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Social Justice

“Justice, Justice, shall you pursue” 

(Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9).

The mission of the Social Justice Network (SJN) is to repair the world (tikkun olam) by motivating and educating our congregation to serve and advocate.

Throughout the years, we have focused on issue areas such as criminal justice reform, immigration rights, gun violence prevention, and food insecurity. We have partnered with several organizations around Miami and the state of Florida to advance our mission of creating a just and equitable society. Ongoing community partnerships include the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, and the American Friends Service Committee of Miami.

There are various ways to get involved in Social Justice at Temple Beth Sholom:

ADVOCACY

TASKFORCES

DIRECT SERVICE

MITZVAH DAY

Social Justice Happenings

Please save the date for Mitzvah Day and Soup Contest, coming up on Sunday, February 23, 2025. In mid-January, you’ll receive the Mitzvah Day book with the schedule for the day and project descriptions (a list of projects is on page 15). This year we will have a few new projects including Silent Victims of Crime and Puzzles to Remember. Registration opens mid-January. We’re also looking forward to another great Soup Contest. Last year, we raised over $4,500 for the CLEO Institute and hope to do even better in 2025. Anticipation is building to see if Stephen Unger can become a three-time Soup Contest winner. Our Mitzvah Day Captains are Shelby Kempler and Caryn Pardo.

New Project Focus. At the end of 2024, we started a new direct service project thanks to the initiative of Adam Snitzer, Karen Rivo, Natalie Broidy and others. It is called the Village (Free)dge and
Pantry, and it is committed to empowering and uplifting the underserved communities of South Florida. It serves as a vital community hub providing food security, essential supplies, and a safe haven for families experiencing hardship. Operating six days a week, the Village (Free)dge delivers support through a three-tier model to address varying levels of need. It collaborates with local organizations, businesses, corporations, and individuals in the community to provide to those in need. The Village (Free)dge relies heavily on partnerships with local grocers, farmers, and other businesses for food donations, as well as the commitment of volunteers to manage operations. They aim to build a unified network of support that provides essential resources, meals, and services.

​The Village (Free)dge was established by Sherina Jones with the vision of building a community where no one goes hungry or without basic resources. It serves individuals and families by offering meals, groceries, hygiene products, and a welcoming environment for those in need. Services include:

• Daily Food Distribution: Supplying fresh, nutritious meals and groceries to the houseless community and families in crisis.

• Emergency Support: Providing essential goods and a safe haven for those who need immediate assistance.

• Community Engagement: Encouraging local residents to participate in our volunteer programs and contribute to community-building initiatives.

This grassroots initiative thrives on community engagement, and invites volunteers, donors, and sponsors to join in making a lasting impact. The Village (Free)dge ensures that everyone has access to nourishment, dignity, and hope for a brighter future. It Takes A VILLAGE!

We are proud to be working with Village (Free)dge, which was established with the vision of building a community where no one goes hungry or without basic resources. They serve individuals and families by offering meals, groceries, hygiene products, and a welcoming environment for those in need. Together, we can continue to offer a safe haven for the houseless and families experiencing hardships, ensuring that everyone has access to nourishment, dignity, and hope for a brighter future. It Takes A VILLAGE!

 

What is RAC-FL?
RAC-FL, our statewide RAC (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism) affiliate, was founded in 2016 and has advocated in Florida on voting rights, free speech, reproductive rights, climate change, and the rights of returning citizens. This year, we are working to pass Amendment 4 in Florida to protect women’s rights to reproductive freedom. We ask all congregants to consider a $36 per household membership in RAC-FL when they renew their TBS membership. RAC-FL needs the support of each Florida Reform congregation to continue our important work  Learn more about RAC-FL here. Contribute with your TBS membership form or click here.

We will continue to update you here as this work progresses. If you would like to be involved, please contact Rabbi Jessica Jacobs.

CLIMATE JUSTICE INITIATIVE

Starting at the end of 2022, we began to dive deeply into one of the most pressing issues of the day, climate change. This summer, we were reminded of the change happening to our climate and the environmental impacts for all of us, especially the most vulnerable in our community. Many of us have been impacted by the heat, increasing utility costs and insurance premiums, rising sea levels, burning of forests, and the death of sea life.

We are working with Adamah and the Jewish Climate Leadership Initiative, a network of Jewish community organizations that recognize the existential threat and moral urgency of climate change and commit to action. Temple Beth Sholom has committed to making and implementing a climate action plan for our campus where we will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, intending to become “carbon neutral” in the next few years. Our Sustainability Taskforce, led by Steven Chaneles, Nancy Salzverg, and Doris Galindo intends to evaluate the campus and draft our climate action plan.

Our school continues actively engaging the students in learning about climate change, our community’s impact, and solutions they can implement. Our teens will engage with the Jewish Youth Climate Change Movement through Adamah. We have started a composting program in our school through Compost for Life to reduce waste and are looking to bring composting to most of the campus. Compost for Life also offers at-home composting at a discount for all Temple Beth Sholom members.

Members can go to the Compost For Life Website and use the promo code “BETHSHOLOMFRIENDS” for a 15% discount.

In addition to working with our TBS community, we will focus on climate change work in South Florida. We will partner with the Surfrider Foundation, Miami Waterkeepers, and others. Climate change is an issue that affects all of us, and we are at a critical tipping point. We welcome participation by all in our TBS community.

Meet the team

“Some religions require a leap of faith; Judaism requires a leap of ACTION.”  – Abraham Heschel

Social Justice Network Co-Chairs | Rachel Unger and Andrea Wagner

Mitzvah Day Co-Chairs | Shelby Kempler and Caryn Pardo

Soup Contest Co-Chairs | Karen Sepsenwol, Dana Grodin, and Jody Gross

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Co-Chairs | Lauren Cantor and Hilary Feldman

PACT Representatives | Jonathan Sepsenwol, Rachel Unger, Doris Galindo, Sofia Morales, Andrea Wagner, Rabbi Jessica Jacobs, and Jeff Agron

RAC-FL Representative – Reproductive Rights Campaign I Myra Spindel and Robin Straus

Innovative School Representative | Doris Galindo

jLAB Representative I Sofia Morales

BESHTY Representative | Maya Rachlin and Vanessa Levy

Sisterhood Representative I Dana Grodin

Brotherhood Representative |  Brian Hirsch

The Tribe Program Coordinator | Laurin Friedland

Blessings in a Backpack Co-Chairs I Tiffany Hurwitz, Kelsey Levy and Marina Ganopolsky

Lotus House Chair I Suzanne Meltzer

Bags of Happiness Chair I Suzanne Meltzer

The Ronald McDonald House Co-Chairs | Suzanne Meltzer

Mazon Co-Chairs I Carolyn West

Beach Clean-Up Chair I Doris Galindo and Stacy Savett

Giving Back to Gibson Park Co-Chairs I Suzanne Meltzer

Buddy System MIA Community Refrigerator I Rachel Unger and Andrea Wagner

Exchange for Change Prison Visits I Nina Mandel

Freedom to Read I Valerie Schimel and Rachel Umlas

Sustainability Task Force I Nancy Gonzalez, Steven Chaneles and Doris Galindo

Village (Free)dge I Adam Snitzer

Social Justice Program Director I Jeff Agron

Rabbinic Advisor | Rabbi Jessica Jacobs

Yes! I want to get involved
Email Jeff AGron

4144 Chase Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140

[email protected] | 305-538-7231

Innovative School: 305-532-4756

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