Recent Wins

The Temple Sholom Advocacy Committee recently kicked off efforts with RAC-IL to advocate for two important bills related to gun violence prevention and homelessness in the current state legislative session.  

Karina’s Bill (IL HB4469 & SB2633) would require that firearms be removed from a home when a domestic violence survivor is granted an order of protection. It is named after Karina Gonzalez who, alongside her daughter, was murdered by her husband after securing an order of protection. 

Build Illinois Homes (IL HB4909 & SB3233) would create an additional funding source to build more affordable housing in Illinois through an income tax credit and is projected to increase construction of by 1,100 new affordable homes per year. 

Temple Sholom's blood drive on 2/11 collected 21 pints of blood, which is enough to support 63 people who need life-saving care! In 5784, Temple Sholom’s three blood drives have collected approximately 66 pints of blood and helped support 196 lives. 

It's been nearly 6 months since the Pretrial Fairness Act went into effect in Illinois, thanks in part to the amazing efforts of our Advocacy committee and their work with the Coalition to End Money Bond. In this short time, county jails have seen a dramatic reduction in the number of people incarcerated pretrial - a reduction of 15% in Cook and 22% in Lake Counties!

Over 70 coats donated for migrants! Through our recent coat drive, Temple Sholom collected 72 new and gently used and new coats to support newly arrived migrants at shelters and police stations in the neighborhood. Thanks to everyone across our community who donated!

On 12/3, our amazing team of volunteers came together to pack and personally deliver our Chanukah boxes to those who could use some extra support during this special holiday season. A huge thank you to each and every one of you for your dedication and the profound impact you've made.

Thanksgiving Monday Meal fed 108 people! Though our maximum capacity was 100 people, our amazing Monday Meal volunteers were able to extend a full meal to all who showed up. In addition to a wonderful full Thanksgiving meal, guests were entertained by Temple Sholom's Volunteer Klezmer Band and received winter gloves and hats. 

We did it! With your help, our RAC-OH team and our network of Reform Rabbis across Ohio built a robust and resilient nationwide effort that culminated in last Tuesday’s resounding passage of Issue One! This initiative will amend the Ohio constitution to establish an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment. 

Did you hear? We are thrilled to announce that Temple Sholom via Sholom Justice is sponsoring an asylum seeking family! Through our partners at the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church (LPPC) and the Faith Community Initiative, Temple Sholom will be providing a Venezuelan family of 5 (mother & 4 children) with housing & living expenses for a year. 

Fighting for Reproductive Justice! Temple Sholom volunteers wrote more than 300 postcards to Ohio voters in support of the important ballot initiative in this November’s election to protect the right to make personal health care decisions without government interference. Yasher koach to Sholom Justice’s Reproductive Justice Task Force for their hard work and partnership with RAC-OH!

5,700 Meals Served Annually! Through Sholom Justice’s Monday Meal and Feed the Hungry programs, Temple Sholom volunteers serve approx. 5,700 meals each year! A huge thanks to our many dedicated volunteers who make these programs happen each week and a special thank you to all those who have sponsored a Monday Meal or Feed the Hungry so far this year!

Over Two Tons of Food! Temple Sholom’s annual High Holy Day food drive brought in over two tons of food donations.  Thank you to the whole Temple Sholom community for your involvement and supporting our partner, Nourishing Hope!

On Yom Kippur Sholom Justice hosted a special panel on the migrant situation in Chicago. Our panel was made up of Alderperson Matt Martin (47th) and Emily Wheeler of the Faith Community Initiative. If you missed the presentation, you can watch it here!

Catch the Nawabi family & Sholom Justice’s volunteers in JCFS’s recent video? Sholom Justice volunteers have done amazing work supporting an Afghani refugee family who moved to Chicago over a year ago. Yasher koach to our incredible Nawabi family volunteers!

Take Action

Apply for JCUA's Or Tzedek Teen Internship!
Applications are open for the 2024-25 cohort of Or Tzedek, JCUA's award-winning teen organizing program that brings high school students from across the city and suburbs together for a transformative leadership experience. If you or a teen in your life are interested, visit JCUA's website to learn more, apply, or nominate someone between now and the program's June 2nd application deadline.  

Join for JCUA's Torah of Organizing: IL Green New Deal
Join us to consider the Illinois Green New Deal, a burgeoning statewide campaign aiming to achieve housing and environmental justice via the creation of green social housing, in the context of Torah and our broader Jewish values. What does Judaism have to say about housing and the environment? Learn this and more at Torah of Organizing: IL Green New Deal led in part by R. Aryeh Bernstein. Monday, April 15, 6:00 PM at Sketchpad in Ravenswood REGISTER HERE

Donate Clothing and Hygiene Items to New Arrivals
Our new neighbors (nuevos vecinos) need your help! Donate clothing and other items to help them either through Nuevos Vecinos or the District 19 Mutual Aid group.

Legal Aid Clinic for Asylum Seekers and Migrants
Sholom Justice has teamed up with Anshe Emet to support asylum seekers and migrants with applications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and work permits. If you are a lawyer, immigration case worker, someone familiar with the immigration system, or are unafraid of paperwork, we want your help! Spanish is helpful but not required, and training will be provided. To get involved, please send us an email.

Pen Pals Needed! Requests for Sholom Justice pen pals continue to come our way, and we are in need of correspondents for these individuals. Sholom Justice's Pen Pal program connects congregants with a pen pal who is serving time in the IL Prison system.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Beth Sanchez.

Monday Meal Mitzvah!
MONDAYS | 3:30pm | Temple Sholom

(Food prep & setup shifts start at 3:30pm & serving/clean-up shifts start at 4:45pm)
Join us on Mondays for our Monday Meal Mitzvah Program (MMM). Temple Sholom volunteers prepare, set-up and serve guests a 4-course meal. Volunteers are needed, so sign-up to volunteer at an upcoming meal! This program is for anyone ages 12+ and is great for B’nai Mitzvah service projects, service hours, and anyone looking for a meaningful volunteer experience. Register for Monday Meal!

If you have questions about the meal and for sponsorship information & opportunities, contact Miriam Berne. Volunteers must be 12 years of age or older to prep food and/or serve guests. If you have a child under 12, please contact Miriam Berne for Monday Meal opportunities.

Feed the Hungry
EVERY 2ND & 5TH SUNDAY | 9:00 AM | IN PERSON

Feed the Hungry (FTH) allows you the opportunity to sponsor a monthly FTH Sunday. As a sponsor, you shop for the items needed, assemble the sandwiches at home, and deliver them to a church on the West Side (at a socially safe distance with masks). This project is great for B'nai Mitzvah students, individuals seeking service hours, families, and groups of friends looking for a fun and meaningful way to volunteer. SPONSORS ARE NEEDED for Dec. 31. Register for Feed the Hungry!

If you would like to sign-up to sponsor one of our "at-home" FTH Sundays, please click below. For questions, contact Rabbi Gellman.

Tutors Needed for Refugee Children!

Forging Opportunities in America (FORA) is looking for volunteer tutors to join its program. FORA provides tutoring for refugee children in our community, serving roughly 100 students grades K-12 with individualized tutoring in foundational reading and math. Tutors typically serve for 2 in-person weekly sessions or 5 virtual weekly sessions which run M-F 4:30-6:30PM and 7-9PM. Potential volunteers can email FORA to get started! 

Join Sholom Justice's Advocacy Committee

Our Advocacy committee is working hard on multiple campaigns to address the root, structural issues & systems behind many of our issue areas! Building off the success of our campaign to End Money Bond in Illinois, in 5784 we're focusing on gun violence prevention and addressing homelessness. Contact Merle Tresser to join today!

Help Provide Meals & Items to Asylum Seekers

As the national and local media are turning their attention to the burgeoning number of asylum seekers coming to Chicago —and the city's struggles to accommodate them — CHI and others have welcomed many of them to meals. In recent weeks, CHI has been doubling the amount of food normally served at Wednesday meals. And it’s not just CHI doing this – so are several other meal providers. So, everyone is teaming up to cook together! If you are interested in volunteering at any of the meals or have items to donate, see a comprehensive list.

JUF Uptown Cafe
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
SUNDAYS | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The Dina & Eli Field EZRA Multi-Service Center 909 W. Wilson

The JUF Uptown Cafe is a restaurant-style meals program dedicated to fighting hunger, reducing isolation, and creating community. This is a great volunteer opportunity for individuals, families, and groups. Learn more about the JUF Uptown Cafe.