a progressive Reform Jewish congregation |
2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa California 95404(707) 578-5519 fax: (707) 578-3967 email: [email protected] |
video clip courtesy of vjiam.tv
The Darfur genocide is now in its seventh year and 400,000 innocent people have been murdered. Please help me raise awareness, support and hope by participating in a 3-mile Walk to End Genocide on Sunday, April 18, 2010. The walk coincides with Genocide Awareness month. This event is sponsored by me, Gabe Ferrick, and the Social Action Committee of Congregation Shomrei Torah. The walk route, all on city streets, will begin and end at Congregation Shomrei Torah. As with my other projects, the money raised will benefit Jewish World Watch, a respected non-profit organization that works to combat genocide and aid its victims. The Walk is a family event. All walkers who pre-register will receive a t-shirt. Additional donations beyond the registration fee are appreciated. Participate, even if you can�t join us that day by making a contribution You can make a donation online or send checks MADE OUT TO JWW to Gabe Ferrick at 4762 Devonshire Place, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. If you have questions, feel free to call me at 538-3687.
Located at 1717 Yulupa Avenue in Santa Rosa, distributes approximately 70 free bags of food every Thursday from 3:00PM-5:30PMwhich feed about 210 men, women and children.
We need your help at the Pantry on Thursdays or at the Redwood Empire Food Bank on
Wednesdays
Please drop off
your bags of food, fresh fruits and vegetables at the Pantry
door on Thursdays, anytime before 4:00pm or at the Christ
Church United Methodist office.
Please call Stephen Harper for
more information at 707-527-0196.
Congregation Shomrei Torah and Beth Ami are teaming up to help keep our friends in the community warm this winter. During September, we�ll be collecting gently used warm coats, hats, blankets, sweaters, and sleeping bags to distribute to clients of Elisha�s Pantry from November through early December.
Clean out your closets and drop off any items in the collection bins at either CST or Beth Ami during September. All coat sizes will be accepted but youth sizes, particularly young teens, are especially appreciated. Extra large sizes and rain gear make great donations! Members can help distribute items at the Pantry on Thursday afternoons, 3:00�5:30 PM during November and December. Contact Lisa Greenstein at 539-7633, or Sue Smith
Would you be willing to spend an hour and a half preparing an easy meal? Giffen House
is a transitional home for formerly homeless/abused women and their children, where
they learn skills to become independent and able to move on with their lives. Shomrei
Torah volunteers make life a little easier for them and perform a mitzvah at the same
time by cooking a simple meal once a month that will be ready for the women when
they are done with their Thursday counseling meeting. Food is provided. This is a great
opportunity to participate with your teen children or ask a friend!
Please call Flo Hoffenberg at 539-4013.
Many thanks to Sarah Hart, who prepared a hamburger dinner for the women and
children at Giffen House on October 8th.
For 15 years, Shomrei Torah has been preparing food and serving residents every Wednesday at this multi-service shelter in downtown Santa Rosa for more than 100 families with children.
Shabbat Services are led by Shomrei Torah volunteers twice a month at the Development Center for Jewish and non-Jewish clients with developmental disabilities.
Take a look at some of these new Social Action Committee (SAC) projects and the members who are sponsoring them. At any given time, there are many social action or human rights efforts going on. If you are interested, stop by one of our monthly meetings. The Social Action committee meets the first Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Kolbo Room. Co-Chairs Stephen Harper - 527-0196 and Larry Carlin - 569-8879 .
Warm Clothing Drive - Sue Smith
December Posada Toy Drive - Heidi Doughty
Committee for Immigrant Rights - County of Family Unity Petitions
Signatures Sought from CST Residents of County Supervisor Valerie Brown's District One
Family Support Center - Franny Posner
Jan - LGBT SAC Forum - Susan Daniel
Feb. 18 - Jew-Black Dialogues - Bruce Berkowitz
Black History Month
Muslim-Jewish Relations - Rhonda Findling
Apr. 18 - Walk to End Genocide
Co-Sponsored with Gabe Ferrick
May 1 International Workers Rights March
June LGBT Pride Event
August - Rabbi Michael Robinson Memorial Lecture
Ends
December 12
Wrapped toys can now be placed in the big barrel in the lobby of the synagogue from November 20th through December 13th. Please label each wrapped gift by age and gender: baby, 3-5 years, 6-10 years, and over 10, and boy, girl, or both.
STARS and the SAC are once again teaming together to collect toys for the Latino Community of the West 9th St neighborhood of Santa Rosa! Last year generous CST members collected over 300 toys!!! The toys were given to local children at a Posada held at Lincoln School. They made so many children very, very happy.
The Living Room is the only daytime drop-in program in Sonoma County that specifically serves homeless and at-risk women and their children. It also provides clients with a place to be during the day when shelters are closed. It is a critical first stop for women who are on the verge of becoming homeless. They are asking for our help with a new advocacy program that asks our CST women members to step forward to advocate for women and their children who are using the facilities of the Living Room.
The Living Room requires that volunteers for this program attend a 6 week training program (2 hours per week). After graduation from the training, volunteers are requested to attend meetings with the women they are helping for 2 hours each week for 6 months. Of course, the volunteers can continue to work with their clients for as long as they wish.
For more information, contact Linda Swan at (707) 321-0589.
This summer as campers began arriving, the H1N1 virus was making its rounds at Camp Newman, so the Mirpa�ah (the Infirmary) was soon overflowing with quarantined campers. As the situation became known, many of Shomrei Torah�s members came to help out.
On June 21st, the staff was so overwhelmed with swine flu patients that it was difficult for the nurses to perform their normal camp duties. Shomrei Torah volunteers stayed at camp through June and regularly throughout the summer to help take care of the ill campers.
Camp Newman has expressed their deep appreciation to the caring members of Shomrei Torah for the Tikkun Olam, which has been so graciously offered.
If you are interested in being a part of future cooperation between Camp Newman and Shomrei Torah, please contact Sherry Fink at [email protected] or cell 707-696-9990.