Dear Friends,
Happy Chanukah to all! May the light of the menorah shine brightly in your homes. With the coming of the holidays we are reminded of the needs of many of our neighbors and the outstanding non-profit organizations that work so hard to assist our community not only during this time of year but every day. Some ways to help are listed below.
Thanks go out to Jane Hirschhorn who has served as Co-Chiar of Temple Shalom’s Freedge Team for several months. We appreciate her time and effort. Erin Boras, Temple Shalom’s Asisistant to the Clergy, will join David Ryter in leading this effort. We are grateful for these three leaders.
Good health and best wishes to all,
Marion Pollock
Newsletter Editor
Reproductive Freedom
This week, as we kindle the flames of our Hanukkah candles, we are painfully aware of all that is at stake with our reproductive freedom. Starting on December 1, the US Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the state of Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization). This case will determine whether or not Roe v Wade is overturned, and it has the potential to undo decades of progress, taking us back to a time when people are forced to be pregnant with limited options.
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is mobilizing both online and in person to protect access to abortion. To learn more and to take action,
click here. You may have read in the Boston Globe that in November, NARAL Pro-Choice MA was relaunched as a new organization with a broader mission:
Reproductive Equity Now. In addition to protecting abortion rights, REN will continue to mobilize around legislative issues in MA in support of equity in pregnancy care, access to affordable, high quality early childhood education and more. Please follow
this link to take action on these important issues.
Gun Violence PreventionState Level Action Items:FY22 Budget Advocacy. Contact Chairs Rodrigues and Michlewitz today to urge them to support funding the Neighborhood Gun Violence Prevention Program (4590-1504) at the $500,000 level. The programs funded by this line item do vital work to reduce gun violence and keep communities safer. Make your voice heard by emailing them today at
michael.rodrigues@mastate.gov and
aaron.m.michlewitz@mahouse.govCrime Gun Data Analysis bill. Contact your legislator and encourage them to support H.2437/S.1562, an Act Relative to Crime Gun Data Reporting and Analysis, which would require that data that is already being collected on guns recovered in connection with a crime be analyzed so that we can better understand how guns are getting into our communities. This will ensure that Massachusetts remains a leader in evidence-based gun violence prevention strategies. Find your legislator
here.
Food InsecurityJF&CS Family TableFamily Table (the food pantry at Jewish Family & Children's Service) needs people to volunteer on-site and to help deliver food to people who need it. Families with kids of all ages are welcome to volunteer together! Click
here for more information. Also, now that the temple is open again, please remember to bring
whole grain crackers and tuna (low or no sodium when possible) when you come to the building.
Centre Street Food Pantry Needs Bags!The Pantry has recently distributed SO much food that they are running out of brown handled grocery bags. Do you have any at home? They would love to take them off your hands, especially the larger sized brown bags from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Sudbury Farms, Stop & Shop and Roche Brothers. If you could double bag, that would help out immensely. Drop off is at the Pantry, 11 Homer St (entrance on Furber Lane).
Immigration News
Temple Shalom’s Afghan Resettlement Project (TSARP) is in the final stages of arranging housing for our Aghan family, after which the family can be assigned. This work has included not only our Temple, but also our Newton congregational neighbors at Our Lady’s, Sacred Heart, Newton Highlands Congregational Church.
Thanks to the many who have contributed to this project so far, by signing up for one of the committees, contributing funds or both. You can still get involved! Sign up for the Welcoming, Education or Direct Volunteers efforts, which still need volunteers. To contribute to the fundraising effort, select Afghan Resettlement project on the Temple Donation Page. For questions, please contact econnolly@srsmedical.com or tsarp4948@gmail.com
Racial JusticeNewton Neighbors at the December FORJ Newton citywide meeting: Tuesday, December 7th, at 6:30PM. This month's conversation is called The Intersection of Race and Class: How Systemic Racism and Economic Disadvantage Collide Right Here in Our Own Backyards. We will be focusing on the intersection of race and class, and how it manifests in Newton. Our panel of speakers include:
- Aubrey Conquergood, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Boston
- Ranjani Paradise, Co-Founder and Board Member of Newton Neighbors
- Regina Wu, President of the Newton Food Pantry
If you would like to join this meeting,
sign up here and you will receive the zoom information to join. If you have any questions, feel free to email
School_Coordinator@FORJ.org. Ways to Help During the Holidays and AllidaysDignity MattersDignity Matters is a non-profit organization that collects, purchases and supplies feminine hygiene products, bras and underwear to women and girls who are homeless or disadvantaged, in order to help them stay healthy, regain self-confidence, and live with basic dignity. Temple Shalom will be organizing a donation drive in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned. For more information, contact Jenna Levin
adamjennallevin@gmail.com.
Newton Food Pantry Gift ShopThe 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. Please do not wrap the gifts.
Please drop goodies at
20 Fairlee Terrace in Waban. 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.
Newton Police Clothing DriveOne of our Newton Police officers is working with
New England Center and Home for Veterans this holiday season! They are collecting winter clothing items for homeless veterans in Boston and the surrounding communities. Due to COVID-19, they continue to have difficulties collecting donations. Shelters are not able to operate at full capacity, leaving an untold number of our veterans out in the cold. There will be a green collection bin located in the front lobby of our police station. Any and all donations of jackets, hats, mittens, gloves, long underwear and warm socks would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Please note they are looking for new items only at this time.
Helping Neighbors: Supporting the Village Bank/City of Newton Holiday Gift DriveBring holiday cheer to neighbors!
Newton Neighbors is excited to help the
Village Bank collect donations for its annual holiday gift drive.
Please consider donating these most requested gifts:
- Lego kits for ages 6 – 10
- Lego “Friends”
- Building kits for younger builders
- Craft kits for ages 6 – 10
- Anything Paw Patrol
- Stuffed Animals
- Board games / card games for all ages
Donations are being accepted through December 13 at the addresses listed on the flyer below, conveniently located throughout Newton. Donations are also gratefully accepted at all Village Bank locations.
