In its commitment to tzedakah, mitzvah, and
tikkun olam, the Kehillah is involved in a
variety of social action endeavors.
~
Orange County
Organizing Committee ~
This
grass-roots committee, comprised of Orange
County congregational, school, and other
leaders, is working towards social justice
in our local community. Currently, it is in
the process of forming a community-wide
organization that will empower people here
to work collectively to make change for
the common good. The project is affiliated
with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF),
a movement that has over 50 affiliates in
the U.S. These organizations have been
successful in instituting local change in
such areas as the living wage, health care,
education, transportation, and affordable
housing and child care. Rabbi Jen Feldman
and the Kehillah social action committee are
actively participating in the local
initiative and working with other leaders
and community-members in Orange County.
~
Homestart ~
Homestart's
mission is to provide a safe,
structured home for homeless women and
children, helping them access community
resources and offering them on-going support
to break the cycle of poverty and
homelessness.
Several times each year, Kehillah members
collect items for the shelter, including bed
linens, blankets, towels, umbrellas, and
toiletries.
~
IFC & the Food Bank ~
Continuously during the year, Kehillah
members bring food donations to the Kehillah
to be taken in bulk to the food bank at the
Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC).
On Yom Kippur, all families are asked to
bring food donations, and several truck
loads of donated food go to feed the hungry
in our community. Also, monthly, Kehillah
members sponsor (cook and serve) a lunch at
the IFC Community kitchen.
~
Tzedakah ~
We are
committed to tzedakah to help those in need.
Before each UNC men's basketball home game,
Kehillah members collect money for parking
in the Kehillah lot. All of the funds
collected are donated to local
organizations.
~
CROP
(Community Reaching
Out to People)
Walk ~
Each year, we participates in the CROP Walk,
which is an event that supports local and
national hunger relief. We contribute
financially, raise additional money from
community-members, and participate in the
almost 4 mile walk.
~
Community Dinner ~
Each year, we participate in the Community
Dinner. This community-building event brings
people from all walks of life together for
an afternoon of ethnically-diverse food and
entertainment. Kehillah members make large
kugels for the event, and many attend the
dinner.
~
Recycling ~
We are committed to recycling as a way to
help take care of our environment. We
recycle paper, cardboard, printer
cartridges, yogurt cups, and plastic and
glass bottles.
~
Religious School Mitzvah
Day ~

See Religious School
programs.
~
Kehillah Mitzvah
Day ~
We periodically host a Kehillah Mitzvah Day
to provide an opportunity for families to
participate in various mitzvah projects,
including cleaning a recycling center (Ba’al Tashchit—Do Not
Destroy); cooking meals to be frozen and then delivered to
those who are sick (Rofay Cholim—Healing the Sick); tying
ribbons and collating a mailing for the Family Violence
Prevention Center (Shmirat Ha’Guf—Caring for the Body);
pulling weeds from the Kehillah gardens (Malachah--Industriousness);
making cards and art work for those who are sick (Bikkur
Cholim—Visiting the Sick); visiting an assisted living
facility (Kibud Zekaynim—Respecting the Elderly);
babysitting the children too young to participate (Chesed--Lovingkindness);
and collating donations to a relief
effort (Tzedakah—Righteousness).