TAE Social Action
Making a Difference Together
January 2022
Highlights of this Month's Email - (Scroll for Details)

Book Drive
Until January 28
------------------------------------------
Tu B'Shevat Tree Planting and Picnic
at Many Mansions
January 17
------------------------------------------
Presentation by Ventura County District Attorney
Erik Naserenko
Wednesday, January 19
--------------------------------------
Help Prepare a Hot Meal for Those in Need -
Distributed by Harbor House
Sunday, January 30
-----------------------------------------
Knitting and Crocheting for Charity
January 23
----------------------------------------
Bowls of Hope Painting Party
February 6
--------------------------------
Make lunches for those in need-
Distributed by Harbor House
Every Monday
---------------------------------------
Upcoming Toiletries drive -
February 1-25
-------------------------------------------
Advocate for Voter Rights
----------------------------------------------------
Gift of Life - Blood Stem Cell Donor Needed
-------------------------------------------------
Conejo Valley Refugee Welcoming Team
Help Afghan Refugees
-------------------------------------
Racial Justice Task Forces
------------------------------------------
Social Action Meeting
January 3 and February 7
------------------------------------
TAE Social Action T-Shirts for Sale
------------------
TAE Caring Community

We hope that everyone is well during these challenging times. We are just beginning to plan projects in person.There are many opportunities available to help others. Watch the weekly TAE-News and visit www.AdatElohim.org/socialaction to learn about TAE social action opportunities. The information changes regularly, so please check back often!

Marcia & Harold Gordon - Social Action Co-Chairs
socialaction@adatelohim.com
BOOK DRIVE
TU B'SHEVAT TREE PLANTING
PRESENTATION BY VENTURA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ERIK NAESERNKO
BOWLS OF HOPE PAINTING PARTY
If the weather is nice - we will be outside in the Courtyard.
HELP TO PROVIDE MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED - DISTRIBUTED BY HARBOR HOUSE
MAKE A PORTION OF THE HOT MEAL FOR JANUARY 30

We need your help to provide meals to those in need in our community
Sunday, January 30
Temple Adat Elohim members are providing a hot to-go dinner on the last Sunday of every month.

Volunteers are needed to:

  • Prepare a part of the meal at home and drop it off at TAE at 3:15 pm on Sunday, January 30.
  • Create "to-go" boxes at temple at 3:15 pm from the prepared dishes.
  • Deliver the finished "to-go" meals to Harbor House for immediate distribution.
MAKE LUNCHES

Temple Adat Elohim members are providing to-go bagged lunches and cases of water every Monday.

Preparing these lunches is a great activity for family and friends to do together at home.
The Heller and Morris families decorating the bags and making the lunches.
The Miller family shopping for the food and making lunches.
Harbor House also has a sign up list to bring lunches other days of the week.
To sign up for Tuesday - Sunday visit the Harbor House sign up page directly.
KNITTING AND CROCHETING FOR CHARITY


Upcoming date:

Sunday, January 23
11:30 a.m.
In person at TAE


We will be meeting in the Social Hall from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. RSVP is required so we can contact you if the location changes.
.
Vaccination or a negative test as well as masks are required to attend.

Join us as we make scarfs, hats and small blankets that will be gifted to local charities for distribution.

You don't need to know how to knit or crochet. Bring your yarn and needles and someone will help get you started!

We will be collecting items for the following organizations:
  1. Knitted knockers - Knitted Knockers are special handmade breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures to the breast. Click here to learn more and get the pattern. These will be collected at Mitzvah Day on 5/1.
  2. My Stuff Bags - Blankets for children who have been removed from their homes. Finished blankets should be no larger than 50×70 inches. These will be collected at Mitzvah Day on 5/1.
  3. The 2022 Community Holiday Dinner - adult hats, scarfs and blankets.(Will be collected in December 2022)
INCLUSION SHABBAT

Inclusion Shabbat
February 4
7 p.m.
We are very fortunate to be welcoming a speaker from RespectAbility. RespectAbility is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and that advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. Their mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community. More details about the speaker will be including in upcoming TAEnews.
VOTING RIGHTS


TAE members work to support Voting Rights
The TAE Voter Rights Task Force invites you to join the Religious Action Center (RAC) in calling on Senators and the White House to urge them to reform the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act immediately. Together, these bills would restore protections against racially discriminatory laws and facilitate voting opportunities for all Americans.
We are most effective when our communities and congregations show up together. Just as we heed the call of the shofar, we will continue heeding the call of our Reform Jewish values to work toward expanding voting rights for all. Join the RAC and make calls today! 



Help decide what issues RAC- CA will take on in 2022
Are you interested in participating in the research for the RAC-CA's next campaign?
RAC-CA’s 2022 Research Team will research campaigns for 2022 and possibly beyond. The primary time commitment will be from late-January through March (a bit later than previous years). Research Team members bring passion, curiosity, openness and sometimes expertise in campaigns, research or a particular issue area. If you join the team, you will gain experience, build rewarding relationships, and contribute to our statewide impact toward a more just California for all. The time commitment for team members is to participate in at least 6 meetings with potential campaign partners and brief weekly team check-ins over the period from late-January through March. Meetings will be scheduled based on the availability of the team. Please email Rabbi Julie Saxe-Teller with your interest or questions at jsaxe-taller@rac.org.
2022 HOMELESS COUNT
2022 Homeless Count
Volunteers Needed
Wednesday, January 26
Many Mansions will continue to be the lead for Thousand Oaks in Ventura County’s Homeless Count. This day gives us a rough estimate of how many homeless individuals we have in our city. On January 26th, 2022, volunteers will work with Many Mansions' President. Rick Schroeder, to count the homeless in our area. There will be orientation opportunities for volunteers to attend, dates TBD.
Thousand Oaks needs 60+ volunteers. Volunteer shifts are available all day, leaving room for all to help. Please contact Jessica Lawson at Many Mansions for more information. jessica@manymansions.org
SUPPORT THOSE WHO DONATED TO THE COMMUNITY HOLIDAY DINNER
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT MANY MANSIONS and
ADELANTE COMUNIDAD CONEJO
Volunteer opportunity at the Hospice of the Conejo
Community Volunteer Training Program
This unique 8-week educational program prepares volunteers to deal compassionately and sensitively with end-of-life issues by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to be of service to individuals facing life limiting illness.

Volunteers are there to hold a hand, listen, read, or help write a letter. They may run errands, walk a dog, or provide respite
when a family member needs a break. Training begins
February 1, 2022 and is held Tuesday afternoons, 1:00-4:00pm and runs for eight weeks.
WHAT IF YOU COULD SAVE A LIFE?
BLOOD STEM CELL DONOR NEEDED
TAE congregants, Bunny and Preston Beckman, are asking for your help in locating a blood stem cell donor for their friend Bonnie who is battling cancer for the fourth time. She needs a transplant to live, but is unable to find a donor on the international registry. Please help Bonnie so she can continue to spend time with her loving husband and two children.
 
Important things to know:
  • Entering the registry only requires a swab of the inside of your cheek.
  • If someone is matched with a potential patient, the donation process usually does not require surgery and is similar to giving blood.
  • Nearly all donors wind up being 36 or under because their stem-cells are the healthiest.
 
How you can help: Join the registry! It’s simple, easy, and free.

Questions? Please email matchforbonnie@gmail.com.
CONEJO VALLEY REFUGEE WELCOMING TEAM



Provide assistance for newly arrived refugees
As of September 30th there were 54,000 Afghan refugees being housed on 9 military bases throughout the United States. Many of them are still on the bases. They are going through the vetting process and medical checks required before they can be resettled into communities throughout the country.

TAE is a member of the Conejo Valley Refugee Welcome Team. This team is preparing to help families should they arrive in our area. We are also working with local families who are still trying to help get their family members out of Kabul.

The refugees on the military bases have needs for some basic items while they are waiting. Many of them arrived in the US without anything. You can help them by purchasing items on specially created Amazon wish lists or by making donations to refugee resettlement agencies or the Conejo Valley Refugee Welcome Team.
There is also a local organization called Miry's List that is looking for volunteers to help refugees virtually.
There is an opportunity to donate your airline miles to new arrivals to help them get from the military bases to their new homes.
If you are interested in finding out more about helping (this is not a commitment), please contact socialaction@adatelohim.com.
RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCES


Racial Justice Task Forces are open to all TAE members and ECC families
We have 4 racial justice task forces that are researching issues, creating and implementing action plans. The task forces meet regularly and are on going. New members are welcome to join at any time.
Criminal Justice Reform
Harold Gordon, Chair

Voter Rights
Susan VanVleet &
Diane Lipson, Co-Chairs

Education Reform
Arianne Walker & Susan Drapkin, Co-Chairs

Inclusion at TAE
Our TAE Inclusion task force is working to ensure that all feel welcome in our community.
Cyndi Levinson and Marcia Gordon, Co-Chairs
UNITED WAY VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM TO END HOMELESSNESS

Friday, February 4
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Author of “Nomadland: Surviving America In The Twenty-First Century”
Join United Way of Ventura County for this important and necessary discussion on homelessness as part of our initiative to unite to end homelessness in Ventura County. Award-winning author and journalist, Jessica Bruder, will graciously join us and kick off this symposium as the keynote speaker.

Henry Dubroff, editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times, will moderate a local panel of experts to continue the conversation.

Panelists include:
Julia Brownley, U.S. Representative (CA-26)
Mike Powers, CEO, County of Ventura
Murtaza Sanwari, Senior Vice President & Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente
Matt Capritto, Realtor and Housing Champion
Amy Duganne, Director, Homelessness Initiatives, United Way of Ventura County
Jacqui Irwin, California State Assemblymember (ASM-44) will lead a community conversation to close the symposium.
FUTURE COLLECTION DRIVES
Toiletry Drive
February 1 - 25

We will be collecting shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, baby wipes, dental floss, body lotion and Chapstick
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING

The next Social Action Committee meetings
will be
Monday, January 3
and
Monday, February 7
at 7 p.m. via Zoom
All members are invited to join us to learn more about TAE Social Action, bring new ideas, help plan upcoming events and get involved.
TEMPLE ADAT ELOHIM T-SHIRTS





Temple Adat Elohim - Making a Difference Together T-shirts are now available for purchase!
Get your t-shirt now so you can wear it with pride every time you volunteer. We hope everyone will have a shirt so that we can show our TAE spirit when we can once again volunteer in the community. Shirts are $23 and can be ordered here.
Can You Help?
Caring Community of TAE needs your help!

Our Caring Community is dedicated to reaching out to those in our TAE community who are in need. 

Do you have some time to make a few phone calls to people who are in need to let them know that their TAE family is thinking of them? Do you have time to visit remotely with people who are in need of some contact while they are ill? If you can help, please contact Cantor David at dshukiar@adatelohim.com (805) 497-7101. Please also contact Cantor David if you know someone in need.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING?
COMMUNITY HOLIDAY DINNER

The 27th annual Community Holiday Dinner was a success!
The 27th Annual Community Holiday Dinner was a great success! We served 345 hot turkey meals, gave out gifts, extra desserts, breads and homemade knit/crocheted items. We are so grateful to our planning committee led by co chairs Robin and Randy Fox, our wonderful volunteers and our community partners for all their donations.
More photos will be posted on the Temple Adat Elohim website.
COAT DRIVE

Thank you to everyone who donated coats to Casa Pacifica and Safe Passages Youth!

KNITTING/CROCHETING DONATIONS FOR THE HOLIDAY DINNER


Thank you to everyone who made the 316 hats, scarfs and blankets that we distributed to the guests at the Community Holiday Dinner. Our guests were so grateful for the gifts.
This monthly Social Action e-newsletter is sent from the Social Action committee at the beginning of each month. It includes upcoming social action opportunities that are available to the TAE community. We invite all TAE members to find your place in TAE Social Action. We hope that you will find a project (or many!) that touches your heart. There is something for everyone. 

If you have charities or projects that you support, please share them with us at socialaction@adatelohim.com. We might be able to involve others in a project that is important to you! 
Temple Adat Elohim| | SocialAction@AdatElohim.com | www.AdatElohim.org