• Main Line: 305-538-7231
  • School: 305-532-4756

Social Justice

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.

Social Justice Network diagram with four elements.

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

2025-2026 PRIORITIES 

Food Insecurity and Food Waste 

As our primary focus for the year, our food insecurity work will permeate the Temple, school, JLab, direct service, and advocacy work. In partnership with national organizations like Mazon, and local nonprofits serving Miami Dade County, we will support hungry families and individuals in accessing healthy food. From a macro level we will work to advocate for policies and programs that better serve those who are food insecure. We will also work to reduce our own food waste at the Temple. See calendar below for opportunities to get involved or reach out to our chair to be added to our regular email communication.  

Chair: Rachel Umlas Amanda Greenfield

RAC Florida Immigration 

Temple Beth Sholom and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism – FL has been working on making Florida more just in immigration matters. In August, we attended a moving vigil, standing in solidarity with those affected by unjust detention. Alligator Alcatraz remains open– a painful reminder that our work is not done.   

We also hosted a Know Your Rights training for our staff, which was incredibly well received. Our team felt empowered — and most importantly, they felt the love and support that grounds everything we do. 
 
We held a back-to-school drive for refugee families in conjunction with Jewish Community Services.  

Now we need your help to keep the momentum going.  

RAC Florida is working with the Florida Immigration Coalition (FLIC) and Interfaith groups to build power through our shared values, raise our moral voices and work together to ensure that every immigrant/refugee is protected and cared for in our communities. 

There are several different programs under this umbrella in which one can Take ACTION 

  • Accompaniment Program: Accompany your neighbor to their immigration legal appointments. You will need to be totally vetted with fingerprints and background checks, and this role requires flexibility of time. Trainings are happening all the time. Sign up for the accompaniment program here.
  • School Board: We would like to pull a group together to work in partnership with the School Board to advocate for them to adopt Education for All, to keep schools safe from ICE. 
  • Know Your Rights for Students: We’ll continue raising awareness using this key. Possibly a great event for parents with kids at North Beach, Nautlius, or Miami Beach High. 
  •  

Co-chairs: Doris Galindo and Sam Stein 

PACT

TASKFORCES

DIRECT SERVICE

MITZVAH DAY

A yellow background with the words social justice and direct service written in white.
A green background with the words " social justice mitzvah day ".
A blue background with the words social justice and pact written in white.
A social justice network logo with the words " sjn " in front of it.

Social Justice Happenings

Become a Rescuer for Food Rescue in partnership with TBS 

Please let us know if you’d like to sign up with SJN to become a food rescuer! We’re looking to create a database of members interested in food rescue who are willing to regularly pitch in to support a specified food rescue route.  

 
What does a food rescuer do? It’s simple! TBS will oversee a specific food rescue route multiple times a month. Arrive at the local food donor at the date and time you select and follow the directions outlined in the rescue information. Drive the food to the social service agency and see the impact of your volunteer time! (We’re likely looking at a Sunday pickup at Whole Foods Midtown with a drop-off to Lotus House or Overtown.)  

Show your interest here.  

SNAP Challenge January 25-28, 2026 

The Social Justice Network Food Insecurity Team invites temple and school families to participate in the SNAP Challenge to fundraise for our partners at Food Rescue and learn about the importance of SNAP Benefits on our community.  

How to participate in our SNAP Challenge?  

  • Create a personal or family fundraising page though our communal platform and share widely with friends and family 
  • The challenge is set for January 25-28, 2026. We recommend grocery shopping on Sunday, participating in the challenge from Monday through Wednesday, and documenting you experience on social media with friends and family. 
  • How much can challenge participants spend on food? We recommend using the average SNAP benefit of $6 per person per day.   
  • What can participants buy? Participants can buy any food and non-alcoholic beverages, except for hot foods, such as hot rotisserie chicken (Hot foods are not permissible purchases with SNAP benefits by federal law). 

 

Register for the SNAP Challenge HERE.  

Donate to the SNAP Challenge HERE. 

Ongoing Interfaith Vigils at “Alligator Alcatraz” 

Join faith leaders and people of conscience each Sunday at 4pm outside of the cruelly named Alligator Alcatraz to pray for the humane treatment and wellbeing of those being detained. Address: 54575 Tamiami Trail E 

Meet the team

TEAM OF REPRESENTATIVES

“SOME RELIGIONS REQUIRE A LEAP OF FAITH; JUDAISM REQUIRES A LEAP OF ACTION.”  – ABRAHAM HESCHEL

Food Insecurity Chair | Rachel Umlas | Amanda Greenfield 

RAC-FL Representatives –Immigration Campaign |  Doris Galindo and Samantha Stein   

Mitzvah Day Co-Chairs | Shelby Kempler and Ashley Gilboa  

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

PACT Representatives | Jonathan Sepsenwol, Rabbi Jessica Jacobs, Doris Galindo, Sofia Morales, Jeff Agron  

Innovative School Representatives |  Rachel Unger, Barbara Schpielberg, Doris Galindo, Amanda Greenfield,  Elle Koffler and Ariel Okhah

jLAB Representative |   Jordan Weinstein 

 Sisterhood Representative | Dana Grodin   

Brotherhood Representative | Josh Laurence  

The Tribe Program Coordinator | Laurin Friedland  

Blessings in a Backpack Co-Chairs | Tiffany Hurwitz, Kelsey Levy, Sari Levine and Marina Ganopolsky  

Lotus House Chair | Suzanne Meltzer    

Bags of Happiness Chairs | Andrea Wagner, Rachel Unger, Rachel Samek, and Ellie Feldman

Mazon Chairs | Carolyn West  and Adam Snitzer 

Beach Clean-Up Chairs | Doris Galindo and Stacy Savett  

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force | Lauren Cantor and Hilary Feldman  

Village (Free)dge – Adam Snitzer, Karen Rivo and Natalie Broidy  

Freedom to Read | Valerie Schimel and Rachel Umlas  

Teen Banned Book Club | Ellie Feldman  

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

Social Justice Program Director | Jeff Agron  

Rabbinic Advisor | Rabbi Jessica Jacobs  

Yes! I want to get involved
Email Jeff AGron