Schedule of Events
Steps for Tzedakah will begin with a leisurely Sunday morning walk from Temple Isaiah to the Lafayette Reservoir, followed by a barbecue picnic lunch and a musical Lag B’Omer celebration led by Joel Siegel. Participants can enjoy all of these events for a minimum donation of $18 per person or $36 per family. Lag B’Omer is a holiday that occurs on the 33rd day between Passover and Shavuot and is traditionally celebrated with hikes and picnics. This year it falls on May 22. Register here on line, in the office, or at the event.
Steps for Tzedakah Beneficiary
The beneficiary of Steps for Tzedakah 2008 will be the community outreach program of Kehilat Tzur Hadassah to a group of disabled adults from Israel Elwyn in Jerusalem. Israel Elwyn is a residential program for more than 1700 disabled children and adults. Every year our goals for Steps for Tzedakah are twofold: to support Progressive Judaism in Israel and to help strengthen Temple Isaiah’s community. This year the Temple’s Israel Committee is assisting also.
Recently, Temple Isaiah established a “twin” relationship with Kehilat Tzur Hadassah. The Progressive synagogue is located in the small town of Tzur Hadassah southwest of Jerusalem inside the green line. It is situated next to Arab communities on the one side, with whom they are working to forge a relationship, and an ultraorthodox Jewish community on another side.
As mentioned, one of Kehilat Tzur Hadassah’s programs focuses on Israel Elwyn, a center for disabled children and adults.
The specific projects that will benefit from contributions to Steps for Tzedakah this year are:
- Participation by Israel Elwyn residents at a monthly Kabbalat Shabbat service held at Israel Elwyn’s Tal Residential Center and another service at the synagogue
- Weekly Torah study for 10-15 Tal residents with 6th grade Tzur Hadassah students to explore the weekly parashat hashavua and its application to daily life and to help these young volunteers understand residents’ needs
- Photography & art exhibits and sale of work by Elwyn residents.
Temple Isaiah’s funds will go directly for transportation costs, professional staff time, and materials for sales and advertising.
For more information about our new “twin,” see the January 2008 Ruach.