Temple Members Take Call to Action
By Hinda Mandell
The Jewish Advocate
"Take action," became more than just a catchphrase at Newton's Temple Emanuel Sunday as more than 300 people pledged their commitment to eldercare and the environment.
The kickoff event to Hillel's Call to Action represented the culmination of 40 house meetings attended by 400 people about issues of community concern.
"What today represents is two and a half years of work," said Sarah Lamstein, a member of the core group behind the community-organizing initiative. "The effort came about because people who were the social action chairs [Abby Flam and Sam Silverman] had been doing all kinds of surface-y things-a coat drive, soup kitchens-the kinds of feel-good things that doesn't get at the root cause of poverty and poor health."
In partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council and under their guidance, a new community-building venture began to take shape.
"Imagine what it would look like if we used the resources of the synagogue to address the root cause of concern," said Flam, speaking to an attentive crowd of people from across the age spectrum. "This vision is what we call 'taking action.'"
On Sunday, the lay leaders behind Hillel's Call to Action announced its two core issues for the year, including a pilot recycling program led by Temple Emanuel's youth and issues surrounding care for elderly population.
Other area synagogues, such as Temple Isaiah in Lexington and Beth El of Sudbury, as part of the Greater Boston Synagogue Organizing Project, are developing similar community-action programs.
The youth of Emanuel, spearheaded by Newton South High School student Vivian Haime, announced at Sunday's program the students' increasingly active role at the synagogue. Not only will they have a say in the interview process for a new cantor and executive director, they will also represent the brains behind a pioneering initiative to help Temple Emanuel-and hopefully other area religious institutions-recycle appropriate materials. Currently, the city of Newton does not pick up recyclables at area religious institutions.
To do this, the young leaders received the approval from Newton Mayor David Cohen to help negotiate the city's recycling contract prior to its expiration in 2008.
State Senator Cynthia Creem (D-Newton) and State Representative Kay Kahn (D-Newton) also expressed their commitment Sunday to two bills that the Legislature passed in May, equal choice and personal care attendant acts. These bills, which have not yet been implemented, will provide case-specific and better quality care to Massachusetts' seniors.
"The most urgent thing that can be done is to get the new governor," said Creem. She urged those in attendance to let Duval Patrick know that funding these laws is a matter of community importance. "It's a time when the governor is gathering information, and I think your ideas and support will be very valuable."
Nancy K. Kaufman, executive director of the JCRC, said that grassroots organizing in conjunction with political leadership is a winning combination. "JCRC started 10 years ago with synagogues as a gateway for social justice."
Most everyone agreed that the stars of the morning were the synagogue's youth, who addressed the crowd of hundreds with aplomb.
"It felt like we has so much power with the mayor here and other officials," said 14-year-old Tamar Gaffin-Cahn.
Added Rabbi Wes Gardenswartz: "The kids are our inspiration. What you had here were many generations helping our world together."
