LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
HISTORY of LOVE THY NEIGHBOR INITIATIVE:
In the wake of the 2011 tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, a dialogue began at Temple Emanuel. Incivility, lack of respect for divergent opinions, political polarization, anger, and frustration were infecting our world from our nation’s capital to our own community. Our congregation’s response was to create the Love Thy Neighbor Initiative: an annual series of programs that sought to move our region toward the kind of community our children deserve.
During its first years, Love Thy Neighbor programming included Love Thy Neighbor Interfaith Sabbath Celebration incorporating prayers, reflections, and meditations from a wide range of religious sources as well as music…all of which joined together in stirring the soul, stimulating the minds and opening the hearts to welcome the blessings of community and the divine.
THE RABBI SAMUEL J. ROSINGER HUMANITARIAN AWARD:
During the Fall of 2013, it was decided to honor the legacy of Rabbi Samuel J. Rosinger who served as Rabbi of Temple Emanuel and of Southeast Texas for 50 years; and, at the same time, Temple Emanuel would honor the men and women of Southeast Texas who were exemplary of ‘Love Thy Neighbor’ in their daily lives by serving the greater Beaumont community through righteous deeds, acts of kindness, and service to the community. The award was named The Rabbi Samuel J. Rosinger Humanitarian Award and was presented at the Humanitarian Dinner with each of the following honored as of this date:
2014 James B. Broussard and Charles “Charlie” H. Weinbaum, Jr.
2015 Dr. James “Jimmy” Simmons
2016 Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD, DD
2017 Joe Domino and Jerry Nathan
2018 Becky and Chuck Mason
2019 Rebecca Gale and The Gale Foundation
Paula O’Neal and Some Other Place
2020 Cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2021 Cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2022 Allison Nathan Getz and Rev. Dr. James Fuller
2023 Natalie Greenberg (z”l) and Dr. Mark Kubala
Photography by Karen Bourdier, Marilyn Manson-Hayes, and Tim Sudela
BECKY & EDWIN GALE LOVE THY NEIGHBOR FUND
In 2020 what we had called Love Thy Neighbor Tikkun Olam was renamed Becky & Edwin Gale Love Thy Neighbor Fund. It was renamed to honor Jewish philanthropists who had been members of Temple Emanuel for many, many years.
Some of the proceeds of the Rabbi Samuel J. Rosinger Humanitarian Award Dinner and/or other donations made by Members of Temple Emanuel and/or Friends of Temple Emanuel make possible our tikkun olam outreach into the community.
TEMPLE EMANUEL SOCIAL JUSTICE
and
SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND
and
MAKING A TIKKUN OLAM DIFFERENCE
Women & Children’s Shelter
of Family Services of Southeast Texas:
Over the years, Temple Emanuel Social Justice Committee (TESJ) has coordinated the collection of diapers and towels and blankets for the clients of the Women & Children’s Shelter. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are coordinating the collection of monetary donations, so that packages of underwear can be purchased by Family Services for the clients of The Shelter…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
The Orchard:
The Orchard, a project of TESJ, is across the street from the Main Entrance to Temple Emanuel. Tzedakah is collected to maintain The Orchard, so that anyone who is hungry can pick fresh fruit or nuts as needed. Additional trees are planted annually to coordinate with Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish Festival of Trees; but some cannot be planted until after the frost. The Orchard is barrier free…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Kosher for Passover Food for Deployed Jewish Soldiers:
Another tradition of TESJ for many years was to coordinate the collection of Kosher for Passover (KP) Food for Jewish soldiers serving far from home. We now collect monetary donations. The donation is sent to the Jewish lay leader overseas who then purchases the KP food…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
You are a Blessing Bags:
It is the custom of TESJ to coordinate the collection of food and/or water and/or monetary donations for items that will be put in You are a Blessing Bags for the Homeless in the Downtown area as well as to Homeless Veterans serviced by the local VA. The bags are filled by men, women, and children of Temple Emanuel and Friends of Temple Emanuel on a Friday night prior to Shabbat Services, usually Social Justice Shabbat, and then distributed…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Social Justice Shabbat:
Members of TESJ traditionally participate in Social Justice Shabbat either as service participants, greeters, or hosts/hostesses for the O’neg Shabbat Reception following Shabbat Services…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Blessing the Sacred Sages:
It is the tradition during Social Justice Shabbat to bless the Sacred Sages. By definition, a Sacred Sage has reached the age of 70 or more. Anyone in attendance that Shabbat who is younger than 70 holds the prayer shawls known as tallit around the shoulders of all who are 70+ while the Blessing is offered to those who are 70+. Special booklets for Social Justice Shabbat are created that contain the Blessing, list the names of the Sacred Sages, and list the anniversaries of Sacred Sages who have celebrated 50 or more years. All are welcome to take the booklets home; but for those who are 70+ who are unable to attend Shabbat Services, the booklets are sent to them…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Pickin’ & Packin’ Blueberries for
Nutrition & Services for Seniors
and
Packin’ Shelf Stable Meals for NSS:
The title explains exactly what Temple Emanuel and Friends of Temple Emanuel, including TEAM Deliver the Difference of Nutrition & Services for Seniors, do to benefit the Meals-on-Wheels clients of NSS…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Beaumont No-Kill Shelter:
By collecting Tzedakah, we help provide care, food, and shelter to dogs and cats at the local No-Kill Shelter…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
The Tasting for Some Other Place:
Another tradition of TESJ is attending and/or participating in The Tasting that benefits the clients of Some Other Place. Members of Temple Emanuel make Sweet Noodle Kugel. Other members serve it to all who support the fundraiser for SOP…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Disaster Relief:
Over the years, we have provided financial support to people in areas affected by hurricanes, wildfires, and more. Because Temple Emanuel members had been helped after Hurricane Harvey by IsraAid (Israel IDF Veterans) and by Team Rubicon (U.S. Military Veterans), in 2019 we donated to both organizations, as they were on the ground in Puerto Rico; and we wanted our outreach to be felt there. In 2020 following Hurricane Laura, we helped Temple Sinai (Lake Charles, LA) and the citizens of Southwest Louisiana… thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Israel:
The land of Israel and its people of all backgrounds are important to us. Our outreach to Israel is usually through either the Union for Reform Judaism or Jewish Federation of North America or Jewish National Fund…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
High Holiday Funds for Food Drive
for Southeast Texas Food Bank:
Our traditional High Holiday Food Drive has turned into our High Holiday Funds for Food Drive because every dollar shared with Southeast Texas Food Bank provides three meals, allowing us to help even more Southeast Texans who are hungry…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Tikkun Olam Offering:
Temple Emanuel participates in the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service held the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It is coordinated by and participated in by the Downtown Clergy Group along with their faith communities. Besides the creative service representing all faiths, there is also a dinner provided by the host congregation. In addition, those attending the pre-Thanksgiving gathering bring food for the Southeast Texas Food Bank and/or monetary donations for Some Other Place…thereby making a tikkun olam difference.
Christmas Day at Some Other Place:
On December 25th for more years than anyone can remember, members of Temple Emanuel and Friends of Temple Emanuel have served hot Christmas lunches to the clients of Some Other Place and have delivered hot Christmas lunches to the Meals-on-Wheels clients of SOP…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Salvation Army Local Shelter:
This TESJ Project, adopted in 2021, benefits the clients of Salvation Army who are Homeless and/or who have been misplaced because of natural disasters in Southeast Texas. While providing monetary support known as Tzedakah for our local Salvation Army Shelter and helping the stranger, we are making a tikkun olam difference!
Stable Spirit:
Another 2021 addition to the TESJ Cafeteria Plan of Faith in Action, we are helping Stable Spirit, a non-profit in Rose City which is located just outside of Beaumont. The Tzedakah that we share will provide scholarships for youth and adults with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Physical Therapy…thereby making a tikkun olam difference!
Want to also make a tikkun olam difference?
Temple Emanuel Social Justice Committee is busy year-round in making a tikkun olam difference. And, while the projects outlined above are traditions of Temple Emanuel, members of TESJ continue to keep their eyes open for other ways to implement the Love Thy Neighbor initiative in Beaumont and Beyond!
Your donation to Temple Emanuel Social Justice Fund will continue to help us in making a tikkun olam difference and will allow you to make a tikkun olam difference also!
THANK YOU!