WOW – What an MLK Day we had this year!
Yesterday, Beth Am Israel hosted an incredible day bringing people together from all around the Philadelphia area and around the country for important conversations around social justice issues. And people came from far and wide to participate in many acts of loving kindness for those less fortunate, to help reduce waste and to help support shelter animals.
Just SOME of what we accomplished yesterday:
- Several large truckloads of electronics were received by our partners at PAR for recycling
- Many garages full of clothing were received for donation for people in need
- Dozens and dozens of hearty casseroles were made and given to people in homeless shelters and healthy snacks were made and given to front line workers.
- Hundreds of decorated bags of breakfast foods were given to seniors experiencing food insecurity
- Cases and cases of non-perishable foods were given to local food pantries
- Beautiful decorations and homemade cards were made for seniors, children with cancer and new refugees
- Dog toys from recycled items were made for shelter dogs
- Masks from up-cycled materials were made, reducing waste and helping to stop the spread of Covid-19
A shout out to all of our BAI members who participated in our MLK Day from home in zoom (activities/panels), in asynchronous projects, and/or dropped off items for our many drive-thru drives. This day could not have happened without so many people in our synagogue planning and leading activities and without the many volunteers who came out and lent a hand in the cold during a pandemic, no less.
All of this could not have been done without the vital help of our amazing office staff and clergy who supported us for the many weeks before and all day yesterday. A special shout-out to Jackie Needleman for making the countless website pages and edits into the wee hours of the night.
We have tried to include everyone. Please forgive us if your name was inadvertently left out.
Beth Am Members
Elisa Abeloff
Rosie Ackerman
Eli Albalancy
Lisa Schiffman
Phyllis Blumberg
Janet Carroll
Janet Conn
Peter Decherney
Ronit Eisenbach
Yoya EIsenbach
Donald Erlichman
Carol Gantman
Miriam Glickman
Sean Greenberg
Wendy Greenberg
Corinne Hackman
Ian Hackman
John Hackman
Michelle L Harmon
Rachel Harmon
Rita Harris
Barbie Henig
Kim Heyman
Jamil Khan
Kenneth Koltun-Fromm
Amy Kurland
Nicole Levin
Noah Levin
Zachary Levin
Leslie Lieberman
Brian Lipsitz
Janis Lipsitz
Marc Lipsitt
Noah Lipsitz
Melanie Marein-Efron
David Marein-Efron
Barbra Mellits
Kes Messinger
Jackie Needleman
Mira Olson
Adina Olson
Dori Olson
Tali Perlman
Tara Radin
Sharon Richman
Shelley Ruderman
Nomi Shapiro
Mira Shore
Pnina Siegler
Sam Sittenfield
Annette Sussman
Gari J Weilbacher
Eli Werbach
Johanna Werbach
Esther Werbach
Cyndee Wishkovsky
Judy Wortman
Barak Zahavy
Miriam Zahavy
Nataliya Zelikovsky
Our Partners
Ardmore Food Bank (St Mary’s)
Beth Chaim Reform Congregation, Malvern
Bethel AME, Ardmore
Box Lunch & A Book (Zion Baptists Church)
Brith Sholom House
CeaseFirePA
ElderNet
Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals
Global Citizen
HIAS
Interfaith Philadelphia
Jewish Earth Alliance
Masjid Quba, Philadelphia
Mitzvah Circle
Mobilize- Presidential Inaugural Committee
Mount St. Josephs
Narberth Community Food Pantry
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Our Closet
PAR
Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity
Restoration New Life Ministry
Sara’s Smiles
Saved Me Animal Shelter
SeniorLAW Center
Simbi Foundation
St John’s Hospice
Walking the Walk
Thank you to the newly elected State Senator, Amanda M. Cappelletti, who represents PA District 17 which includes Beth Am. Senator Cappelletti visited Beth Am Israel for the first time and was given the grand tour by Rabbi David. And she got to see our incredible community in action.
Thank you,
Gaby Lipkin and Irene Glickman
Co-chairs Love Your Neighbor Committee
Want to be involved in more Beth Am social action? Contact us!
