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Our Mission and Vision
Tikkun Olam literally means "to repair the world". In an attempt to do this, The Tikkun Olam Committee of Kol HaNeshamah works within our synagogue and the larger community to help achieve a socially just and sustainable society in a healthy world.
Criteria for Choosing Tikkun Olam Projects
- Projects should help build community within the congregation. The AIDS Walk is one example of a project that helped build community for its participants.
- Projects should be accessible to all households – families with children of varying ages, single adults with or without children, and older adults. We recognized that some projects might not appeal to all of these different kinds of households, but over the course of a year there projects will be planned to include all groups.
- Projects should incorporate
Shabbat
School when possible to keep children and families involved.
- Projects should tie to Jewish holidays when possible. The annual
West Seattle Food Bank Drive
held during High Holiday is an example of linking projects to Jewish holidays.
- Projects should serve as outreach opportunities to both KHN members and the community in general.
- Decisions about projects should be made by consensus among committee members. When decisions cannot be reached, the Tikkun Olam committee can consult others for help, including the Shammes committee. Furthermore, Tikkun Olam committee members should not be afraid to raise politically charged issues within the committee, and should not be afraid to bring these to the larger congregation. If questions arise about whether an issue should be explored, the Shammes Committee can always be consulted.
- Projects should be bounded. The committee should choose projects that we think we can complete, and not bite off more than we can chew.
- Projects should include both community service projects, and projects that address systemic problems.
If you would like more information about Tikkun Olam or to get involved, contact
Adam Halpern
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