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 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 activities will:
Have funding for support for up to $5,000
Be integrated into Sinai’s programming, including youth and adult education
Receive promotional and operational support across departments
Will 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 plans, 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 ensure broad congregational engagement.
Steps 5 and 6: Leadership Approval Selected initiatives will be reviewed first by the Executive Committee and then by the Board of Trustees for final approval as 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.
To apply, click here. Submissions received by February 14 will be considered in the first round of reviews.
