Tikkun Olam (Mitzvah) Committee

Co-Chairpersons: Patrice Grossman and Ilene Zelniker

The Tikkun Olam Committee organizes social action, caring and environmental activities that help other congregants and the community-at-large. The committee is a great way to get involved in the synagogue, whether you participate in an ongoing mitzvah, one activity or many.

Community Service

In 1997, “Mitzvah Day” was established at North Shore Synagogue, where once a year our congregants participated as a caring community in various mitzvah projects throughout Long Island. Quickly realizing that once a year was not enough, the Mitzvah Committee was formed. Later it was renamed the Mitzvah/Caring/Environmental committee to reflect its broad mission. In 2013, the committee was renamed the Tikkun Olam Committee, recognizing its role in helping to “repair the world.”

The Tikkun Olam Committee now provides our congregation with the opportunity to volunteer their services all year round by performing mitzvot for those outside the synagogue community.

Caring

The Tikkun Olam Committee also performs Mitzvahs within our Synagogue and is committed to reaching out to our fellow congregants in times of need.

Members of our Committee visit bereaved families with a Shiva baskets lovingly prepared by both our 7th Grade Religious School students and Tikkun Olam Committee. Members of our Committee also work with our clergy in providing our families with Shiva leaders for minyans in their houses of mourning. There can be no greater kindness than to show support and compassion for those who have suffered a loss and we are committed to helping our families at such time. The Committee is always looking for volunteers to help those in need and we will gladly train you to be a Shiva leader.

Environmental Action

North Shore Synagogue believes that we have an obligation to minimize our impact on the earth. Some of the changes implemented include: printing the High Holiday booklets on 100% recycled paper; printing the Shalom monthly bulletin on 30% recycled paper; purchasing 30% recycled paper for the office, Religious, and Nursery School use; recycling all white paper discarded by the temple offices; consolidating flyers to save paper, ink, and postage; continually collecting techno-trash in the Religious School lobby; using organic products for lawn care and landscaping; and encouraging Nursery and Religious School students to bring snacks in reusable containers to reduce trash as part of our “No Waste” Campaign.

Some of our mitzvah activities include:

* Neighbors Helping Neighbors (collecting gently used clothing, coats, blankets and accessories and non-perishable food items)
* Knitting or crocheting Chemo Caps for adult and children cancer patients
* Walking as a congregation in charity walk-a-thons (Cystic Fybrosis Walk-a-Thon)
* Prom dress collection
* Idle Free Campaign in the Religious School parking lot
* Techno-trash collection in the Religious School lobby
 
Some of our ongoing mitzvah activities include:
 
The “Shiva Mavens”

Our “Shiva Mavens” help mourners in preparing to sit Shiva. They can provide loaner coffee urns, a list of of helpful recommendations of items you may need during the Shiva period. In addition, they will pick up leftover food from the Shiva and deliver it to the needy through programs like Mercy First.

Contact the office for coffee urns or a helpful list of Shiva items. Contact Ellen Fuss at 496-7287 for left over Shiva food pickup.
 
Shiva Baskets
 
The Tikkun Olam Committee delivers baskets lovingly prepared by our 7th Grade Religious School students and the Tikkun Olam Committee.  We need volunteers to help deliver the baskets.  If you can help, please call Margaret Boorstein at 922-7778.
 
Clothing Drive
 
We keep a Goodwill bin at the back of our parking lot.  In addition, as part of our Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, we collect gently used clothing, coats, blankets and accessories in the lobby.
 
Get Well Mugs
 
Give the gift of cheer – order an NSS get well mug for delivery to your friends and family who need a little pick-me-up.  Contact Marcia in the Office at 921-2282 extension 105.
 
Tzedekah Collection
 
Tzedakah boxes are located throughout the synagogue, including near the sanctuary and in the Religious School wing. Each month funds collected are donated to worthy charities.
 

Don’t just sit there reading! Join the Tikkun Olam Committee! Help sponsor a new mitzvah! Volunteer your services to help us “repair the world.”

Come join us as together we build a better world, a world with the blessings that come from performing acts of loving-kindness.

For more information, contact the office, extension 105.