Tikkun Olam - Task Forces & Projects | Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, IL

Reflecting the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (Repair of the World), the JRC community is committed to the healing of the world around us through congregational education, activism, advocacy, and consciousness-raising.

JRC’s committees provide congregants with opportunities for fulfillment and involvement in synagogue life. Fostering connection and community, committee members work with staff to provide programming and services for all members to enjoy.

Our congregation has organized task forces in areas of interest to our members, and we are actively interested in launching new task forces as new concerns arise and members are moved to action. Task Force participants meet to share information and identify opportunities for JRC members to be involved in social, educational, religious, and political issues. Task Force members organize and get involved in activities within the synagogue, in Evanston and the greater Chicago area, around the country, and around the world.

Blood Drive
JRC conducts an annual blood drive in conjunction with Lifesource Blood Services. Volunteers are needed to help publicize the event, assist in set-up, and be available on the day of the drive for a variety of jobs. Contact JRC Blood Drive.

Coat Drive
JRC's annual Coat Drive, held each winter, collects coats for a variety of area social service agencies, such as the ARK and Sarah's Circle. Volunteers are needed to coordinate the event with the office, create flyers and e-mails for the school and congregation, and visit classes to encourage student participation. Volunteers may also be needed to keep the coats organized during collection and to deliver them to receiving agencies. Contact Sara Cohn.

Environmental Concerns
The JRC Environmental Concerns Task Force seeks to educate and be a resource for the JRC community to create a "greener" congregation and a more sustainable environment.

Programs include JRC's annual Tu b'Shvat seder dinners and environmental programs; “Putting the Earth on your Guest List (Tips for a Green Simcha)"; the JRC Sustainability Pledge and work with the Evanston Interreligious Sustainability Circle; newsletter Eco-Tips; and "Lights for Learning" - a CFL light bulb fundraising project. Our focus this year is on developing "green" policies and practices for our new LEED-certified synagogue and creating a docent program to offer education and building tours. Contact Judy Mendel.

Fair Trade & Sustainable Development
This task force strives to promote opportunities to put our Jewish values to work through the everyday purchasing decisions we make. Current projects include support for the Mirembe Kawomera interfaith coffee cooperative and our annual alternative Hanukkah Gift Bazaar. Contact Elaine Waxman.

Global AIDS
JRC's Global AIDS Task Force works on fundraising, public education and advocacy to ease the global AIDS epidemic, particularly in Africa where up to 50 percent of some communities are infected with HIV. The Task Force has organized programs and initiatives to raise funds for the American Jewish World Service, Heifer Project International and the Awassa (Ethiopia) Children's AIDS Education Circus. Eleven JRC members, including Rabbi Brant Rosen, traveled in April, 2005 to rural Uganda to learn first hand about epidemic's impact on communities and individuals. JRC returned to Africa in the summer of 2008 to volunteer with WE-ACTx, a women's HIV clinic in Rwanda, and work alongside our friends in the Mirembe Kawomera coffee cooperative in Uganda. Contact JRC Global AIDS Task Force.

Hands of Peace
JRC provides support to this innovative program that brings Israeli-Jewish, Israeli-Arab, Palestinian, and American teens together each summer for dialogue and friendship. JRC hosts a Shabbat dinner and service for program participants and JRC families host teen participants during their stay in Chicago. Contact Rabbi Rosen or Alan Rubin.

Human Rights
The newly-created Human Rights Task Force is designed to disseminate information and facilitate opportunities for learning and advocacy on a variety of issues, including the Darfur Crisis, refugee resettlement, immigration, and other emerging concerns. Contact Janine Biskind.

Israel
The Israel Task Force meets on an ad-hoc basis to plan programs about current issues and events related to Israel. In the past, JRC has sponsored a number of speakers and films on a variety of Israel-related topics. Contact Rabbi Rosen or Ruth Wenger at JRC's Israel Task Force.

Maot Chitim
Maot Chitim is an all-volunteer organization that packages and delivers more than 5,000 boxes of food to less fortunate Chicago-area Jews twice a year, just before Rosh Hashanah and Passover. JRC members aged 12 and older assemble packages before delivery; all ages are welcome to deliver packages. Contact JRC Maot Chitim.

Peace & Justice Dialogue
JRC's Peace & Justice Dialogue serves as a resource and catalyst to JRC members in addressing matters of peace and justice. We encourage others in the greater Jewish community to add their voices to those who believe strongly that there should be a Jewish voice, grounded in Jewish values, in the peace and justice movement in the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Although we recognize that there is no monolithic set of Jewish values, we believe that traditional sources in Judaism speak to many of the peace, justice and civil liberties issues of our time. Through our meetings and programs, we strive to make a difference in the focus and outcome of the public debate. Contact JRC Peace Dialogue.

REACH (Recognition, Education, Acknowledgement, Comfort, Hope)
Trauma is a part of the human experience. It can cause ruptures in the various systems that constitute and support and individual's identity. As such the effects of trauma for both the individual and the community are widespread. If healing does not occur, then the toxic effects to both individuals and communities continue to resonate from the present to the future. Traditions inherent in Judaism can assist in the healing of trauma. T'shuva, t'filiah and tzedekah are three practices that can help us repair the world and ourselves.

We engage in educating ourselves and our community regarding the impact of trauma on individuals, families, communities, and countries caused by abuses of power as well as from natural disasters; perpetration of such abuses to create a safe haven where congregants, in connection with one another, can count on being valued and protected as we begin to recognize the signs of trauma; to assist the rabbi in preparing tefilah services to respond to community traumas; to coordinate speakers to educate on the myriad aspects of trauma and healing; to facilitate discussion High Holiday discussion groups to further educate on trauma; and to interface with other Tikkun Olam groups. Contact Ellen Rosen Kaplan.

Refugee Resettlement
In 2005, JRC partnered with the Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries (IRIM) in Chicago to help resettle a refugee family from Somalia. On September 9, 2008, the JRC community welcomed a new family of seven from Bhutan, the Khatiwodas, and assisted with their resettlement in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

JRC is furnishing the family’s two-bedroom apartment and paying the first three months’ rent and utilities, allowing the family time to seek employment and obtain cash assistance. JRC members will also work with IRIM staff as the family begins their new life in the U.S., helping with such activities as school enrollment, travel to medical appointments, meetings with social service agencies, learning the public transportation system, and grocery shopping. The JRC community has been very generous in providing furniture and houseware donations; the most urgent need now is monetary donations to help cover the rent, utilities and other resettlement expenses that IRIM will incur. We estimate that the total amount needed will be between $5,000 and $8,000. Checks can be made payable to "IRIM" and dropped off or mailed to the JRC office to the atttention of Diane Melnick. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information and to learn about volunteer opportunities, please contact Janine Biskind.

Reggi Marder Memorial Task Force
The RMMTF was created in memory of beloved JRC member and tikkun olam activist Reggi Marder. Our mission is to increase awareness of clinical depression and suicide prevention through consciousness-raising and also through a special and creative Jewish activism inspired by Reggi. Together, we will educate ourselves and our community to reduce the ignorance and misunderstandings attached to how we think and respond to the reality of clinical depression. Contact Josh Mark.

Refuat Hanefesh (healing of the spirit) is our monthly confidential support group for congregants coping with depression. Contact Kathy Rose or Carol Goldbaum.

Soup Kitchens
JRC members operate three Soup Kitchens each month at which groups of JRC volunteers cook a community meal for approximately 90 people in need. Participants are often asked to contribute one food item for the meal, and to prepare, serve and clean up. Children are welcome when supervised by their parents.