TI Members Plan a Response to the Economic Crisis As the nation marked the start of a new administration in Washington, DC with hope and anticipation, Temple Israel marked the start of its own response to the growing economic crisis. On January 14th and January 22nd, a broad cross-section of Temple members and parents from Beacon Academy came together to share their concerns and make plans about how the Temple can create a sense of caring and connect members to appropriate resources and supports. With Rabbis Friedman, Zecher and Kolin providing a framework of Jewish learning and tradition, each meeting was organized around two elements: the sharing of personal stories and the development of working groups that will be the front line of the Temple’s response. As we shared our stories, we found that we are not alone and the impact of the recession is being keenly felt by many of us. We heard from two members who have lost their jobs, despite impressive careers and professional skills—one who is trying to support a young family, another who is nearing retirement. We heard from a Beacon Academy parent whose priority is having her child attend college and is now worried that she will never have enough money saved up to send him. We heard from another TI member whose elderly mother is facing unanticipated challenges as the value of her home and life savings dwindle daily. In response to these stories—and over 200 more—Temple Israel has formed seven Working Groups. One group is organizing an Outreach & Assessment process and will launch an unprecedented outreach effort called “Neighborhood Connections” in which TI members will call their neighbors to learn how the economic crisis is affecting them and what they may be willing to do to help others. Other working groups include Triage & Access to follow up on the outreach calls and connect members to appropriate individuals and organizations, and a Resources group that is collecting information that will be made available to all members on the Temple website and in the Temple Library. In addition, there is a Jobs group that is organizing a Jobs Bank and job hunting workshops, a Finance group that is exploring loans and other solutions to financial distress, an Emergency Services group that will address needs for food, clothing and shelter, and a Mental Health group that is developing educational programs and a process for making confidential referrals. If you would like to join a Working Group, or would like to talk to one of the people who is co-facilitating a group, please contact Temple Israel members: Ann Bookman (aebookman@gmail.com) and Nonnie Hamovitch (nonnieLH@aol.com) who are coordinating these efforts. Some may ask whether these plans are too ambitious. President Obama has been asked the same question about his plans for the nation, and he responded that we must not forget what this country has already done and “what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” These words speak to us at Temple Israel: may this difficult period in our congregation’s history fill us with a new sense of common purpose; may we forge a response built on both imagination and courage; and may we engage in Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) as we heal and help one another. |