We have had an enthusiastic core of congregants participating on our Social Action Committee. We have sought to translate our commitment to tikkun-olam, repair the world,  into actions that educate and motivate members of our congregation to join in this essential work. During the course of the pandemic, that is, since January 2020, the Social Action Committee has been active.

We have maintained a vibrant anti-racism book group, under Carol Heffer’s leadership, for the past year and a half. Books have included White Fragility, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Caste, Passing, and Begin Again. Presently we are reading Tortilla Curtain.

We organized a five part lecture series entitled “Race and Responsibility,” drawing on expertise in our local community to address themes such as whiteness, reparations, health equity, roots of anti-Semitism, and Vermont justice needs, which drew attendees from across our community. 

We participated on a South Burlington citizen’s group that worked with the SB police chief to rewrite the department’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy to ensure that the police do not collaborate with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in ways that endanger the rights and livelihood of non-citizen residents of Vermont.

We have supported our SB Food Shelf through several food drives (Thanksgiving, Passover, and High Holy Days) as well as sponsoring and participating in the yearly Christmas delivery organized by Meals on Wheels.

We promoted and participated in a major fund-raiser for COTS which attracted many members of the congregation.

We have organized several postcard writing campaigns to encourage people to register and vote in this past election.  We anticipate we will be doing more of this in the months ahead.

And there is more. As we come out of the pandemic, we need you to join us in the work again.

We meet monthly, the third Thursday at 7pm.  Email us at tikkun-olam@templesinaivt.org