I have memories of riding the T to the Boston Common to hear and see Martin Luther King Jr. with my grandmother and mother. I was 15 years old. Although the memories are somewhat vague it was a powerful experience and perhaps shaped a personal commitment to Social Justice. Each year I attend the City of Newton MLK Celebration. It is always inspiring and motivates me to try to do better, to not be silent and to act upon the things that matter. Please consider joining other Newton residents at this annual event. Details are below.
Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year filled with the hope for peace in our broken world.
Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Newton's Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration
Join the Harmony Foundation, our event partners, and other community members from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. for reflection, music (including solo performances) student voices, children's programming with Story Starters, service opportunities and more at Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newton. This is a live event. If there is a snow or other emergency, registrants will be contacted by email, and updates will be posted to the city website.
FOOD DRIVE Collection Dates: Jan 8th - 15th Please support the annual food drive held in honor of this event, and hosted by the Rotary Club of Newton in partnership with the Village Bank.
Requested Items: Non-Expired Cereal (Kid-friendly and name brands preferred), Hearty Canned Soup (meat, beans, veggies), White Tuna in Water, Ground Coffee, Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Mac & Cheese, Cereal / Granola Bars, Baby Wipes.
Venues: Village Bank Locations, Newton Free Library, Scandinavian Living Center, Newton City Hall, Newton Police Headquarters.
Day of Event Program Details Program Timeline:
9:15 Arrival
9:30 Program Start
10:15 Story Starters
11:30 Program End
11:30 - 12:30 Reception
12:45 Service Education and Lunch for Participants (NNHS)
1-3 Service (on site at NNHS and at Cradles to Crayons)
Affordable Housing In Newton You're cordially invited to attend a special update on affordable housing progress in Newton on Wednesday January 10 at 6:30 PM! Sponsored by the Newton Interfaith Housing Coalition, the meeting at the Union Church in Waban will have two important speakers: Past City Council President Susan Albright will talk about the historic Zoning Reform passed last year, and Larry Seamans of Family Aid will talk about the Navigation Center for 42 families that will open this spring on Washington Street not far from Temple Shalom. Please plan to attend and help kick off a good 2024 on the Newton housing front!
The Temple Shalom Reproductive Justice Initiative has been active this Fall.
We completed the assembly of 150 post-abortion comfort packages which were delivered to HealthQ Sexual Health Clinic in Lawrence. Thanks to all who donated items and participated in putting the packages together.
In December, we organized a tour of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute’s compelling excellent art exhibit of Deeply Rooted: Faith in Reproductive Justice. The exhibit is still open until February 1 st at the Kniznick Gallery at Brandeis. More information here.
Presently, we are participating in a postcard campaign sponsored by Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) urging state legislators to pass the Location Shield Act which would ban the sale of data from cell phones. Without this protection, those using abortion centers can be tracked, leaving their privacy unprotection.
We are now looking ahead to 2024 - a critical year for reproductive justice. Please join us for a planning meeting on Wednesday, January 17th at 7:30 pm on Zoom. All are welcome who are passionate about reproductive rights. Please bring your energy and creativity. There is a lot to do both nationally and right here in Massachusetts!
Story Starters: Winter 2024 Kickoff with author Kaija Langley, Jan. 28 BY FCN ON JANUARY 2, 2024 Story Starters has an eight-week Family Conversations Program designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their young children. The Winter 2024 Cohort starts on January 28 with a special read-aloud with local author Kaija Langley. The program provides families with:
A bundle of 6 books tailored to children’s ages
5 caregiver guides full of research, resources, and family activities to support and deepen family race conversations
4 curated book lists to support further exploration and conversation
2 in-person family events and 2 virtual caregiver workshops
2 virtual office hours
Support from a network of current families and alumni to lean on and learn from
Special events to facilitate community connection
The Winter 2024 program kicks off on Sunday, January 28, 3PM - 4:30PM at Jammin’ With You (12B Mica Lane, Wellesley). Register by January 19.
For additional program dates and details, visit the links above. For more information, email kari@story-starters.org.
Later this week, the lights of our Menorahs will shine brightly in our windows as we gather with friends and family to celebrate Chanukah. We will use the Shamash to light our candles. What does it mean to be a Shamash? According to Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg, “It means to open ourselves up to the possibility that each of us has the power to make good and do good in this world, no matter who we are. By sharing our light, we kindle the light of hope and possibility in this world for others”. Each of us has the potential to be a Shamash, to light the light in others and brighten the world for those around us. This newsletter lists opportunities for all of us to be a Shamash. Imagine all that light we can shine as we work together to repair the world.
Happy Chanukah to all! Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Collection Project
We are all aware of the very difficult situation for newly arrived migrant families in Massachusetts, many of whom are currently being housed by the State’s Office of Refugees and Immigrants in shelters, hotels and even some office buildings across our area. Have you been wondering how you can help? We’re looking for Temple members who would like to coordinate a small collection project to collect items such as diapers, laundry detergent, Band aids, Tylenol or winter coats/hats/mittens. These are the items needed by IFSI (Immigrant Family Services Institute), a wonderful organization in Mattapan that is helping these families. As a coordinator, you’ll decide what items to collect, logistics (live and/or online collection locations), how to publicize the collection effort, timeframe, and how to deliver items to IFSI. Interested but never have done this before? Other Tzedek Team members will be happy to help and answer any questions. If you’re interested, please email Elizabeth at econnolly@srsmedical.com by 12/15.
Donate to the JF&CS Holiday Gift Card Drive and you'll help bring joy to low-income families by empowering parents to pick out the gifts they know their children will love. Donate online and we'll buy the gift cards. https://www.jfcsboston.org/give/holiday-gift-card-drive
The Very Best Way to Regift: Newton Food Pantry Gift Shop
The Newton Food Pantry provides a small assortment of new or gently used items from which the pantry customers can shop for free for a gift for a loved one. We welcome giftware for children and adults such as, but not limited to, candles, jewelry, art kits, stuffed animals, games, toys, cookbooks, or anything else you would gift a friend. We often receive many items for women and children. Please keep those items coming while also considering fun items for older teens and adults, including men.
Please do not wrap the gifts however feel free to donate extra gift, bags, wrap, ribbons etc. Please drop goodies at 20 Fairlee Terrace in Waban (gray house on the cul-de-sac off Fairlee Road, off Woodward Street). Please leave things in the bins by the garage now through the end of December. Any items remaining at the end of the holiday season will be donated to Cradles to Crayons, Welcome Home, or a local donation site.
The Village Bank has partnered with the Newton Department of Health and Human Services to sponsor the City’s annual Holiday Gift Drive. This year marks the 16th year of the Bank sponsoring the event, which looks to bring holiday joy to local children.
The Bank will be collecting new and unwrapped gifts until December 13 and invites its customers, neighbors, and members of the Newton community to drop off donations to any Newton branch of The Village Bank. Gifts should be for children ages newborn to 10 and may include age-appropriate toys, games, electronics, and sporting goods. Gift cards from local merchants are also appreciated.
Many of us enjoyed meeting the Ashori Family in November and were entertained by Huma’s beautiful Sitar playing, inspired by the individual stories and were delighted to have the opportunity to view Fahima’s marvelous paintings. Shortly thereafter, we got the joyful news that our four original Afghan friends (“The Guys”) won their asylum cases! The TSARP committee paid for their asylum lawyers and continues to subsidize housing for both the Ashoris and the Ramish Family. We are so thankful for the support we have received but the TSARP Fund still really needs your support, especially after paying these legal expenses. Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. You can donate here https://www.templeshalom.org/tsarp
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Volunteer Services is looking for in-person volunteers (three-hour weekly shifts) for its Chestnut Hill-Newton location at 300 Boylston Street. Volunteers provide comfort, support, and empathy to cancer patients and families, helping with wayfinding, sharing resources, distributing lunches or art supplies, and more. Visit https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/volunteer to learn more. Please feel free to contact Marion Pollock mcpollock32@gmail.com, a long time volunteer, if you are interested in learning more.
Like many of you, the past weeks have weighed heavy on my heart and mind. It is difficult to feel hopeful and a bit of a challenge to feel grateful as we prepare for Thanksgiving. However, being aware of all the good that members of our Congregation and the broader community do each day to repair the world can be a remedy to the sadness that surrounds us. We hope you will join the efforts of the Tzedek Team by completing a shift at the Freedge, supporting our new Afghan friends, becoming educated on Gun Violence Prevention and Reproductive Justice or joining Newton Neighbors with their holiday gift card drive. It may make you feel better and will surely help others.
With best wishes for a happy and healthy November and Thanksgiving Holiday. Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
November 3rd, 7:30pm Adult Dinner and Torah at the Table: Join us for delicious Mediterranean food. This month's topic: Music, art, and history - meet the Ashori family Let's gather for a healing night of music, art, and history at the Adult Dinner following the November 3rd Shabbat B'Yachad service – a bright light in this difficult season. We’ll share the inspiring story of the Ashori family - the newest Afghan family that our TSARP (Temple Shalom Afghan Resettlement Project) is helping. The four remarkable young people of the Ashori family will share their brave stories of leaving Afghanistan, along with their incredible sitar music and artwork. Register here
Gun Violence Prevention In October, the Massachusetts House voted to pass H.4135, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. This much needed bill would strengthen our gun laws, including a ban on assault-style weapons, tightening restrictions on unregistered "ghost guns," and prohibiting the carrying of firearms in schools, polling places, and government buildings. The Senate will be considering this bill soon. Please reach out to your Senator in support of Bill H.4139 to modernize our firearms laws.
Reproductive Justice Initiative The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute on the Brandeis campus is offering interesting repro justice programming. The TS Reproductive Justice Initiative invites anyone interested to attend with us. On Thursday, December 7 at 12:30 pm, there are two programs that we can attend at the Kiznick Gallery in the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University.
Following the discussion, we can tour the art exhibition Deeply Rooted: Faith in Reproductive Justice. It is described as "An ambitious, multidisciplinary exhibition that looks at abortion and reproductive justice through the lens of faith, bringing Jewish feminist artists into dialogue with artists from other faith communities and backgrounds". This installation is running from November 2 - December 14, 2023.
Please email Susan Goodman or Wendy Case: 1) if you are interested in attending on December 7th and 2) if you are interested in carpooling.
Newton Neighbors: The Great 2023 Giving Thanks Gift Card Drive This November marks our fourth year of seeking to close the food insecurity gap during the holidays. In 2022, one-in-three Mass families reported running out of food or reported not having enough money to purchase food every month. This is a heartbreaking fact and our goal is to help put food on as many neighbor's tables as possible this holiday season.
Last year, thanks to your generosity, Newton Neighbors served 150 families throughout Newton, Brockton and Waltham with supermarket Gift Cards! We are launching this much-valued program again in 2023 and we hope you will help. Our goal is to distribute gift cards of values between $50 - $100.
Here is the GREAT news: The Village Bank has kicked off our drive with a $2,000 donation! With every dollar raised, Newton Neighbors will purchase gift cards for distribution to our neighbors in time for Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season.
Help us meet our goal through your generous donations. All of the families and distribution partners will be so grateful. Here is the link to donate! Our Newton Neighbors community is wonderful. Thank you for all your support, and may the joy of giving and the peace of the season be with you and yours.
Happy New Year to all! At High Holiday services our Rabbis eloquently spoke about the importance of laughter, embracing change, aging well and the importance of relationships and community. Becoming involved with anyone of our Social Justice opportunities can foster all of these. Working with others to make change, can help you form new relationships which will bring joy and laughter and help you age with grace. Please join us!
All the Best, Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Housing Crisis As we hear every day about the housing crisis in our Commonwealth, we wonder what we can do to help. Here are a few thoughts:
In the last newsletter we wrote about the Newton Family Navigation Center which will open in spring 2024. This Center, which is just a few blocks from Temple Shalom, will provide 42 temporary housing units that are typically occupied by one parent and one to two children, as well as common areas, classrooms, dining areas and areas for a variety of supportive services. A Newton community meeting in September provided information and we heard strong support from the community and questions about how neighbors can help our new neighbors. There will be numerous volunteer opportunities - you will be able to sign up to play with children, give families rides as needed, etc. We will provide more specific information as we approach the opening date, but you can learn more from this link: NEWTON - FamilyAid (familyaidboston.org)
The JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) continues its work of helping migrant arrivals in the Commonwealth. We have heard from them that the most pressing needs now are donations of clothing and gift cards. If you are interested in organizing a drive for either of these items, please contact Elizabeth Connolly (econnolly@srsmedical.com).
We continue to help several Afghan families with housing in Chestnut Hill. In November you will have an opportunity to meet our newest family and hear about their harrowing journey to safety in Massachusetts - please stay tuned this month as we publicize an exciting event at the November 3 Shabbat B'Yachad. In the meantime, if you would be interested in helping two young adults with their English, please contact Marion Pollock (mcpollock32@gmail.com).
Tutoring/Mentoring Opportunities
VOLUNTEER READING TUTORS WANTED! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Join the group of Temple Shalom Volunteer Reading Tutors this school year. Help a child with reading a few hours once a week during the school day at the Ohrenberger or Beethoven School in West Roxbury.
To learn more about this rewarding opportunity, email Temple Shalom member janetgottesman@gmail.com
CJP’s Israel & Global Jewry team is looking for volunteers for their English Mentoring Program that matches Boston volunteers with Haifa high school seniors for conversational English. The sessions, which require no previous education, occur between the Mentor and 1-2 students online weekly during the winter and help them prepare for their matriculation exams in the Spring. If interested, please reach out to Lorri Owades at Lsowades@gmail.com.
The Temple’s Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI) recently finished up its first direct service project. On Sunday, September 18th, eighteen congregants assembled 154 Nechama post-abortion care backpacks to distribute to abortion patients of HealthQ Reproductive and Sexual Health in Lawrence. The packs contained a range of items donated by Temple members to offer comfort to their patients following the procedure.
Susan Goodman and Shelah Fleiss delivered the load of backpacks to HealthQ for distribution. The kickoff for the direct service project was at RJI’s first educational program in May, Shining a Light on Reproductive Justice: An Issue that Impacts Us All. Kristie Monast of HealthQ was one of our featured speakers. The RJI is appreciative of support both financially and organizationally to Sisterhood and the Tzedek Team. The project also was a collaboration between several area synagogues and Jewish organizations.
The third arm of the RJI, in addition to education and direct service, is advocacy. Joy Elbaum periodically sends out email alerts to interested congregants about advocacy opportunities around reproductive justice. If you would like to receive these alerts, please email Joy at j.elbaum@verizon.net.
The RJI will convene in November to discuss what’s next. If you are interested in being part of the committee, please contact Susan Goodman, susan.d.goodman@gmail.com or Wendy Case, wbcase@aol.com. Meetings are typically held on Zoom. We would welcome your thoughts and energy even if you are out of the area for part of the year.
JALSA Alert
Supporting Abortion Rights: Jewish Community Joins in Ohio Ballot Phone Banks Every Thursday at 6pm Eastern September 28 through Election Day
Ohio residents will be voting on a ballot measure on November 7 that will protect abortion rights and reproductive health in Ohio. As part of the efforts supporting the measure, JALSA will be coordinating phone banks for the Jewish community around the country every Thursday between now and Election Day at 6 PM (Eastern).
We will be contacting people who are likely to support abortion rights, but might need a reminder to get out and vote. These conversations could have a tremendous impact on the ballot measure's outcome. As we gather each Thursday, we will be having discussions about why the measure is so important to the Jewish community while also going through the phone bank process.
JALSA's partners will have opportunities to participate in texting and postcarding efforts reaching out to Ohio residents about the ballot measure. If you're interested in those opportunities, please follow this link to view the form and let us know you are interested by filling out the last question.
If you have any questions you can contact JALSA's Organizing Director, Bryan Scrafford, at bryan@jalsa.org.
JALSA Advocacy Alert: Oct. 12th Jewish Community Zoom event about the Location Shield Act, aimed at curbing use of personal location data that creates risks for those visiting abortion clinics, those experiencing intimate partner abuse, and others.
JALSA and its partners will be hosting an online Jewish Community gathering to talk about the Location Shield Bill. This bill will ban the sale of location data, protecting pregnant people who come to Massachusetts for an abortion. If you would like to attend this Zoom event, you can sign up at this link.
According to the ACLU of Massachusetts, “Every day, unregulated data brokers buy and sell personal location data from apps on our cellphones, revealing where we live, work, play, and more. To protect our privacy, safety, access to abortion and other essential health care, Massachusetts needs to ban this practice now by passing the Location Shield Act.” This bill has major implications for the future of reproductive rights in Massachusetts. The ACLU of Massachusetts recognizes that “In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision... journalists found that data brokers have continued to buy, repackage, and sell the location information of people visiting sensitive locations, including abortion clinics. This puts people who seek or provide care in our state at risk of prosecution and harassment, creating a vulnerability in our state’s post-Roe protections.”
In addition to the risks posed to abortion seekers and providers, the ACLU has also identified these groups who might use location data to cause harm:
Domestic abusers can purchase location data to track the whereabouts of their victims;
Foreign governments can buy location data and use it to track intelligence personnel, elected officials, military employees, police officers, and scientific researchers; and
Employers can buy cellphone location data to track and discriminate against employees
To spread awareness and advocate for the Location Shield Act, JALSA is hosting a Jewish Community gathering on Zoom with groups like NCJW, ADL, and JCRC about how the Location Shield Act impacts people who can get pregnant, the LGBTQ community, the Jewish community, and others. The event will also include actions people can take to advance this important piece of legislation.
When: The event is on October 12th from 7pm-8pm.
How: Here’s the RSVP link for the Zoom. (If this page is already filled out, simply replace the information with your own.)
Finally, here’s a link to a website that the ACLU of Massachusetts created about the Location Shield bill.
I am a firm believer that summer does not end until September 23rd but with the waning days of August our thoughts turn to the High Holidays and for many of us this includes a trip to the grocery store to participate in our annual food drive. Please read more about how you can help.
The Tzedek committee has exciting plans for our Congregation for the upcoming year and we hope you will find an interest that you are passionate about that leads you to action.
May the New Year bring good health and happiness to you, your friends and family.
Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Welcoming the Newton Family Navigation Center If all goes as planned, Temple Shalom will soon have a new neighbor, the Newton Family Navigation Center. FamilyAid, the leading provider of solutions to family homelessness, has been contracted by the Commonwealth to open a new Navigation Center in the now-closed Chetwynde Nursing Home on Washington Street, a few blocks from the Temple. Opening is scheduled for spring of 2024.
Like the FamilyAid Center in Brookline near the Coolidge Corner Theater, this Center will provide 42 temporary housing units that are typically occupied by one parent and one to two children, as well as common areas, classrooms, dining areas and areas for a variety of supportive services. The Center is staffed 24/7. Families typically include very young children (mostly babies), and typically stay for a year or two until they move into permanent housing. During their stay, the parents are working and/or going to school. The Newton Center is likely to include both new arrivals to Massachusetts and families who have been here for a while. You can read more about the Center at Newton - FamilyAid (familyaidboston.org) and Final Newton Family Navigation Center and Temporary Housing Background Fact Sheet. The Center is not a homeless shelter; it is more like a dormitory helping these young families as they transition to permanent housing. It’s a critical part of our Commonwealth’s efforts to respond to the housing crisis, and it fits well with the RAC-MA focus this year on Affordable Housing. As Temple members, we look forward to supporting the official opening of the Center and getting to know our new neighbors; there will be many opportunities to volunteer and help out. Right now the most important thing we can do is advocacy. There’s a community meeting Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m, details are below: Join the zoom meeting on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m. Please click the link to join the webinar here. Passcode: 749491. Or One tap mobile : +16465588656,,81092049758# US (New York) +16469313860,,81092049758# US Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Webinar ID: 810 9204 9758 International numbers available: https://newtonma-gov.zoom.us/u/kcb0d48Qaq
FREEDGE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Temple Shalom participates, along with many other community organizations, in stocking and managing the Newton Freedge. The Freedge is an arm of the Newton Food Pantry and provides perishable food for those in need. Every other Tuesday our volunteers pick up food donations, shop for perishable goods and help to maintain the cleanliness of the Freedge which is located at 420 Watertown Street, Newton at Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning.
As we all know, food insecurity is a real and persistent problem in our communities. Having food other than in cans and boxes is a welcome enhancement. Eggs, milk, cheese and other items are welcomed by the people who take advantage of the Freedge offerings.
We are always in need of more volunteers to fill the time slots for which we are responsible. As you build your fall calendars, please consider whether you can assist by staffing a two hour slot in the upcoming weeks. Below you will find a link to the Sign Up Genius which includes descriptions of the tasks involved and the time slots that are our responsibility.
Many thanks for your willingness to contribute your time for this worthy endeavor. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me.
Our TSARP community of Afghan friends in Hancock Village has continued to evolve! Some of our friends have left the state, others are moving in and around Hancock Village. If you have a couch or some smaller chairs and tables you are looking to donate, there may be a home for it! Please send a picture to econnolly@srsmedical.com
Don't forget to swing by our Helpsy clothing and textile drive at the SLC on Saturday, September 16th from 9am-12pm put on by the Scandinavian Living Center & Rotary Club of Newton. We are collecting shoes, clothes, accessories (hats, scarves, bags, etc.), linens, towels, curtains, throw rugs and stuffed animals!
I hope this Newsletter finds you well and enjoying some lovely summer afternoons. Listed below are ways you can enhance your summer afternoons! Perhaps a drop-off at the Freedge, taking a moment to send an email to your legislator to express your support for gun legislation, a quick drop off of food at the Temple for Family Table, or support Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors back to school drive. You will feel better and your summer will be sweeter!
Welcome and thanks to Ethel Furst who has stepped up to Chair Temple Shalom’s Freedge initiative. Please consider taking on a shift or two to help meet our commitment during these summer months.
Look for news regarding our annual High Holiday Food Drive and other volunteer and advocacy opportunities in our September Newsletter. In the meantime, enjoy, be safe and have a lovely August.
Fondly, Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
The Tzedek Team enjoyed a face-to-face meeting June 21 at the Temple, with the theme of “Looking Back, Looking Forward.” Many of us had a long history of involvement in Social Action and Social Justice work at the Temple; others were looking to get more involved. We reviewed a number of the Tzedek activities Temple members have done this year and started to look forward to the next program year. One focus in the next program year will be the RAC-MA Affordable Housing Initiative. More information about the Tzedek meeting and the Affordable Housing initiative went to the Tzedek Team mailing list. If you missed it and would like to see it, please contact econnolly@srsmedical.com.
Reproductive Justice Initiative
Great news! The Reproductive Justice Initiative is nearing completion of its direct service project: Nechama Packages for Comfort Care for patients of HealthQ Sexual and Reproductive Health in Lawrence. We had a tremendous response to our campaign to fill these packages. The effort, which ended June 30, was very generously supported by Temple Shalom congregants, as well as Sisterhood, which provided bags to contain the items and water bottles and the Tzedek Committee, which purchased gift cards through the Social Justice Fund. We are also grateful to Temple Beth Elohim and Hadassah for their guidance.
NEXT STEP: We will be assembling 150 packages on Sunday, September 10th at 4 pm at the Temple so that we can deliver them to Health Q for patients receiving services in the fall. If you are interested in helping to assemble the packages, please contact Susan Goodman, susan.d.goodman@gmail.com or Wendy Case, wbcase@aol.com.
Gun Violence Prevention
Express your support for the Massachusetts Gun Violence Omnibus Bill
The Massachusetts Legislature has introduced a groundbreaking gun violence prevention omnibus bill that will comprehensively update the Commonwealth's already strong firearm laws, making it a model for the country. Components of the bill include ensuring that people carrying guns in public receive rigorous safety training, updating and enforcing Massachusetts' assault weapon prohibition, prohibiting ghost guns, keeping guns out of sensitive public spaces, and promoting innovating gun safety technologies. Even here in Massachusetts, the gun lobby is highly active and already flooding legislators with messages in opposition to this bill. Legislators, including those who strongly support the bill like our Newton reps, need to hear from those in support. Please take a moment to automatically send an email to your legislator here, or look up your legislator and send your own custom message of support.
Newton Gun Buyback Success! Thank you to everyone who donated to the Newton Gun Buyback, especially to the Social Justice Fund for matching all contributions. Temple Shalom raised over $1000 for the buyback. The event was a success, with 44 guns turned in and destroyed. Those guns are no longer in our communities.Check out NewTV's coverage of the event here!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
Sign onto the Newton Upstanders Values Statement Mirroring national trends, groups that oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming have gained traction in Newton, establishing local chapters and filing complaints aimed at undermining DEI efforts in our community. Newton Upstanders launched this past spring in response to some of those local efforts and to help advance Newton's DEI initiatives. Read more about what's been happening here in Newton and sign our values to affirm our community's collective commitment to embracing diversity and creating a welcoming culture based on equity and inclusion for everyone.
Rotary Club: Monthly Clothing and Textile Drive (May-Oct.), July 22 BY FCN ON JULY 1, 2023
Rotary is working with Helpsy, which accepts clothing and textiles in any clean condition (see details) and makes a donation to the Newton Rotary Foundation for each pound accepted.
A word from Marion and David Pollock
We have had the good fortune to meet two amazing young women who have shared their struggles and triumphs with us after escaping Afghanistan in June 2022. Their story is heartbreaking and inspiring. Fahima Ashori studied painting at the Fine Art Institute in Kabul, Afghanistan. After the fall of Afghanistan, she was brought to Wellfleet in June 2022 with the help of Yo Yo Ma's Silkroad. An oil painter for nearly a decade, she has shown and sold her artwork in Afghanistan and the United States. Her sister, Parastou, is a journalist. We hope you will take the time to read their story below. If you have any suggestions or leads on housing or would like to help support this remarkable family please let us know, mcpollock32@gmail.com.
“My name is Fahima. I am from Afghanistan. I am a visual artist and I used to have an amazing art gallery in Kabul, Afghanistan. As an active and independent woman, I became a target of the Taliban. I did many murals around Kabul City related to women's rights, equality, and freedom. I was threatened by the Taliban and forced to shut my gallery down and flee to India with my sister Parastou who was a reporter in a private newspaper in Kabul. Luckily, we could make it to the US in June 2022 with the help of some amazing people and organizations.
We are happy and incredibly grateful to be safe here in the US. We received scholarships from Suffolk University, unfortunately, the scholarships do not include housing and other living expenses that are necessary for us to live in Boston. Luckily, our brother who was a dentist in Kabul, could flee from Afghanistan and joined us safely here in Boston in January but is unable to work until he is granted asylum. His fiancé Huma Rahimi who is the first female sitar player of Afghanistan reunited to our family in mid-June 2023. We all came to the US with student visas, and we don’t have work permits yet. We all really need somewhere to stay as we wait for our asylum and work permits to be approved. We want to work of course and look forward to being contributing members of this society as soon as we can. In the meantime, we have lost everything and really need your help with the housing where we can be safe to start our new lives.”
This newsletter has notifications on many ways to advocate and act. There is so much news this month and the actions do not appear in priority order, please read all the way through!
Social Justice needs do not take a summer vacation. We will continue to keep you notified regarding important news and opportunities with one summer newsletter in mid July.
Please join us at the Tzedek Team Celebration to welcome back Rabbi Laura and look back on our many accomplishments and plan for next year. Sincere thanks to Elizabeth Connolly, Tzedek Committee Chair. Elizabeth has kept us moving forward with passion and commitment and we are grateful for her time and efforts to helping us achieve moral clarity.
Best wishes to all for a happy, safe and joyful summer,
Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Tzedek Team Celebration 6/21 – “Looking Back, Looking Forward”
On Wednesday evening, June 21 we will have a Tzedek Team Celebration at the Temple. The theme is “Looking Back, Looking Forward” – we will celebrate the activities of this year and do some looking forward to next year. Rabbi Laura will be back from her sabbatical, and we’ll look forward to getting together in a face-to-face event, sharing some desserts and conversation, and looking towards next year. Please plan to join us! If you have any thoughts about topics you want to make sure we cover, please contact econnolly@srsmedical.com. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Freedge Volunteer Thank You Shabbat June 9
It has now been more than two years since the Newton Freedge opened its doors, and Temple Shalom volunteers have been an important part of the Freedge team. Plan to come to Shabbat Services on Friday June 9 at 6:30 when we will talk about the Freedge, hear from past Freedge team captains, and recognize all who have volunteered on this important project to fight food insecurity in our own community.
Climate Action
On June 4, Green Newton welcomes you to tour Garland Street and talk with neighbors there about Home Energy Projects.
He who takes one life, it is as though he has destroyed the universe, and he who saves one life, it is as though he has saved the universe. - Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5
June is Gun Violence Prevention Month. While Newton has relatively low rates of gun ownership and gun violence, the number of gun licenses in Newton has increased steadily in recent years reflecting national trends. One practical way we can help reduce the threat of gun violence in our community is through a gun buyback, which provides a safe way for residents to turn in unwanted guns. In the 2019 Newton buyback, 46 firearms and 2,500 rounds of ammunition were surrendered and destroyed in Newton, permanently removing them from circulation. The buyback will be led on June 24, 9:00am-12:00, by the Newton Police Department in partnership with the Middlesex Sheriff's Office and the Newton Gun Violence Prevention Collaborative.
Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI)
1) Shining a Light on Reproductive Justice: An Issue for Us All: Warm thanks to all who joined us at this RJI May 12th kick-off. We were delighted by the at-capacity turn out. Krisitie Monast, Executive Director of Health Q Health Services and Claire Teylouni, Director of Government Affairs, Reproductive Equity Now, were exceptional speakers. They offered an excellent snapshot of abortion services in MA as well as a comprehensive view of the national landscape. Their overall message: while overall it is extremely disturbing, we can feel grateful at this time to live in Massachusetts. The goal of the anti-choicers is to abolish abortion everywhere, so it is incumbent upon us to stay informed.
We were grateful that Rabbi Berry incorporated prayers and messages about reproductive justice into the Friday night service that preceded the educational portion.
If you were unable to attend the event, here is a link for the educational program. Passcode: 0zfuJbS^. NOTE: On the link, the presentation begins around 3:05 and ends around 1:17, followed by 10 minutes or so of people talking and cleaning up.
Many members of the RJI task force played a key role in the success of the evening, but special shout outs to Susie Gudema and Marion Pollack, who arranged the delicious dinner and dining room set up, and Laura Scharf and Abby Fireman, who brought their sons to the event and worked earnestly to invite other teens, reflecting their commitment to educating young people about the issue.
2) NECHAMA COMFORT PACKAGES FOR POST-ABORTION CARE: The evening was the kick-off for our campaign to create 150 comfort packages to donate to Kristie Monast's Health Q Reproductive Clinic in Lawrence, MA. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS EFFORT A SUCCESS! We are in particular need of $10 gift cards to either CVS or Target so that recipients can purchase over-the-counter pain relief. Please bring gift cards to the Temple - during business hours, leave them in the office with Gray or Scott; after business hours, leave them in the locked collection box on the first floor near the reception desk OR contact Susan Goodman at susan.d.goodman@gmail.com to arrange a pick up. There are still other items needed on our Amazon registry.
The campaign extends through June 30. We will be assembling the packages at the Temple either at the end of the summer or early fall so that we can bring them to Health Q in mid-September. Contact Wendy Case at wbcase@aol.com if you would like to participate.
We would be remiss not to offer a shout out to Temple Shalom Sisterhood, which is purchasing several of the essential items needed for the comfort packages, and Temple Beth Elohim, one of our partners in the comfort packages campaign, for offering us guidance and resources.
3) ADVOCACY ALERTS: Joy Elbaum is sending out terrific legislative updates on bills that reflect our Temple's commitment to reproductive justice - the ability to choose whether to have children and the ability to raise them in safe, healthy environments. Thanks to JALSA - Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action - for initiating many of these alerts. To be added to Joy's distribution list, email her at j.elbaum@verizon.net
4) JOIN OUR TASK FORCE! Our immediate goal is to complete the Nechama packages in the fall. Help us navigate our next directions! Email either Susan Goodman. or Wendy Case - we look forward to hearing from you! Thanks - Wendy Case (wbcase@aol.com) and Susan Goodman (susan.d.goodman@gmail.com)
Upholding Our Community's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Newton Upstanders is a new, action-oriented community group in Newton that formed to stand up in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in our schools and city. We came together in March to speak at a Public Hearing in support of Newton Public Schools' commitment to racial equity and again in early April to show support for students from Newton North High School’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance and their ToBeGlad Day programming. After these two events, we agreed that there was a need in Newton to stay connected, informed, and vigilant to ensure that local and national groups don't undermine our community's commitment to DEI. You can read more about us by visiting our websiteand reading our FAQs and news stories. We hope you will join our email list, sign our Values Statement, like and follow our Facebook page, and reach out at newtonupstanders@gmail.com if you would like to become more involved.
JALSA Advocacy Alert
Through Temple Shalom’s membership in the Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action (JALSA), we join with JALSA and its many allies in pursuit of social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. Here is a current opportunity to make your voice heard towards those goals.
Contact Your Senator to Include Permanent School Meals for All in the Budget!
JALSA is proud to be a Feed Kids Coalition member, eager to solve childhood hunger across Massachusetts, beginning in our schools. Though childhood hunger persists in our state, 80,000 more kids are eating each day in Massachusetts because of School Meals for All in communities that otherwise would not have access. This program provides resources for families that are struggling to keep food on the table.
At the start of the pandemic, a federal waiver allowed all students to get a free school lunch. This led to 56,000 additional kids getting access to nutritious food, without the stigma previously associated with accepting free meals. When that waiver expired, ours was one of only five states to extend this policy. Now, we need to make it permanent. Once the program is permanent, all current and future Massachusetts students will consistently have access to free breakfast and lunch, without stigma and regardless of income.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives included permanent funding for School Meals for All in its budget. We now need the Senate to include this proposal in its upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 budget to get across the finish line.
Through our coalition partners at Project Bread, you can learn more about this program and contact your state senator directly to urge them to support permanent funding for School Meals for All in the FY24 budget at this link.
“There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.” — Amanda Gorman
Dear Social Justice Friends,
I am writing this as Susan Goodman and Wendy Case are in the midst of leading a group of dedicated volunteers to plan an exciting program and project, Shining a Light on Reproductive Justice: An Issue that Affects Us All. Please see the details below on how you can join this effort and register to join us on May 12th.
Through this effort I have learned that Reproductive Justice is not only defined as women having control of their own bodies, but having the right to raise children in safe and sustainable communities; and a part of raising children includes access to diapers! Our friends at Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors are sponsoring a citywide diaper drive (details are below). Please consider helping out. My practice in donating diapers has always been to purchase the diaper size for each of our grandchildren. We have now reached a milestone, no more diapers! I will just have to buy one of each size in honor of this event!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy Spring season with increased light shining on you, your friends and family.
Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
JOIN US FOR AN INFORMATIVE EVENING ABOUT A CRITICAL ISSUE
Temple Shalom’s Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI) task force advocates for reproductive justice, educates congregants on pertinent issues, and offers support to those receiving reproductive health services.
We are proud to sponsor Shining a Light on Reproductive Justice: An Issue That Impacts Us All, an educational program following services and dinner on Friday, May 12th at Temple Shalom. Teens and adults are invited as we focus on the critical state of Reproductive Justice locally and nationally.
Join us for services at 6:30 and dinner at 7:30. We will be serving a variety of dinner salads and assorted breads from Judith's Kitchen for $20/person. Or just attend the program at 7:45 in-person or via zoom. A zoom link will be provided closer to the date of the program.
The evening will feature two dynamic experts: Kristie Monast, Executive Director, HealthQ Sexual and Reproductive Health in Lawrence MA, and Claire Teylouni, Director, Government Affairs, Reproductive Equity Now.
At the event, we will also be introducing our upcoming campaign to create Nechama Comfort Packages for Post-Abortion Care for patients of HealthQ in conjunction with other local temples and Jewish organizations. Come learn how you can help this important effort!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON MAY 12TH! The event begins at 7:45pm.
For more information about Shining a Light on Reproductive Justice, contact Susan Goodman at susan.d.goodman@gmail.com or Wendy Case at wbcase@aol.com. To learn about RJI’s on-going efforts to advocate for reproductive justice issues, please contact Joy Elbaum at j.elbaum@verizon.net.
Do you Sew?
As a part of the Nechama Comfort Packages for Post-Abortion Care we are considering the possibility of volunteers making reusable microwave warm bags. If we have enough “stitchers” we will proceed with this project. Please contact Marion Pollock at mcpollock32@gmail.com if you can sew, have a sewing machine or would like to learn more about how you can help. More details regarding the Nechama Comfort Packages will be forthcoming, watch for them in the TSConnect weekly email and the June Tzedek newsletter.
Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors Diaper Drive and Distribution April 22 - May 6: Citywide Diaper Drive May 13: Diaper Pickup
One in three families struggle to afford diapers, making it even harder for them to buy food and other necessities. Help us support local families who need diapers! Last year we were able to provide diapers to 100 families and we hope to support even more this year.
Sizes requested: Newborn through 7. Open boxes are welcome, but please put diapers in labeled plastic sleeves or bags. Donate diapers at: FamilyACCESS of Newton (492 Waltham St, West Newton)
Drop off inside the front doors from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm when the building is open. Look for a table with a diaper dropoff sign. NO weekend dropoffs.
American Legion Nonantum Post 440 (295 California St, Nonantum)
Drop off in the main office 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. From the parking lot, enter the glass doors, up the steps, and turn left.
Porch dropoff (128 Herrick Road in Newton Centre)
Leave your donation in the bin marked "Diapers" at the top of the driveway or on the front porch depending on the weather.
We hope you will jump in with us and advocate, learn, and act about the issues noted below. We welcome you to join our efforts.
Best wishes to all for a meaningful Passover and a Happy Spring, Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Reproductive Justice Initiative
We are excited to launch the recently created Temple Shalom Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI). It is a collaboration with the Temple Shalom Tzedek Team and the Sisterhood. Reproductive justice is the right to choose when and if to have a child as well as the right to raise a child in a safe and healthy environment. The RJI has three component parts: advocacy, education and direct service.
In partnership with JALSA (the Jewish Alliance of Law and Social Action), we will be alerting congregants to a variety of opportunities to speak up in support of reproductive justice. See Joy Elbaum’s accompanying piece about a current urgent opportunity.
JRI will have its kickoff educational program on Friday, May 12th, entitled Shining a Light on Reproductive Justice: An Issue for Us All. We are welcoming two dynamic speakers, Clalire Teylouni, Reproductive Equity Now’s Director of Government Affairs and Kristie Monast , Executive Director of HealthQ Sexual & Reproductive Health in Lawrence. They will speak on post-Roe issues both here in Massachusetts and nationally. The program is appropriate for teens as well as adults. It will be preceded by a dinner after Shabbat services. More details will follow about sign-up for the dinner and program on the Temple website and the weekly TS Connect.
The direct service component of the RJI will benefit HealthQ patients. Under the direction of JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council), we will join other Massachusetts synagogues and Jewish organizations -Temple Beth Elohim, Temple Isaiah, Hevrah of the Berkshires, Hadassah among others-to collect, assemble and deliver post-abortion care packages to support and comfort HeathQ’s patients. Temple Shalom will be responsible for 150 care packages for September, October and November. We will share more details at the May 12th program as well as on the Temple website and the TS Connect.
JALSA has launched an Abortion Justice letter-writing campaign, to urge Walgreens to reverse its decision not to carry mifepristone in jurisdictions where abortion is still legal, but where politicians are advancing anti-choice measures. To be clear, Walgreens is refusing to provide access to this medication in advance of any changes to the state laws. Since 54% of abortions in the United States are done through medication rather than surgically, using medications like mifepristone, refusing to carry these medications in certain jurisdictions is a clear violation of abortion rights.
JALSA has provided a letter template addressed to Walgreens that you can personalize and then mail, to make sure the company’s leadership knows the public strongly disagrees with their decision. While it doesn’t take much time to write the letter, it can really make a difference – and the more letters that are sent, the greater the impact we can have.
Here is a link to the sample letter. This link includes some additional sample paragraphs you could use to help personalize the letter. The letter should be mailed to: Rosalind Brewer, CEO Walgreens Corporate Offices 200 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, IL, 60015
Food Insecurity Freedge Upate
Many thanks to Nate Powell who has been co-chairing the Temple Shalom Team that serves the Freedge every other Tuesday. Nate will be stepping down from this role on May 1st , He and Erin Borras are looking for his replacement. The responsibilities are easy to manage.
They Include: Responding to emails from team members- answering logistical question and responding to feedback. Doing what you can to ensure coverage for the shifts. Sending out reminder emails about shifts using templates. Responding to emails from Ephraim (the Volunteer Coordinator) and passing along information he provides to the team. Sending team member feedback to Ephraim. Virtually attending meetings with other captains and organizers of the Freedge (meetings are infrequent). Generally, the time commitment is an hour or less per week. Please contact Nate or Erin if you you are interested in learning more about the position, they would be happy to talk with you. (natepowell7100@outlook.com or eborras@templeshalom.org)
CLIMATE ACTION: Gas is the Past - No Future for Gas Petition Sign Here. Join Mothers Out Front as we combine forces with other climate justice organizations to get 10,000 signatures urging Governor Healey to Declare No Future for Gas! The environmental justice organization Springfield Climate Justice Coalition (SCJC) initiated this petition drive in hopes of stopping a pipeline expansion in their city. If you have 3 minutes: Sign the petition - No Future for Gas Petition If you have 10 minutes: Forward the information below to three others (friends, family, neighbors in MA!)
I’m reaching out because we have a BIG opportunity to make Massachusetts a real climate leader, but we’re going to need the help of everyone who’s concerned about climate change to make it happen. Here’s the deal: Right now, despite international scientists giving us a “final warning” to rapidly transition off fossil fuels, Massachusetts is STILL allowing the utility companies to expand the fossil gas system with new big pipelines and networks. We are in a climate emergency: we should be planning to get OFF fossil fuels, not expanding their use by running new infrastructure through towns like Springfield that are already overburdened by environmental and climate pollution because of environmental injustice. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. Massachusetts has a leader who has called herself a “climate governor.” The Inflation Reduction Act, passed by President Biden, provides millions of dollars in rebates and grants to help people light, heat, and cool their homes and businesses more safely, comfortably, and efficiently. States across the northeast are making huge commitments to harness the best corridor for offshore wind in the world.
Massachusetts has the opportunity to become a true climate leader, but to do so, we need Governor Healey to declare a halt to new system expansion until we have a plan for a just transition to renewable energy. That’s where you come in! Mass Power Forward and the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition are collecting at least 10,000 signatures calling on the governor to make such a stand around Earth Day. If everyday people voice their concern, Governor Healey will become the climate hero our moment demands.
Will you add your name? Sign Here. If we work together, I know we can make Massachusetts the leader we want it to be and build a climate future we can all be proud of.
Spring Cleaning? A recent article in the Boston Globe listed many worthy non-profit organizations that accept new and used donations from baby toys, to toiletries, to home goods to clothing etc. The article mentions organizations that also match individuals and families to volunteer opportunities in the area. It is a terrific resource. Check it out!
“Continue to speak out against all forms of injustice to yourselves and others, and you will set a mighty example for your children and for future generations.” — Bernice King
Dear Friends, Listed below are many opportunities to set a mighty example for future generations and engage ourselves in acts of Social Justice. If you chose to participate, call a friend and invite them to join with you. It will feel good! All the Best, Marion Pollock Tzedek Newsletter Editor
Reproductive Justice We are having a virtual meeting of the Repro Justice Task Force on Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30. It's our first gathering to discuss our plans for advocacy and creating post-abortion packets for clients of the Health Q Center in Lawrence, MA. Please contact Wendy Case at wbcase@aol.com or Susan Goodman at susan.d.goodman@gmail.com to join our effort!
Reproductive Justice, by definition, goes beyond the pro-choice/right to life debate. Its primary principles include 1) the right not to have a child; 2) the right to have a child, and 3) the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. To that end, Temple Shalom member Joy Elbaum has stepped forward to serve as our representative on JALSA's Rapid Response Team. JALSA is following several bills in this MA legislative session that are concerned with issues including free school lunch, access to early education, and affordable housing. Joy will be alerted when action is needed on these bills, such as making calls to state reps or attending hearings.
Please contact Joy at j.elbaum@verizon.net to receive these notifications. We hope that everyone who receives the Tzedek email will sign up and advocate for issues that improve life for all who live in MA.
Gun Violence Prevention Join Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America for an IN PERSON Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 29 from 12:00-3:00 at the Statehouse to advocate for gun violence prevention legislation and for a comprehensive gun sense bill. There will be a robust line up of speakers, including legislators, community partners, and survivors. Participants will then visit their elected representatives to discuss why this issue is so important. RSVP: https://forms.everytown.org/a/ma-ch-advocacy-day
TSARP – Afghan Resettlement Update In February we were delighted to welcome to Shabbat services at Temple Shalom some of our Afghan friends. 6 of the 8 sponsored by the TSARP team were able to attend (the others had work that night). At the post-service “Rabbi’s Tish” we were asked what ongoing support our community can provide to our friends. We mentioned networking help for additional employment opportunities, especially for better-paying entry-level jobs such as bank teller, etc. The one US citizen in the group so far, little Roy Ramish, who was born at Boston Medical Center last June, is growing like a weed and could use outgrown baby/toddler clothes, books, etc. This photo shows Baby Roy’s big sister Hilla, and mom Khurshid.
Of course, our friends would not be where they are today without your incredible support of the TSARP Fund, support that we greatly appreciate. TSARP continues to seek financial support. Our friends’ landlord, Chestnut Hill Realty, has offered them a wonderful opportunity to extend current leases after 8/31, but continued TSARP support will be needed to allow them to take advantage of this offer. You can help by donating at Donate - Temple Shalom and choosing the Afghan Resettlement Project.
Come Join the Temple Shalom Freedge Team The Freedge Team makes deliveries every other Tuesday. Description of shifts throughout the day and sign up sheet can be found here https://www.templeshalom.org/freedge#Volunteer A new local merchant PONDEJOY in Newton Centre is generously donating yummy donuts and have been added to our roster at 8pm, this pick up can be combined with the evening restock of the Freedge if desired. Stop by to say thanks at 212 Sumner Street and treat yourself to a donut!
Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors Cereal Drive Call for Cereal! We are hosting a Porch Drive for the Newton Food Pantry and need help making it a success. On your next grocery run please pick up a few extra boxes of healthy, kid-friendly, brand-name boxes of cereal and starting Thursday, drop on the porch of one of our collection hosts. March 2-7. 365 Cherry Street West Newton 21 Mountfort Road Newton Highlands 1775 Beacon Street Waban. If easier, click and send directly from our Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2WZG2KVPJ54AI...
