Congregation Sinai has an energetic Social Action Committee. While the committee has been active for many years, it has enjoyed a recent rejuvenation and a new dedication to Tikkun Olam, repair of the world.  The committee sees its mission as providing an opportunity for all congregants to recognize their Jewish responsibility  to help others in the community.

In the last year the committee adopted both a continuing project and a number of smaller efforts. For the continuing project it partnered with the Milwaukee County Social Development Commission Family Shelter, one of the very few homeless shelters for intact families.  The committee and its many volunteers sponsored two major mitzvah days at the shelter.  Last fall nearly 100 congregants built and installed shelving walls for the shelter’s clothing bank, danced & made felt blankets with the children, and painted a substantial portion of the interior of the building.  Families from Sinai joined with families at the shelter for a wonderful day and everyone could be proud of the day’s accomplishments.

This spring a hearty group of congregants returned to till and plant a vegetable garden and flower gardens.  The hope is to provide both food and a pleasant atmosphere for shelter residents, some very good people who are just down on their luck.

Throughout the year the congregation has had monthly collections for the residents at the shelter, ranging from clothing to food items to toiletries to backpacks and school supplies, among other items.  We have also had volunteers join the residents in dance classes and knitting lessons.  A number of congregants, having become familiar with the shelter through the committee’s efforts, have visited the shelter on their own to provide services and to donate items such as clothing, playground equipment and toys.  The congregation also sponsored a “peanut butter and jelly sandwich day” which was designed to allow shelter residents to come to Sinai to assist a large group of congregants who made over 1100 sandwiches which were then donated to the shelter and other organizations feeding the hungry.

In addition to the ongoing relationship with the family shelter, the social action committee has addressed and helped establish other projects. Education and fundraising for the Darfur solar cooking project, learning about and providing a forum for a healthier response to immigration issues, nurturing a fledgling committee on the Greening of Sinai and watching it develop into a stand-alone entity were just some of the projects undertaken this year.  The committee is  also in the process of providing a professional clothing bank and job interview counseling and coaching for unemployed people.

The committee is open to ideas that congregants have and is always looking for new ways to fulfill its mission Tom St. John, the other co chair of the social action committee, notes that volunteers and their ideas are always welcome.  “Even if ideas seem a bit controversial, if the goal is clearly one that is consistent with the furtherance of human rights and social justice, the committee will explore, support where appropriate, and present to the board of trustees where necessary.“ All congregants are welcome to participate in committee meetings, join in committee projects, and let others know that this is a pretty fun group and a rewarding activity.