Tikkun Olam: Social Action for All Congregants

The Temple revamped its social action program and in doing so, motivated congregants to make commitments and contributions to social action at new unprecedented levels.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple
3663 Wilshire Boulevard
Losa Angeles, California 90010
(213) 388-2401
www.wilshireboulevardtemple.org

Target Groups: Multi-generational Social Action Program, Elementary School,
Bar and Bat Mitzvah Projects 

Wilshire Boulevard Temple revamped its social action program and in doing so, motivated congregants to make commitments and contributions to social action at new unprecedented levels. First, the Temple created a "Guide to Uplifting Life" which included a "Menu of Opportunity" in which congregants had a wide variety of organizations and causes in which to choose to give of themselves.

The congregation also created a "Tikkun Olam Times" which was sent to every household. It allowed the congregation to learn of the different Tikkun Olam/Social Action programs that different congregants were pursuing and allowed for other initiatives to begin. In addition, they "greened" their Irmas campus which reduced trash by 40% and allowed everyone in the congregation to learn about and practice conservation daily.

The clergy also created a "Tikkun Olam Project" for b'nei mitzvah students in which they were required to give of ten hours of volunteer time or to create a "tzedakah collection project" to give as a gift to an institution. This allowed for 150 children each year to give back to the community and to create wonderful projects for themselves and others.

This has allowed for the congregation to learn the lesson "It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it" (Pirke Avot).

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