Social Action Committee

The current BIJC Social Action Committee formed in 2020 as an outgrowth of the adult education class on Social Justice led by Rabbi Ted Feldman. Every month the Social Action Committee will focus on a project in which BIJC members may participate. For information please email socialaction@bnaiisrael.net. 

Click here to see projects we have recently helped.

Current Projects

Past Projects

Free Workshop: Depolarizing Within

Sunday, October 3, 2021 1-4 p.m.

Much of today's polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often, we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders and its policies.
This free workshop presented by Braver Angels and moderated by Lani Slonim and Lou Zweier will help us become more aware of our "inner polarizer" and learn methods for disagreeing without contempt or ridicule.

For more information, email socialaction@bnaiisrael.net.

Organized by the Social Action Committee and the North Bay Braver Angels Alliance.  

Cool City Challenge

Petaluma is applying to be one of three California cities selected to pioneer the Cool City Challenge, a community-based “moonshot” effort to meet the threat of climate catastrophe  If selected, the city will receive a $1,000,000 grant to help meet the goal, already set out under Petaluma’s Climate Action Plan, to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030. There will be an informational meeting for members of our interfaith community on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. to learn more about the Cool Block program and how to become a Cool Block leader. To RSVP, go to http://aqus.com/cool/ and complete the simple online form. If you are not able to attend on Thursday the 26th, you can sign up to attend at one of the alternate meeting times available. Additional information: https://coolblock.org/

July-August 2021

Mentor Me, a program of Petaluma People Services Center, is collecting school supplies for needy children in the greater Petaluma-Cotati-Rohnert Park area. Items will be collected at BIJC and delivered to Mentor Me in August.

Abrazos Film Screening & Director Q&A

May 2021 —The Social Action Committee of B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma, CA hosted an online screening of ABRAZOS (Embraces) May 9-16 followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker, Luis Argueta on May 16. 

Guest Speaker Terry Winter, November 11, 7 p.m.

Get Out The Vote

For the month of September we are focusing on getting out the VOTE.

Sending postcards is winding down as we do not want to overload the already stressed postal system. Instead we will encourage folks to join a phone bank. Here is one we recommend:

Reclaim Our Vote: This organization contacts disenfranchised voters through out the Southern U.S.  to help them get registered and vote. The phone-bank is organized to call folks who do not have internet or cell phones, mostly rural people of color.

Interfaith Food Pantry Seeks Masks

Thursday, August 27, 4:30 p.m.
For our monthly Elim Church food bank the Social Action committee would like to hand out face masks to participants. Along with a mask, we will include a short note written in Spanish and English that talks about the importance of wearing masks, proper usage of masks and the fines for not wearing them.

Backpack project
 

"Thanks to your generous support, almost $500 was raised by BIJC to donate to Food Empowerment Project's School Supply Drive for the Children of Farm Workers! 

"More than 540 backpacks filled with school supplies were delivered to the children. It is such a joy to see their happy faces filled with excitement.

"While the School Supply Drive is over for this year, Food Empowerment Project would be grateful for your interest and support in other areas of their work. Please go to their website to discover the important difference they make in all aspect of the food chain."