Social Justice Initiatives
Tzedek, Tzedek (Justice, Justice)
Beth Am Israel’s work to repair the world through social justice action
We hope you’ll be inspired to join us in our social justice work. There is no action that is too small. We can all do a piece for peace and justice. See our partner organizations below, and the work we are doing with them by pressing the plus sign next to the organization’s name.
A New BAI Initiative for 5783 – Yom HaTzedek and the Tzedek Box Project!
Emerging from an idea originally proposed as part of a Wexner Heritage Program in 2018, the concept of Yom HaTzedek is a modern Jewish holiday celebrating acts of Tzedek undertaken throughout the year – it was conceived as a way to “build expectations, promote collective behavior and provide spiritual grounding [sic] might enrich the Jewish commitment to justice.
Spearheaded by rabbinical student Andrew Mandel, the idea of a Tzedek box took shape. A Tzedek box would be like a tzedakah box, but focused “explicitly on justice.” The idea caught on and in 2020, an iPhone app was launched to provide people with a virtual Tzedek box, with which they could keep track of acts of tzedek undertaken throughout the year, find information about programs and activities focused on social justice and share ideas with friends. Congregations could use the app as a way for congregants to keep track of social action initiatives being promoted throughout the year. At the end of the year, on Yom HaTzedek (coinciding with Pesach Sheni), the congregation can come together, open their boxes, and share in all the good works done throughout the year.
Given Beth Am Israel’s interest in and support of numerous social action projects, we think the Tzedek Box project is a natural extension of all we do already and so we will be promoting the project throughout the year. To kick off the Tzedek Box Project at BAI, we have invited Andrew Mandel, the creator of the Tzedek Box Project and Yom HaTzedek, to join us for a special evening on Thursday, October 13 at 7:00pm. Andrew is a dynamic and engaging speaker – you really do not want to miss this event! To find out more about the project, visit: https://launch.tzedekbox.org/home
Our Official Partner Organizations:
Join us:
The Beth Am Israel Board approved a policy, put forth as a motion from our social justice task force, which encourages congregants to engage in activities sponsored by Board- approved organizations. The organizations and our BAI affiliation with them is now approved and sanctioned by the Board, and as such, Beth Am members can communicate (via our website, email lists and other means) whereby they may announce events and encourage participation. Volunteer activities may include letter writing, rallies (virtual and physical), and bringing in speakers to build awareness. One member of the social justice task force (which serves under the Love Your Neighbor committee) must be in regular contact with the organization and with BAI members.