
TOILETRIES COLLECTION
Monarch School uses around 170 toiletry “care packages” for their students each month. We collect regular size items, not jumbo or trial, and assemble the care packages for the school to distribute. The only items needed are body wash (or soap), shampoo & conditioner, toothpaste, body lotion/moisturizer, women’s deodorant and hair gel, men’s deodorant and hair gel. Place your toiletries in the barrel in the front office lobby of the Temple, marked for Monarch School, and the Social Action Committee will package and deliver them. For more information on toiletries for Monarch School, contact Bill Seager at (619) 435-8130 or email him at wseager@hotmail.com. As of January 2020 we have donated 966 toiletry kits for the students.
TUTORING
Tutors are needed in all areas. No special skills are needed, but tutors need to attend a one-hour orientation session and commit to a weekly tutoring schedule. To participate in their tutoring program, please contact Monarch’s volunteer coordinator Sarah Krueger at (619) 652-4100 ext. 1570 or email her at skrueger@monarchschools.org.
Coupon Mitzvah Project
Many of our military families struggle to feed their families. There is an easy, low-cost way that you can help them stretch their food budgets. Clip unexpired newspaper coupons (please be sure they have at least 30 days to use the coupons) and mail them directly to:
Navy Marine Corps Relief Society
MCAS Miramar
P.O. Box 45339
San Diego,
CA 92145-0339
You may write “From Temple Emanu-El” on the envelope flap, enclose a note “from your friends at Temple Emanu-El,” or send anonymously if you prefer.
Senior Gleaners
Senior Gleaners, founded in 1994, gathers leftover food from grocery stores and orchards and distributes them through carefully screened charitable organizations in San Diego County. Last year, over 390,000 pounds of food reached people in need. This non-profit group has no paid staff, and no food is purchased. Money collected through donations or grants are used solely to help with rent for the warehouse and upkeep on vans to pick up food. Volunteers, age 55 and up, are needed to help with gathering food from the stores and picking in orchards.
To pick up day-old food from grocery stores and deliver to the Senior Gleaners warehouse, call (619) 209-1839. To help with picking in orchards, call Donna Wiens at (760) 432-0772.
The Linus Project
At some point in life, everyone needs a blanket to hold. The Linus Project distributes blankets to children in stressful situations at 28 hospitals and agencies throughout San Diego County.
The pattern is up to you, but the blankets must be hand made in washable, child friendly colors. Blankets may be knitted, crocheted or quilted, or you may make an easy “no sew” fleece blanket. For patterns and additional information about the project, please visit www.projectlinus.org.
LGBT PRIDE PARADE
Mid-July each year
Every year, Temple Emanu-El has a contingent marching in the LGBT Pride Parade in support of those with alternative lifestyles. In 1998, ours was the first Jewish congregation to participate in the parade. We have marched every year since then, and it is truly an uplifting, exhilarating and positive experience. The parade officially begins at 10 am at University Avenue and Normal Street and continues for just over one mile. Parking around the parade route can be difficult, but there are free shuttle buses from the Old Naval Hospital on Park Blvd. and President’s Way beginning at 8 am.
We have an extremely limited number of riding spaces for the parade. To reserve one, or for any other questions, please contact Barbara Pollack at (619) 224-3087 or rrbp@aol.com. Our participation in the parade is important, because it shows San Diego that Temple Emanu-El is a supportive and safe community for all Jews in the San Diego area.
Mitzvah of the Month
Each month, the Social Action Committee picks a project to bring to our community’s attention. This project will be highlighted on the home page of this web site, in Ha-Sofer, the monthly bulletin, in the Shofar email blasts and in other publicity.
Thanksgiving Dinner at San Diego Center for the Blind
Mid-November each year Temple members team up with the Hillcrest-Mission Valley Lion’s Club to serve a pre-Thanksgiving dinner to 240 sight impaired members of the Center.
Programs
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Tutors Needed in San Diego
Tutors are needed at a variety of programs in San Diego. Work with children, adults and families on literacy, math, general school work and preparation for citizenship. No experience is necessary, but most programs require a background check and provide an orientation session. Please contact the organization directly for more information.
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International Rescue Committee
Tutors at the IRC work with both adults and children. High school students as well as adults are encouraged to apply as tutors in this program. For more information on their programs, call (619) 641-7510 or visit their website, www.theIRC.org/sandiego.
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SAY San Diego
(Social Advocates for Youth)
SAY tutors work with elementary and middle school students after school with reading, writing, math, crafts and other activities. Contact them at (858) 565-4148 ext. 261, or visit their website, www.saysandiego.org. -
Oasis Inter-generational Tutoring Program
Oasis matches adult tutors with children in grades K–4. Contact Kathryn Gray, Tutoring Coordinator, at (619) 269-8014 or visit their website, www.oasisnet.org
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READ San Diego Adult Literacy
Free literary instruction for adults 18 years and older is available through the San Diego Public Library. For more information, call (619) 238-6603 or see the library website at http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/services/adulteducation/read/index.shtml.
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San Diego Refugee Tutoring
Make a difference for students attending Ibarra Elementary School in City Heights. This is a one-to-one after school program providing no-cost academic tutoring, as well as art, dance and some varied extracurricular activities. An orientation session is provided, but no formal training is required. Contact site coordinator Melissa Phillips through their website at sdrefugeetutoring.com.
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San Diego Council on Literacy
This umbrella agency works with 24 affiliated literacy programs in San Diego to help children and adults, and also provides ESL (English as a Second Language) learning. Call their literacy hotline at (888) 850-7323, their local office at (619) 574-1641, or visit their website, www.literacysandiego.org.
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Words Alive
Two very different programs can use volunteers. Read-Aloud focuses on Preschool – grade 3 in low income communities across the county to develop a love of reading and literature. Teen Services Book Group works with the Juvenile Court and Community Schools to prepare at-risk teens for college and career readiness. Monthly book discussions improve reading levels, vocabulary, literary analysis and critical thinking.
For more information, see their website at wordsalive.org or contact volunteer coordinator Christina Meeker at (858) 274-9673 or christina@wordsalive.org
Links to other Social Action Sites
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)
http://www.rac.org
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)
http://www.coejl.org
Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger
http://www.mazon.org
The Hunger Site (donate free food)
http://www.thehungersite.com
Israel Religious Action Center
http://www.irac.org
Nothing But Nets
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/
Stand Down for Homeless Veterans
http://www.svdpv.org
Association of Reform Zionists of America ARZA/WORLD UNION
http://www.arza.org
St. Vincent de Paul Village
https://vvsd.net
Being Alive San Diego (HIV/AIDS Resources)
http://www.beingalive.org
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
https://www.jfssd.org
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
http://www.au.org
North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ)
http://www.nacoej.org
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Bulletin
Read the official newsletter for Temple Emanu-El, Ha-Sofer (The Scribe).
ON DEMAND STREAM
Services & Events
Stream live services or view past events on BoxCast TV.
6299 Capri Drive, San Diego, CA
(619) 286-2555
temple@teesd.org