Tikkun Olam
About Tikkun Olam at Mishkan Shalom
Our Statement of Principles commits us to Avodah (Prayer), Torah (Study) and G'milut Hasadim/Tikkun Olam (Acts of Caring and Repair of the World): "Through acts of caring and repair we seek to transform our world so that it reflects the divine values of justice and compassion." The work of Tikkun Olam is central to our existence as a community.
Our work in Tikkun Olam takes many forms: Mishkan-based committees and working groups and Mishkan members who lead our community's participation in the work of public organizations. If you are interested in Tikkum Olam activities but are not sure where you fit in, or are interested in Mishkan Shalom becoming active in something you don't see listed here, please contact our Board of Director's Tikkun Olam Representative Seth Horwitz to see what we can make happen. [Image: Lithograph by Mordechai Rosenstein]
Mishkan Shalom-based Committees and Working Groups:
Immigrant and Refugee Rights Working Group
Our Mission: The Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee seeks to engage Mishkan as an institution and our individual members in the struggle for immigrant justice and refugee protection. We do this through:
- Coordinating and building upon existing efforts as a member congregation of New Sanctuary Movement,
supporter of HIAS PA/HIAS International
Mobilization and interfaity initiatives that assist refugees, asylum seekers and those facing deportation.
- Acting as a clearinghouse and resource to provide information throughout the congregationon hands-on
support activities, advocacy and direct action and protest.
- Educating ourselves and members of our congregation on immigrant and refugee rights, connecting our experience as Jews who fled persecution and oppression to the experience of today's immigrants and refugees.
Questions? Suggestions? Please contact Gail Bober, gbober52@gmail.com. Interested in joining a special list-serve for this committee to get up-to-date information? Contact Seth Horowitz at reachseth@gmail.com
Israel
Rabbi Shawn Zevit or Marcy Boroff, Contacts
Informed by our Statement of Principles, Israel-related programming at Mishkan Shalom evolves in relation to the needs and concerns of our community.
63rd Street Shelter
Rivka Jarosh, Coordinator
“Let all who are hungry come and eat” Passover Haggadah For 20 years, every second Monday of the month, Mishkan Shalom school families and members have helped make and serve hot meals for residents and others at the Eastern Delaware County Life Center at 63rd and Market Street. The Center houses 35 people. It opens its doors for dinner every night to whoever needs a meal. This is an important and rewarding experience for our school’s children in their efforts to learn about poverty and acts of caring.
Interfaith Community Building Group & Urban Resource Development Group
Lance Laver, Contact
“They shall make Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them” Exodus 25:8
Members of Mishkan Shalom and St. Vincent de Paul Parish founded the Interfaith Community Building Group (ICBG) in 1997 and annually work collaboratively with other groups and people in under-resourced communities on their construction projects.
The group has helped build or re-build a burned African-American church in Mississippi; a community center, church, houses and latrines in El Salvador (through RIC and USESSC); a post-Katrina church in New Orleans; post-Sandy church buildings in Rockaway Park, NY.;and post-Maria houses in Puerto Rico. In addition, the ICBG has undertaken numerous Philadelphia projects, including a community Y; South Indian church; low-income houses with InnDwelling and the Urban Resourced Development Corp.; a mosque school; a women's shelter; and -- for Mishkan Shalom -- a pond and shelving for the Library and vestibule/Main Sanctuary spaces.
For more information, contact: Lance Laver.
Sustainable Mishkan | Mishkan Shalom We are members, interested in food justice, fair trade, animal welfare and sustainability. We are working to make Mishkan a more sustainable and environmentally aware synagogue. In 2017 we earned the Hazon Seal of Sustainability (https://hazon.org/seal/). We hope that you will help reconstitute our Team.for more information contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Mishkan Shalom’s participation with public organizations:
POWER (Local and Statewide, part of Faith in Action nationally
Main issue areas: Climate Justice, Education Justice (Full Fair Funding), Live Free - Racial Justice, Economic Dignity, Civic Engagement and GOTV.
Sharon Weinman, Mishkan Power Core Team Chair
Interfaith Peace Walk
Lance Laver, Peter Handler, Coordinators
“When I look into your face, I see the face of God” Genesis 33:10
Mishkan Shalom participates in the annual Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation, a walking dialogue among Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Wiccans and others. As participants share prayers, teachings, singing and fellowship, they affirm each other’s spiritual values. Check their website for current activities.
J.Proud Jewish Philly LGBTQ Consortium is committed to working together as a collective agent of change to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for the diverse needs of the Jewish LGBTQ community while building relationships with allies in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Bob Prischak, Mishkan Representative
Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network
Mishkan Shalom is a member of the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (PIHN) seeks to end family homelessness in Philadelphia by mobilizing congregational volunteers and community resources to meet neighbors emergency needs (shelter, food, and clothing); and by providing continued guidance and support to achieve self-sufficiency in affordable housing.
PIHN promotes lasting solutions to homelessness by building relationships between caring volunteers and families who are homeless; and by advocating for public policies that support employment, access to education, and affordable housing opportunities.
T'RUAH: Rabbis for Human Rights- Annual Human Rights Shabbat
We participate in this annual event, with internal and or outside guest speakers and liturgical and Torah-based engagement in the issue of Human Rights. View a recording of our December 4 2021 Service. See press coverage of a past Human Rights Shabbat.