Social Action & Justice
SHMA (Shir Ha-Ma’alot Action)
SHMA strives to provide meaningful opportunities for congregants to participate in social justice projects throughout the year. We believe that all actions including food drives, blood drives, writing a get-well card and writing a letter to congress have the potential to heal our world.
Although we see that the world is broken, we have the power as a Jewish community to repair the brokenness through our actions–Tikkun Olam. Social Action continually designs programs in advance, but it is an emergent committee as well, responding to the needs of the Orange County and world community.
Blood Drives
Sunday, July 29th at 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Give the gift of life at the Red Cross Blood Drive at SHM. You must be age 16 and over. Parents must be present to authorize donations for 16 year olds. Reserve your time online at www.givelife.org, sponsor code “shir”, or contact Bruce Gary at (949) 854-0898.
Holocaust Survivor Luncheon
Our Temple hosts a luncheon for survivors of the Holocaust. The luncheon is a much anticipated event by all who have been attending for the past several years. Our guests come from all over Orange County. For more information on the Holocaust Outreach Committee, call Toni Rios at (949) 683-2145 or email trios@proleaseusa.com
Jessica Herron Inner-City Partnership
This program is dedicated to the memory of Jessica Herron, daughter of Dana Klein and Jay Herron, who lost her life in a traffic accident in October 2005. Jessica had a lifelong history of caring about the needs of others. She volunteered at Share Our Selves, helping with the Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives, delivered for Meals on Wheels for six summers, and worked the finish line for the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” among many other projects. Barbara and Rabbi Bernie King chose to rename SHM’s Inner-City Partnership Program in Jessica’s memory to honor her love for helping others.
There will be three major projects and the ongoing partnership throughout the year. The Thanksgiving meal program provides a week’s worth of groceries to the poorest working families in Orange County. The Christmas and Chanukah drive ensures that a family can provide new holiday gifts for each of their loved ones. The Passover program provides kosher for Passover food to Jewish families who could not afford it otherwise. These drives make miracles happen!
Passover Adopt-A-Family Gift Card Drive
Deadline is Sunday, April 1
Please join us in helping needy Jewish families celebrate Passover by donating grocery store gift cards, cash or checks made out to Jewish Family Services (JFS). All donations are tax deductible. Passover food donations are welcome too! Chaired by Barbara King.
Opportunities for Year Long Giving
SHM families and friends can donate gift certificates and money throughout the year for food for the hungry and college or camp scholarships for needy students. SHM families can also be matched with families in Santa Ana to develop a bond for a lifetime. Throughout the year gently-used goods are collected and distributed to families in need from Santa Ana. Contact Dana Klein at nevatolate@aol.com directly for donation opportunities.
Names Project (Yad Vashem)
For over 50 years, Yad Vashem, the world center for Shoah (Holocaust) remembrance and education, has led the historic mission to gather the names of those who perished and memorialize them. In the Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names, close to 3 million names have been recorded. Congregation Shir Ha-Ma’alot is working together to help ensure that every victim of the Shoah has a place in our collective memory.
Our goal is for each family to reach out to their family members and friends who know of victims who died in the Holocaust. Then, we must be sure that the names we find are properly entered in the Central Database. Be sure to visit the new SHM Yad Vashem stained glass exhibit and memorial in the atrium on the second floor of the Temple.