Tikkun Olam: This Is What Jewish Community Looks Like

What is Tikkun Olam?

Tikkun Olam is defined as acts of kindness to repair the world. Kesher Israel’s Tikkun Olam Committee is dedicated to the values of Justice (tzedek), Compassion (hesed), and Peace (shalom).  Our goal is to help members of Kesher Israel demonstrate these values in our communities: within the walls of KI, in the West Chester and Chester County region, and the world!

Here are some upcoming activities:

 

Safe Harbor (Feeding the hungry)

Congregants cook on the 2nd Tuesday of the month for the facility which provides shelter, food, and referral opportunities to the men and women of Chester County who have slipped through public and personal support systems and become homeless.  This is a terrific Bar/Bat Mitzvah Project!  And volunteers are always welcome.

WE ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING MEALS TWICE A MONTH

For more information, contact Hal Cohen at  familycohen@comcast.net

Restaurant FUNd Raisers (helping KI)

Each month, we host a restaurant FUNd Raiser at a restaurant near you!

If you eat at the restaurant (or take out) and tell them you are there for the Kesher Israel fundraiser, 15-25% of your food and drinks bill will be donated back to Kesher Israel.

DUE TO COVID-19 THIS HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

Shabbat Challah Delivery Program (Taking care of sick people)

Every Friday, a volunteer delivers a Shabbat bag including challah rolls, electric candles, grape juice and a cup, a kippah and printed copy of the prayers to patients at Chester County Hospital.  Volunteers welcome!

DUE TO COVID-19 THIS HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

For more information or to volunteer, contact Hugh Bleemer at hbleemer@yahoo.com

Mitzvah Circle (Taking care of neighbors in crisis and the chronically poor)

Mitzvah Circle Foundation is a Harleysville, PA nonprofit dedicated to meeting critical material needs of people struggling with crisis, poverty, serious illness, and homelessness.  In response to referrals from community organizations, Mitzvah Circle volunteers prepare personalized boxes of necessities which are distributed at local community sites.

Kesher Israel is the first synagogue and the first distribution center for western and southern Chester County.  We need volunteer drivers to get the boxes from the main distribution center in Harleysville to KI.

It is a once a month commitment on a Monday or Tuesday between 8:30 and 2:00, at your convenience. It involves picking up prepared boxes and bringing them back to West Chester.

DUE TO COVID-19 THIS HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

Please contact Martha Rappaport to volunteer at rappitup@verizon.net

ALL KI EVENTS CAN INCLUDE TIKKUN OLAM

Whenever there is a KI gathering, we encourage organizers to include an act of generosity by collecting something for our less fortunate neighbors. Kesher Israel supports the Act In Faith pantry by supplying fifty (50) tubes of toothpaste each month.  Donations can be brought to the KI office at any time.

In addition, there is always a need for diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene pads, baby formula, socks and reusable water bottles.

AND IF YOU WANT TO…

Join the Tikkun Olam Committee 

                                   contact Sara Bleemer at Bleemers@aol.com