Social Action Committee

The Potomac Orthodox Jewish Community has designated the month of March 2008 as Support Our Troops Month to acknowledge and support America’s brave soldiers who are standing in harm's way, fighting to ensure our safety and freedom here at home.  Potomac's Orthodox synagogues -- Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah, Chabad Shul of Potomac, and Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac are collaborating on a campaign to collect goods needed by our servicemen and women in Afghanistan.

On Shabbat, March 15, Captain (Rabbi) Andrew Cohen, a Chaplain with the United States Air Force will be visiting our Potomac community.  He will speak at each of the synagogues about his experiences as a Jew in the Military.

Throughout the month of March, bins will be available at each synagogue for the collection of items for the troops. A list is available of suggested items at each shul or click here

Cash contributions are also welcome to defray the cost of shipping the care packages to the troops.  Amounts received in excess of shipping costs will be used to purchase phone cards for the troops.

On Sunday, March 30, 9am - 12 pm, volunteers from all three synagogues will meet at Beth Sholom Congregation to sort and pack up the collected items for shipment to the troops.  Mitzvah Day will include activities in which children and adults can make cards and notes to send to the troops.

For more information, contact: Marcy Sussman; Sara Miller or Rachel Solomon             

2007-2008 SAC Initiatives

Beth Sholom Congregation’s Social Action Committee in cooperation with Rabbi Tessler, Rabbi Antine and Rabbi Rackover proudly present the 2007-2008 Social Action Initiatives.  Please review the list and get involved to serve as a Program Leader on one or more of the initiatives or to volunteer for the initiatives when time permits.  The SAC’s 2007-2008 Social Action Initiatives include:

 1.    Beth Sholom Helping Montgomery County Homeless

Project Leaders:  Andrea Wiener, Evelyn Wheeler, Judy Frank and Rabbi Antine.

The shelters in Montgomery County offer many volunteer opportunities that can accommodate a busy schedule and benefit from our diverse professional backgrounds.  The shelters need our assistance for donated goods, GED tutoring, left-over food from parties and simchas, sandwich making, computer skills training, and more.  Have you desired to make a difference in the lives of our local homeless population?  If so, we invite you to become involved with a new initiative where we will facilitate and undertake a variety of volunteer opportunities to make a difference directly in the lives of Montgomery County's homeless population.  Please get involved as a Project Leader or volunteer to assist with projects. 

2.      Giving to the US Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – Providing Care Packages of Vital Items to our Troops

Project Leaders:  David Sussman, Marcy Sussman and Sara Miller

Our U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan quite sadly, lack basic supplies and each desperately need a few luxuries from everyday life that they are forced to live without.  If you want to do more, please get involved.  Our 2006 project was a great success and we at Beth Sholom will continue to support all of our troops.  Please get involved as a Project Leader or volunteer to assist with these projects. 

3.       Going Green at Beth Sholom and Beyond - Environmental Education and Programs to "Go Green" at our Shul as well as in our Homes, Workplace, etc. --

Project Leaders:  Rena Dubensky, Beth Meyers and Debbie Klis

The new Going Green at Beth Sholom and Beyondinitiative is educational and community in nature.  We will spearhead efforts to direct our shul to “go green” (i.e., no more empty soda bottles in the garbage cans at Kiddush) and to educate our adult and youth members on steps to "go green" in our homes and workplaces.  If you have ideas to further these efforts, please get involved as a Project Leader or volunteer to assist with these projects. 

4.     Pre-Shabbat program for Youth to participate in Kabbalat Shabbat minyan at Summerville

Project Leaders:  Andrea Wiener, Gayle Nadler, Steve Bashein, Judy Frank

We need our boys and girls in the community to lead Ain Kelohanu and Adon Olam, etc., at pre-Shabbat services for the elderly.  Please bring your sons and daughters to the twice-per-month Kabbalat Shabbat minyan at Summerville to support the wonderful services led during the first two Friday’s of the month by Steve Bashein and Judy Frank.  Please contact Steve, Judy, Andrea or Gayle to get involved with this terrific pre-Shabbat program at Summerville, an-assisted living center located at (Seven Locks and Tuckerman). 

5.       Annual Yom Kippur Food Drive

Project Leaders: Evelyn Wheeler and Eileen Bluestein.

Other Project Leaders welcome – please contact Evelyn or Eileen to get involved with this reat annual initiative.

6.       So Others Might Eat ("SOME") Monthly Casseroles

Project Leader: Janet Zuckerman. 

Once a month volunteers prepare tuna casseroles for SO Others Might Eat serving the homeless of Washington, DC.  The monthly group coordinators receive the casseroles at their homes and then bring them to the soup kitchen.  Volunteers are always welcome.  To sign up to lead a monthly delivery or to bake casseroles for the homeless, please contact Janet Zuckerman.

Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe:  4 lbs egg noodles, 6 small cans tuna, 4 cans cream of mushroom soup, 6 soup cans full of milk, 2 lbs sharp or American cheese cubes and frozen (optional).  Preheat oven at 350F.  Cook noodles and drain, mix noodles in tin foil with other ingredients, bake for 45 minutes.

7.      Annual December Red Cross Blood Drive

Project Leaders:  Sara Glashofer and Janet Zuckerman. 

Beth Sholom sponsors an annual blood drive with the Red Cross.  All volunteers are welcome for this important activity.  For more information on the 2007 blood drive, please contact Sara or Janet. 

For further information on any of the foregoing 2007-2008 Social Action Committee initiatives, please contact:

 Debbie Klis, SAC Chairperson,

Rabbi Antine at RabbiAntine@bethsholom.org, or

Sara Milner, SAC’s Board representative

Thank you very much!!

Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah is committed to helping individuals and the community.

Our goals are to aid the community by providing services to the needy and to foster a greater awareness of the needs in the greater Washington, DC area.   In doing so, the Social Action Committee is putting Tzedakah into words as well as action.

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