Rabbi Brad Levenberg
Thanks to the remarkable efforts of Chuck Fox, Carrie Bohn, and our Tzedek Task Force, Temple Sinai is launching a new process for adopting congregational tzedek initiatives. This process emerged from responses to a survey distributed in 2022 as well as the Culture of Belonging listening forums, interviews, and smallgroup gatherings. Among the highlights of the new initiative, which was passed by the Board of Trustees in November, is that Sinai will now distinguish between social action programs and tzedek initiatives.
So what, really, is the difference between the two?
In the Jewish world, social action and justice initiatives are two important ways people work to make the world a better place, but they’re not quite the same thing. Think of them as two sides of the same coin—both are about helping others, but they go about it in different ways.
Social Action is all about rolling up your sleeves and getting to work. It’s the hands-on stuff: volunteering with the Sinai Shelter, participating in Second Helpings or other food drives for families facing hunger, etc. It’s about doing what you can right now to help people who are struggling. It’s important work that is focused on helping people where they are—dealing with immediate needs and making people’s lives a little easier today.
Tzedek initiatives are about taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture. They are about using the Jewish value of justice—tzedek—to address the systemic root causes of the projects that our social action efforts help to tackle. It’s the work of advocating for laws that fight against antisemitism, racism, and other forms of discrimination, and pushing for policies that promote fairness and equality.
To put it simply: Temple Sinai’s social action programming is about helping people today, and our tzedek initiatives are about changing the world so fewer people need help tomorrow. In Jewish tradition, both are equally important, and together they help us live out our mission to make the world a more just and compassionate place.
New Temple Sinai Justice Initiative
We are thrilled to announce a new method for selecting congregational initiatives that Temple Sinai adopts related to repairing the world. Informed by your voices and opinions shared through the Culture of Belonging and the 2022 Social Action/Social Justice survey, the process for how our congregation adopts positions and engages in activities that address the root cause(s) of inequality, such as advocating for policy change, will now be transparent, will include a lay group offering oversight, and will include a learning component involving the community. Guided by the values of building community, embracing diverse perspectives, and fostering meaningful change, this effort aims to support impactful initiatives that resonate with our congregation’s mission and values.
The new process relies upon member involvement. Any Sinai member can propose a Temple Sinai Justice Initiative by filling out and submitting an application that will include the scope of the proposal, the Jewish values aligned with the initiative, and ideas for implementation.
Why Get Involved?
Being designated a Temple Sinai Justice Initiative means that the proposal will
- have up to $5,000 in funding
- be integrated into Sinai’s programming, including youth and adult education
- receive promotional and operational support across departments
- be aligned with clergy members and will receive public recognition
How Does It Work?
Step 1: Submit a Proposal
Any member of the congregation can develop a proposal, which the Tzedek Committee will evaluate. The committee will provide a mentor to assist in this process.
Step 2: Proposal Presentations
Those who have submitted a proposal will be invited to make a presentation to the Tzedek Committee detailing action plan(s), goals, and resource needs.
Step 3: Evaluation
The Tzedek Committee will review, score, and research proposals at their next quarterly meeting to assess their alignment with Temple Sinai’s values and available resources.
Step 4: Selection and Community Input
Finalists will present their proposals at educational sessions open to the congregation (e.g., town halls or panel discussions) to gather feedback and assure broad congregational engagement.
Steps 5 & 6: Leadership Approval
Selected initiatives will be reviewed first by the Executive Committee and then by the Board of Trustees for final approval as an official Temple Sinai Justice Initiative.
Step 7: Implementation
Following the approval process, initiatives will launch with comprehensive support, including communications strategies, volunteer recruitment plans, and event calendars.
Step 8: Annual Review
At the end of the year, the Tzedek Committee will assess each initiative’s impact and decide whether to extend support, sunset our involvement, or transition the initiative into other Temple Sinai activities.
