TOPAZ: Tikkun Olam Projects (A-Z)
TOPAZ Mission Statement
TOPAZ (Tikkun Olam Projects from A to Z) creates the focal point for our socially conscious congregation. TOPAZ aims to have an impact on both our congregation and on the greater community by striving to make a difference in our three facets through actions and education.
TOPAZ Facets (Values)
1. Supporting Healthy Households: This facet includes programs that address issues of food security, clothing needs, school needs, and health.
2. Protecting Our Environment: This facet includes programs that address environmental sustainability.
3. Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: This facet includes programs and activities impacting equality, inclusion, voting rights and outreach.
TOPAZ Charter
● TOPAZ recognizes that the three facets are not isolated issues, but impact and influence one another. Topaz’s social action projects will be informed by a social justice lens, reflective of our Jewish values and teachings.
● TOPAZ will work to strengthen these facets through active involvement of all member units at Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Congregation, whether a member chooses to work on one or many aspects of this initiative.
● TOPAZ is committed to collaborating with our internal and external partners to address underlying needs within our local and global community.
● TOPAZ will evolve and adapt, striving to meet the needs that are central to Tikkun Olam, while creating an open and welcoming environment for all.
TOPAZ (Tikkun Olam Projects from A to Z) Facets
This grass roots committee relies on initiatives from our HSOSC members and is welcoming of other ideas and projects with the support of our congregants
Supporting Healthy Households:
This facet includes programs that address issues of food security, clothing needs, school needs, and health
- Food Drives – High Holy day and Purim to Passover Food Drive
- High Holy Day to go to Kennedy Krieger Institute (Baltimore City)
- Purim to Passover Food Drive to go to Community Crisis Center (Baltimore County)
- Youth Oriented Drives
- St. Vincent Summer Camp Drive – summer camp needs for children served by this camp
- School Supply Drive for Windsor Hill Elementary
- Weekend Backpacks at HSOSC
- currently at $3k a month; however, as the need increases, our financial commitment will also need to increase
- Grace Hospital Clothing Drive
- Summer Clothing Drive
- Winter Clothing drive
- Bunches of Lunches
- “First Mondays” with Religious School committing to packing 150 bagged lunches the Sunday before these collection
- Need 3-6 volunteers for each Monday, with back up support of volunteers from Jewish Volunteer Connection
- Community Food Distribution with Life Builders Church
- Monthly from June to November (last Sunday of the month, except for November – 3rd Sunday)
- Moving from boxed food to a Farmers Market concept, asking people to fill a bag for $5
- HSOSC volunteers are needed to staff this event
- Ronald McDonald House
- Every other month program to host a meal at Ronald McDonald House, following Covid guidelines
- Funding is currently available through the Schlenger/Pyser family but we need to continue to support fundraising for ongoing meals.
Protecting Our Environment:
This facet includes programs addressing environmental sustainability
- Community Garden with Ohr Chadash
- Beginning planning stages – likely 5 year project
- Adopt A Highway on Brooks Robinson Drive
- Dates between April and October
- Sign needs to be changed once temple name is finalized.
- Push to have other committees “adopt” a day to help
- Recycling and E-cyling
- Bins for recycling at events
- E-cycling of computers etc. as a potential fundraiser
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This facet includes programs and activities impacting equality, inclusion, voting rights and outreach.
- Voter’s Rights for All
- We are beginning to partner with other Reform Congregations to support this movement in Maryland through lobbying efforts with Reform Action Coalition (RAC)
- Consider outreach to Women’s Club and Brotherhood as partners
- May consider a postcard writing day for other states if appropriate
- Dignity Plus Project with Women’s Club
- Women’s Seder: Dignity Plus is starting with the Associated in Baltimore so hoping for this to be the Women’s Seder Tikkun Olam education and collection
- Follow up of showing the documentary, having a packing party etc.
- Keeping products available in all appropriate restrooms
- CASTE - Book Discussion and Education along with Bagels and Books
- Need an initial date with breakout groups and further meetings.
- Needs to be in person for this type of community building to be successful
- Signage around Building to be discussed
- Gender Neutral Bathrooms (Lounge bathroom) -completed
- Women’s/Men’s bathrooms to indicate if handicapped accessible; have changing tables etc.
- Signage that supports our LGBTQ plus community; our interfaith families, etc.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY PARTNERS
- Information will be added to a Connecting Community Partners section in our outreach and webpage under TOPAZ to provide HSOSC members with external opportunities for community engagement.
- Projects to be linked to this page will be considered from the entire HSOSC community.
- Along with specific projects, a link to the Jewish Volunteer Connection website will be included.
Get Involved!
Contact Sheryl Jacobs (sherylrjacobs@gmail.com) or Mina Wender (Mwender@mcdonogh.org)
