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.
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. Social Action 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 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
Backpacks and school Supplies
In July and August, many students are returning to school. Whether you are in the stores or shopping online to prepare your own children or grandchildren to be ready for classes, please consider this mitzvah and pick up a few extra items to help other kids.
We will partner this month with “Buddy’s Backpacks,” a group from Santee which distributes backpacks and school supplies annually in a special drive-through event. All children from anywhere in San Diego are eligible to receive school supplies, no qualifications necessary. Last year, they distributed over 1,000 filled backpacks!
Most needed items are:
Backpacks
Paper and Notebooks
Colored Pencils, Crayons, Pens, Pencils and Sharpeners
Glue Sticks and White Glue
Rulers, Safety Scissors
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 Elana Levens-Craig at socialaction@teesd.org.
San Diego Jewish Pride
July 2026
Temple Emanu-El has a cherished and long history of LGBTIA+ support and allyship in San Diego. In 1998, Temple Emanu-El was the first Jewish congregation to participate in the Pride Parade.
That spirit continues! Join us for our 2026 Pride celebrations.
Community Pride Shabbat
Friday, July 17, at 6 pm at Congregation Beth Israel
Welcome Pride weekend with a Friday night Shabbat service rooted in tradition and celebrating community in song, meaning and love.
No need to register. Service can be streamed HERE.
Pride Parade
Saturday, July 18, at 10 am in Hillcrest
March through the streets of Hillcrest alongside members of the Jewish community in one of the largest Pride Parades in the United States.
Registration is required. Register HERE.
Big Gay Brunch
Sunday, July 19, at 10 am at Temple Emanu-El
Celebrate the end of Pride weekend with the Big Gay Brunch at Temple Emanu-El. Registration is required. Sign up HERE.
Hunger Project at St. Vincent de Paul
The Hunger Project started its 39th year on March 9, 2025, and can use volunteers. Adults as well as children 12 and older (with an accompanying parent) are encouraged to participate on Sunday mornings, from 8:30 am – 11:30 am to serve meals, assist guests and help in the kitchen at St. Vincent de Paul downtown. From the beginning of the project, Temple Emanu-El partnered with Congregation Beth Israel to supply volunteers each week. Traditionally our volunteers came the first Sunday of each month, but you are welcome to come any Sunday that fits your schedule.
The dining room at St. Vincent was closed for almost three years during the pandemic. We transitioned to serving meals on paper plates outside, and are proud that the project did not miss a single Sunday.
All volunteers, whether from our congregation or not, need to create an account at Father Joe’s website, and sign up for the date you would like to attend. Go to:
http://congregationbeth.neighbor.volunteerhub.com/
Join us to make a difference in our community. For any questions, please contact Emanu-El’s project coordinator Jennifer Nemeth at lftyjen@cox.net.
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 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 Social Action 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.
Mitzvah of the Month
Each month, Social Action 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 and past events on YouTube.
6299 Capri Drive, San Diego, CA
(619) 286-2555
temple@teesd.org