SOCIAL ACTION
Social Action and Advocacy
The KKBE Social Action and Advocacy Committee advocates from a foundation of Jewish values that calls on us to heal the world. We do this through social justice initiatives that provide meaningful and impactful opportunities for KKBE members to contribute toward bettering the wider community.
Social action is “to do”. It is putting into motion, performing, or doing public acts done for the good of others. In the context of Tikkun Olam, it is ethical action performed in the service of others to heal, mend, or repair the world. It involves sharing time, material, and other resources for the common good.
Social advocacy is “to speak out”. It is public support that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of another. It involves engaging authorities, decision makers, and persons with the power to make change in dialogue with the goal to shape the debate, persuade, influence, and/or affect change. Such dialogue involves both speaking out and full-embodied listening.
As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel reminds us, if we pray properly, we will be unable to live indifferently to what is going on around us. Social justice is prayer in action. What will you do for your community? Contact committee chairs Lila Trussler at lftrussler@gmail.com or Ilene Rispler at ilenerispler@gmail.com to get involved today!
KKBE Mitzvah Day
Mitzvah Day occurs once a year in May, and seeks to involve congregants and their families in several opportunities for Tikkun Olam. Previous Mitzvah Day activities have included baking for local firehouses, donating blood, flower arrangements for homebound congregants, silver polishing, cemetery cleanup, donation collections and more.
KKBE Supports
Neighbors Together
Neighbors Together is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit providing food, clothing, medical care, sheltering, job training, financial assistance, clothing, legal assistance, and other vital services to our neighbors in the lowcountry. Learn more at neighborstogethersc.org.
Members of KKBE volunteer at Neighbors Together on the first Wednesday of every month, supplying volunteers to help distribute groceries and food to people in need. Volunteering is from 9:45 am – 1:00 pm. New volunteers are always needed and welcome.
To participate, please contact Lila Trussler at lftrussler@hotmail.com.
Charleston Area Justice Ministry
The Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM) is a growing network of faith-based congregations who are culturally, economically, geographically, and religiously diverse. We come together to make the Charleston area a more just place to live. Learn more at charlestonareajusticeministry.org.
Email KKBE CAJM Chair, LuAnn Rosenzweig, at luannrosen@gmail.com to get involved.
HALOS
HALOS serves grandparents, other relatives, and family friends who are raising children to keep them safe and out of foster care. The mission of HALOS is to equip kinship caregivers for success, provide resources that support safe and thriving children, and advocate for a kin-first South Carolina. Learn more at charlestonhalos.org.
Each December, KKBE participates in the HALOS Gift Drive for children in kinship care with limited income. We also do a summertime Back to School Backpack Drive to collect school supplies. To volunteer with HALOS, contact SAAC member, Deborah Lucash at deborah@lucash.com.
Charleston Jewish Family Services Kosher Food Pantry
Since its creation in the fall of 2011, the Kosher Food Pantry (KFP) has provided a communal response to hunger in the greater Charleston community. The KFP reflects our commitment to the Jewish values of tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repair of the world) and to serving community members in need with kavod (respect). Learn more at charlestonjfs.org/food-assistance.
KKBE supports the Kosher Food Pantry through food drives, grocery store gift card drives, and financial donations. We also work with the Charleston Jewish Federation to distribute food in the Martin Park Neighborhood once a month as part of the Fresh Express Delivery program. This effort helps feed hungry neighbors and bridges communities.
To participate in the food distribution program, please contact Lila Trussler at lftrussler@hotmail.com.
Lowcountry Blessing Box Project
Blessing boxes may be found all over the Lowcountry. They are stocked with non-perishable food items, basic toiletries, baby supplies, and anything else that might be considered a blessing to someone who finds themselves in need. Items are anonymously donated and anonymously received. A simple rule applies – leave what you can, take what you need. To find a Blessing Box or learn how you can help, go to chsblessingbox.wixsite.com/home/who-we-are.
With our 5th and 6th grade Religious School students and their families, we are adopting around 35 local Blessing Boxes and filling them with non-perishable food items and toiletries once a month. Contact Rabbi Joseph Rosen at rabbirosen@kkbe.org to learn more.
Fresh Future Farm
The Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood is just one of 11 food deserts, or zones without access to grocery stores within 1 mile in urban areas and within 10 miles in the rural areas, in North Charleston. There are many more across the country. These areas are created intentionally through systemic injustice. Fresh Future Farm is a local greenspace on a mission to grow the quality of food and life that our neighbors deserve. Learn more at https://www.freshfuturefarm.org/.
We help this urban farm by weeding, mulching, and harvesting food for sale and distribution in the Chicora-Cherokee community of North Charleston. Contact SAAC member Jan Luth at janbluth@gmail.com to learn more about our volunteer efforts.
