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Social Action & Social Justice

Social Action & Social Justice Initiatives

Over our five-decade history, Temple Beth El has been proud to help those less fortunate in our community, and to band together to fight injustice in our country and the world. 

Through initiatives such as supporting Reproductive Freedom, Racial Equity, and LGBTQ+ Pride, as well as regular food drives and tzedakah donations to local community organizations, we strive to help repair the world.

Reproductive Freedom

State laws that prohibit the right to terminate a pregnancy with no regard to the health and safety of the mother violate Jewish law. A Jewish person who is denied the right to an abortion to preserve her health is kept from what Florida’s constitution guarantees as the free exercise of her religious conscience.” – Rabbi Dan Levin

Temple Beth El is dedicated to taking the steps necessary to restore reproductive rights in Florida.

An effort to restore reproductive rights has been announced through putting forth a ballot initiative in 2024. Nearly 1,000,000 signatures will need to be collected to make this happen.

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree of Temple Beth El provides children, young adults and seniors living in low-income situations, with clothing, essential personal items, school supplies, school uniforms and holiday gifts to help eliminate some of the many insecurities faced by this population on a daily basis. 

LGBTQ+ Pride
Beth El Pride logo on cloud background

Temple Beth El is a welcoming and inclusive community not just during Pride Month, but 365 days a year. We have a vibrant congregation and we welcome and celebrate the diversity within our community.

Every June, we celebrate Pride Month, with several Jewish education programs, themed Shabbat services, and attendance at Pride parades and festivals.

We also have a LGBTQ+ Beth El Circle that meets year-round for members to connect with one another, both virtually and in person.

Racial Equity Initiative

Inspired by Jewish tradition and our people’s belief that every human being is a divine creation, motivated by our obligation to see and seek the divinity in every human being, Temple Beth El of Boca Raton‘s racial equity initiative seeks to inspire members to achieve racial equity in their own lives and the lives of all they encounter.

Members of this initiative can attend an annual Civil Rights Journey to Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham. The trip includes visits to museums and historic sites and the opportunity to hear first-hand from participants in the Civil Rights movement. As Jews we ask ourselves what our responsibility is to combat oppression and reconcile historical injustices, and this Journey is an opportunity to more deeply understand this critical period in our nation’s history.

Social Services

Through our relationship with Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, we connect members of our community with important support services. If you need support or would like information, please email us or call 561-391-8900.

Get Involved

Temple Beth El Members can contact Rabbi Greg Weisman for more information on Social Action & Social Justice at Temple Beth El.

Food Insecurity

Jacobson Food Pantry: An on-going collection of unopened non-perishable food to donate to the Jacobson Food Pantry at Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services.

Gleaning: Collecting excess produce from the fields to donate to local food pantries.

Pearl City Easter Dinner: Temple Beth El has partnered with The Wayne Barton Study Center for many years to host an annual Easter Dinner. 

housing

Habitat for Humanity: Build a home for less fortunate in our community.

Family Promise: We volunteer with this national interfaith organization to provide shelter, food, hospitality and support services to families that are temporarily homeless so that they can achieve a firm foundation for lasting independence.

Fundraising and
Community Support

Beth El Team Walks support various organizations including The American Heart Association Walk, The Light the Night Walk for Leukemia & Lymphoma, The Walk for Life for The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, The Florida Brain Cancer 5K for Brain Cancer Research, Great Strides Walk for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and more.

Crisis Response: We provide emergency assistance to victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters.

Tzedakah Collection: Every Friday night after Shabbat evening services, we collect Tzedakah for organizations or causes that need our help. Anyone can also donate directly to support our Temple community.

Social Services

Addiction Support: Whether you or someone you know is working through alcoholism, drug or any other addiction, we are here to offer support.  Our resources include clergy, therapists, recovering addicts and others who have experience with the recovery process. If you need support or would like information, please email us or call 561-391-8900.

Social Services: Through our relationship with Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, we connect members of our community with important support services. If you need support or would like information, please email us or call 561-391-8900.

 

Visiting the Sick (Bikkur Cholim)

Congregants volunteer for the mitzvah of visiting the sick and caring for the elderly.  

Upcoming Social Action & Social Justice Events

Event Series Palm Beach Pride Festival

Palm Beach Pride Festival

Bryant Park 30 S Golfview Road, Lake Worth Beach, FL, United States

Palm Beach Pride is a two-day festival that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, equality and respect in a family friendly environment. The festival is located in Bryant Park in Downtown Lake […]

Event Series Palm Beach Pride Festival

Palm Beach Pride Festival

Bryant Park 30 S Golfview Road, Lake Worth Beach, FL, United States

Palm Beach Pride is a two-day festival that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, equality and respect in a family friendly environment. The festival is located in Bryant Park in Downtown Lake […]

Gleaning

Gleaning is helping to collect unharvested crops to be donated to help our community’s hungry and poor. Join the Temple Beth El for this hands-on opportunity to support those in […]

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree of Temple Beth El provides children, young adults and seniors living in low-income situations, with clothing, essential personal items, school supplies, school uniforms and holiday gifts to help eliminate some of the many insecurities faced by this population on a daily basis. 

Racial Equity Initiative

Civil Rights Journey 2020 with Temple Beth El of Boca Raton

Inspired by Jewish tradition and our people’s belief that every human being is a divine creation, motivated by our obligation to see and seek the divinity in every human being, Temple Beth El of Boca Raton‘s racial equity initiative seeks to inspire members to achieve racial equity in their own lives and the lives of all they encounter

Congregation members who join this effort will:

  • Participate in educational programs to recognize systemic racism in our society.
  • Organize educational opportunities for the temple community to understand how racial equity affects our lives.
  • Inspire the next generation through educational opportunities for our Early Learning Center and Religious School families.
  • Develop skills to engage in community efforts to improve racial equity.
  • Pursue partnerships in local, statewide, or national organizations working toward racial equity.
  • Join with faith-based institutions to expand our power and depth of resource in our community.
  • Internalize the concept of racial equality and act on it daily, becoming a catalyst to have others act in the same fashion.
  • Ultimately, activate our power, our resources, our wisdom, and our relationships to overcome systemic racism and the imbalances it creates.
LGBTQ+

Temple Beth El is a welcoming and inclusive community not just during Pride Month, but 365 days a year. We have a vibrant LGBTQ+ congregation and we welcome and celebrate the diversity within our community.