2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

members participate. This year we decided that to increase member participation we would promote different projects
throughout the year and thus was born the idea for “Every Day is Mitzvah Day.”
The intent of this project, begun in the fall of 2006, was to document the community service mitzvot our
members perform throughout the year, hoping to reach and surpass our goal of 613 reported mitzvot before May 2007.
Two of our members collaborated to make a beautiful indicator “Tree of Mitzvot” to enable us to publicly track our
progress towards our goal.
We put together a brochure of Mitzvah opportunities including projects our JCCP committee sponsored as well
as other community service projects in Bergen County. We highlighted UJA Federation projects such as Kosher Meals
on Wheels, Bergen Reads (a literacy volunteer program) and Shalom Baby. We publicized our activities in our monthly
Bulletin and via congregational emails, and designed a mitzvah reporting form. We enabled people to report via mail, as
well as via email. A “Volunteer Appreciation” Celebratory Brunch will be held in May, featuring entertainment and
special foods, will provide an opportunity to recognize all those who participated.
HONORABLE MENTION
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL
250-500 Scotch Plains, NJ
Submittted by Laurie Woog 908-889-5523
This application focuses on the signature project of the Beth Israel’s Social Action committee: the “Homeless Project.”
Last summer, we initiated an annual effort to provide temporary shelter at the synagogue to area families, women and
children who had nowhere else to stay.
First, the application describes the evolution of our congregation’s Social Action Committee and our
introduction to the Homeless Project. Next, the application describes the organization and structure of our synagogue’s
Social Action committee.
Next, we highlight the support that Beth Israel’s congregants give to the social action committee. The
synagogue sponsors many different groups whose activities complement those of the committee; also, congregation
members directly support the goals of the Social Action committee by donating funds and goods for various causes;
providing volunteers to lead Shabbat services for nursing home residents; participating in talent shows at an assisted
living facility; and delivering food to a local food pantry. Most notably, congregation members enthusiastically
volunteered their time during the year and over the summer to help with the Homeless Project.
Another component of the application describes how our committee has worked with other community groups
in order to become a host congregation for the Homeless Project; we worked most closely with the Interfaith Hospitality
Network (the “Network”) to help address the needs of the temporarily homeless population of Union County, New
Jersey. This component of the application also addresses how our committee worked with other religious groups and
with area businesses.
The next section of the application addresses the way in which the Social Action Committee’s Homeless
project involved the rest of the congregation. Over 100 people helped with this project in some manner, whether it was
greeting guests, playing with their kids, making food, serving meals, driving to showers or activities, sleeping over, or
donating the cost of a meal. The following section describes the involvement and utilization of the skills of our
synagogue professionals, particularly the rabbi and executive director.
Our synagogue approached the problem of homelessness in our community by adhering to a program
developed by a particular organization, but it was unique because we had to maintain kashrut and other ritual standards.
Our congregation hopes that other congregations can use our methods as a model for hosting in the future.
The last part of the application describes the impact of the Homeless on the synagogue in particular, and the response
from the community in general. Our committee believes that this project had a large and positive effect on our
synagogue, detailed in the application. It also made the community aware of the efforts of our synagogue, and of the
Interfaith Hospitality Network’s ongoing need for support.