We encourage you to become actively involved with social justice and equity at Temple. Please fill out the form below to let us know your areas of interest.
The Jewish people understand inequity. It is our duty and honor to fight for justice.
Our Temple community is committed to protecting our planet, advancing racial equity, protecting reproductive rights, and helping immigrants on their journey to a safe, new home.
How can you integrate tikkun olam into your daily life? We invite you to join us in this sacred and essential work. Please fill out the interest form to learn more.
Climate Action
At Temple, we are putting the concept of shomrei adamah – that we are responsible for the protection and renewal of the earth – into practice. We are the guardians of our land.
In 2020, we held a Climate Covenant to determine where we could take action at our Temple home and in the greater community. From that event, we agreed to ongoing environmental education for all age groups, using electricity instead of fossil fuels wherever we currently can, and divesting our assets in fossil fuels, increasing composting and decreasing food waste, and forming a Temple advocacy group.
Temple’s recently convened Shomrei Adamah group is committed to:
- Making Temple’s events greener
- Being a part of restoring our own forest
- Participating in citywide faith events
- Making a positive impact on the world
In addition to leading conservation efforts and projects at Temple, the Guardians have taken on the long-term restoration of Angle Lake Park in Seatac, near the airport. In January 2022, they led an invasive species removal. Projects will continue throughout the year.
Join us!
Resources
Books
- So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- The Color of Love by Marra B. Gad
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGee
Podcasts
Listen & Learn from Jews of Color
Racial Equity & Justice
But for there to be true repair and lasting reconciliation, there must first be an honest reckoning.
– Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi
To advance racial equity and dismantle systems of oppression, we must be aware of the long history of injustice towards Black, Brown, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous people in our country. And after we become aware, we must act.
We encourage you to read Rabbi Daniel Weiner’s 2017 sermon on race and reparation to ground yourself and consider your part in advancing racial justice and equity.
Please utilize our suggested resources and join us in the essential and holy pursuit of justice.
Immigration Justice & Reform
Jews know all too well the feeling of vulnerability and the need for safety. From Egyptian bondage to the Second Temple’s destruction in 70 C.E.; from the medieval victims of Crusader massacres to those who perished in the Shoah; throughout our history, we have suffered at the hands of rulers and governments.
We are informed by our history and by the 36 commands in the Torah to care for the stranger among us. In our own Greater Seattle community, there are many who came to our country as many of our ancestors did: to live freely and to live out the American Dream. Some fled oppression and dangerous conditions. All came to find safety and to live a better life.
How can we help? Support local and national initiatives with your voice, your dollars, and your time.
Resources
- Celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility: Jewish Resources for Allyship and Action
- Keshet
- My Jewish Learning: Resources for Trans Day of Visibility
- PFLAG National: Creating a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them
- Sharing Your Pronouns
- Svara: Empowering queer and trans people to expand Torah and tradition through the spiritual practice of Talmud study
- The Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation – HUC-JIR
- The Sharon Moms: Lesbian Jewish Moms – Visibility Matters (Instagram Account)
- The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ): LGBTQ+ Jewish Life
- Where LGBTQ+ Families Can Find Support
Donate
Take Action
LGBTQIA+ Justice & Gender Equity
As Jews, we know the pain of marginalization and the yearning to live openly and with dignity. From persecution in ancient lands to centuries of exile and exclusion; from pogroms to the Holocaust, our history has taught us what it means to be targeted for who we are.
We are guided by our values and the Torah’s enduring call to pursue justice and uphold the dignity of every person. Today, we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community—our family, our friends, our neighbors—who seek nothing more than to live safely, authentically, and with equal rights.
Resources
Donate
- The Jewish Fund for Abortion Access
- The Northwest Abortion Access Fund
- The National Network of Abortion Funds
Take Action
Reproductive Rights
In the Jewish tradition, abortion is not only permitted – it is required when a mother’s health is at risk. We believe in human dignity (kavod ha’briyot) and the rights of individuals to make personal decisions about their bodies. A ban on abortion therefore prevents Jewish people from freely practicing our religion, and such bans can have ruinous consequences for the physical and mental well-being of women and other pregnant people – particularly those in marginalized communities.
We believe that abortion should be legal, accessible, and safe. Please join us as we work to protect and expand this vital human right. We encourage you to donate, volunteer, make your voice heard, and learn more from leaders fighting for reproductive rights.
Resources
Tikkun Olam/Social Justice Giving
In addition to the hours and efforts we invest toward repairing our world, providing financial resources is a critical way to support organizations that reflect the values of our Reform tradition.
In light of the recent rightward lurch in the last Israeli election, it is even more vital that our love for and commitment to Israel’s security and survival include support of organizations that reaffirm a commitment to liberal democratic values and the pursuit of peace with the Arab communities within and outside of Israel. Givat Haviva International School and Dror Israel are two organizations that are committed to a vision of the Israel that can and should be.
Effective Altruism is a movement that has gained much traction in recent years, particularly amongst the next generation of philanthropists. The Jewish Effective Giving Initiative is a fusion of this thoughtful way to give within a Jewish context.