Bet Ha’am’s Social Action Committee presents a special Shabbat service on Friday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. about the educational needs of Maine’s recent immigrants and how congregants can help. This is the first in a yearlong series of programs about new Mainers.
Immigrants from Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Rwanda and many other countries have moved to the Portland area in recent years. About one-quarter of the children who attend the Portland Public Schools speak a language other than English at home - and more than 50 language groups are represented.
Learning English is a critical first step in integrating immigrants into our community. But programs such as Portland Adult Education are overwhelmed by the demand for English language instruction and adult students often have to wait several months or longer to begin classes. Once they enroll, many face the challenge of learning a new language while raising children, working to support their families and adjusting to life in a new country. Volunteer tutors can make a big difference by working one-on-one with adult learners and by helping them prepare for the U.S. citizenship test.
An immigrant who is working to earn her GED give the d’var Torah at the October 21st service. The service will include special recognition for members of Bet Ha’am who teach English as a Second Language and those who volunteer as tutors. If you are among those teachers and tutors, please e-mail Elaine Falender at gayerfal@maine.rr.com so that we can be sure to include you in the service.
The service also will include a moving song by Bet Ha’am member Rita Kissen about her immigrant grandmother’s long-held desire to learn how to write her own name. During the oneg, congregants will be able to find out about opportunities for volunteering in adult education classrooms and as mentors and tutors.
Bet Ha’am is collecting children’s books and easy-to-read adult books in decent condition to donate to the free bookshelf at Portland Adult Education. These books are available for English language learners to take home for practice and to read to their children.
Please bring books to the October 21 service. We also have a collection box at Bet Ha’am so books may be left at any time. We would love to see a B’nai Mitzvot student take on this project and continue it throughout the year. If you are interested, please contact Abby Zimet at planetz@gwi.net.
Bet Ha'am Social Action Committee
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Survey Shows Bet Ha’am Members Value Social Action
Earlier this year, the Bet Ha’am Social Action Committee developed a survey to help us determine our direction, as well as projects and activities for the upcoming year and into the future. The survey was available to the congregation on-line and in hard copy throughout the spring of 2011.
Nearly 60 people completed the survey. The Committee was impressed by the strong interest in social justice issues that was apparent in the responses and by the desire for the synagogue to more fully integrate social action into services, the religious school and other contexts. Many of the people who completed the survey are already involved with social action activities; the Committee sees its challenge as getting more people to participate in activities in a Jewish context as part of Bet Ha’am.
The major issues identified in the survey for future projects include poverty in Maine; marriage equality; and immigrant and civil rights. Survey responses reflected a strong interest in partnering with other organizations; examples might be working with LearningWorks or Portland Adult Education on refugee issues, Interfaith Power and Light on energy issues and/or working with National Council of Jewish Women on its Darfur project. The survey suggested interest in having speakers about current events at services.
The Committee now is working with Rabbi Saks on plans for a series of speakers and other activities related to immigrant issues in Maine. The series will kick off in the fall with a program about immigrants’ educational needs and how Bet Ha’am members can get involved. We also will hold a book drive to provide books for the free book shelf at Portland Adult Education. Stay tuned for more details.
The Committee also discussed working on marriage equality. The referendum drive to put the issue on the ballot in 2012 will make this issue front and center. We are checking into how the congregation can be most helpful.
A number of other ideas were discussed at recent Committee meetings and ideas will continue to be solicited.
Nearly 60 people completed the survey. The Committee was impressed by the strong interest in social justice issues that was apparent in the responses and by the desire for the synagogue to more fully integrate social action into services, the religious school and other contexts. Many of the people who completed the survey are already involved with social action activities; the Committee sees its challenge as getting more people to participate in activities in a Jewish context as part of Bet Ha’am.
The major issues identified in the survey for future projects include poverty in Maine; marriage equality; and immigrant and civil rights. Survey responses reflected a strong interest in partnering with other organizations; examples might be working with LearningWorks or Portland Adult Education on refugee issues, Interfaith Power and Light on energy issues and/or working with National Council of Jewish Women on its Darfur project. The survey suggested interest in having speakers about current events at services.
The Committee now is working with Rabbi Saks on plans for a series of speakers and other activities related to immigrant issues in Maine. The series will kick off in the fall with a program about immigrants’ educational needs and how Bet Ha’am members can get involved. We also will hold a book drive to provide books for the free book shelf at Portland Adult Education. Stay tuned for more details.
The Committee also discussed working on marriage equality. The referendum drive to put the issue on the ballot in 2012 will make this issue front and center. We are checking into how the congregation can be most helpful.
A number of other ideas were discussed at recent Committee meetings and ideas will continue to be solicited.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Volunteer Opportunities at Wayside
The Social Action Committee is happy to announce two opportunities for Bet Ha’am members to volunteer with Wayside programs that feed the hungry.
We are serving dinner every fourth Thursday of the month at Woodford’s Congregational Church in Portland. The Woodford’s meal provided by Wayside reaches groups not previously helped, specifically the elderly, women, and children.
If you would like to serve, arrive at Woodford’s at 5:00 pm and stay through 7:00 pm. Please come at 4:00 pm if you are interested in cooking the main dish, or making a salad or desert. Serving dinner and cooking is a family- friendly option and children ages 7 and up are invited to participate.
Second, Wayside is increasing their efforts to establish a program of mobile pantries for areas without food pantries in Portland. There are two opportunities here: 1. Setting up the boxes of food for distributions (i.e. packing food items into boxes for distribution), and 2. Going out on the distribution runs to deliver the food. If there is enough interest in mobile pantries, then specific times for Bet Ha’am will be assigned.
Please contact Molly Bergman Quaid at mquaid@gmail.com for more information about both opportunities and to sign up to participate!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Maine Legislature Considers For-Profit Prison
"LD1095, An Act To Facilitate the Construction and Operation of Private Prisons by Authorizing the Transport of Prisoners out of State” would approve a for-profit Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) federal prison in Milo, Maine and also allow Maine's prisoners to be sent to for-profit CCA state prisons in other states, far from their families and any oversight. A hearing date has not yet been set.
You can read more about this bill and the problems of corporate for-profit prisons here: www.maineprisoneradvocacy.org . More background on CCA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrections_Corporation_of_America
You can read more about this bill and the problems of corporate for-profit prisons here: www.maineprisoneradvocacy.org
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
National Council of Jewish Women Events
Please join us as we launch our first COMMUNITY BOOK READ/FORUM about "Tears of the Desert", by Halima Bashir with Damien Lewis. on APRIL 7TH at 7:00 p.m. at TEMPLE BETH EL, Portland (400 Deering Avenue). Discussion of the book will take place with members of the local Darfur Community.
Participants who feel moved to take action may contribute to the SOLAR COOKER PROJECT to benefit the women in the DARFUR refugee camps. Each solar cooker cost $15.00 and each family should have two. Contributions toward purchasing the cookers may be made the evening of this event through the Southern Maine's Section of NCJW. NCJW has already purchased 30 stoves and is willing to match an additional 70 to bring our local totals up to 100! Donations can also be made through the Jewish World Watch, 17514 Ventura Blvd, Suite 206 Encino Ca. 91316 (www.SolarCookerProject.org) 818-501-1836
Books are available through local libraries, online and through, our local book stores (Longfellow books - Portland, Nonesuch Books and Cards - South Portland)
On Monday April 11th at 7PM, a complimentary program will be presented in Hannaford Auditorium on the campus of USM in Portland. John Prendergast is the 2011 Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture. He is an author and an internationally known human rights activist. Along with the actor George Clooney, he has led the movement against some of Africa's worst human rights crimes including the ongoing genocide in Darfur. This free lecture offers admission on a first come first serve basis. Free parking is available. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...Please contact Roberta (Bobbie) Gordon at 329-3353 (robertakgordon@yahoo.com) or Roberta Zuckerman at 712 -1784 (zuckerman.roberta10@gmail.com).
Participants who feel moved to take action may contribute to the SOLAR COOKER PROJECT to benefit the women in the DARFUR refugee camps. Each solar cooker cost $15.00 and each family should have two. Contributions toward purchasing the cookers may be made the evening of this event through the Southern Maine's Section of NCJW. NCJW has already purchased 30 stoves and is willing to match an additional 70 to bring our local totals up to 100! Donations can also be made through the Jewish World Watch, 17514 Ventura Blvd, Suite 206 Encino Ca. 91316 (www.SolarCookerProject.org) 818-501-1836
Books are available through local libraries, online and through, our local book stores (Longfellow books - Portland, Nonesuch Books and Cards - South Portland)
On Monday April 11th at 7PM, a complimentary program will be presented in Hannaford Auditorium on the campus of USM in Portland. John Prendergast is the 2011 Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture. He is an author and an internationally known human rights activist. Along with the actor George Clooney, he has led the movement against some of Africa's worst human rights crimes including the ongoing genocide in Darfur. This free lecture offers admission on a first come first serve basis. Free parking is available. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION...Please contact Roberta (Bobbie) Gordon at 329-3353 (robertakgordon@yahoo.com) or Roberta Zuckerman at 712 -1784 (zuckerman.roberta10@gmail.com).
Monday, March 21, 2011
Legislative Advocacy Opportunities
Planned Parenthood Day at the Statehouse: On April 7 from 9 am to noon, we will lobby our legislators at the State House to defeat bills that threaten the safety and privacy of Maine women. We will fight against any rollbacks to access preventative, lifesaving health care. Rides to Augusta and childcare will be offered to those who need it.
Girls' Day at the State House - Thursday, March 24th at 8am, Augusta: The Maine Women's Policy Center is sponsoring the 15th Annual "Girls' Day at the State House" next Thursday, March 24th, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Girls' Day brings together 100 8th grade girls from across the state to learn about the legislative process first-hand and to encourage them to have a voice in the issues they care about. The girls will participate in a mock public hearing and mock press conference, a State House and Legislative “scavenger hunt,” and meet with the Governor and other legislative leaders.
Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine Lobby Day - Thursday, April 14th at 8:30am, Augusta: We know that Maine can grow healthy kids and a healthy economy. We know that with safer chemicals, Maine’s families and businesses will thrive. Our legislators need to know this, too. And they need to hear it from you. Join Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine as we advocate for legislation that will get toxic chemicals out of the products we buy and use on a daily basis. If you can attend, please contact PPNNE Grassroots Organizer, Jenna Vendil.
Girls' Day at the State House - Thursday, March 24th at 8am, Augusta: The Maine Women's Policy Center is sponsoring the 15th Annual "Girls' Day at the State House" next Thursday, March 24th, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Girls' Day brings together 100 8th grade girls from across the state to learn about the legislative process first-hand and to encourage them to have a voice in the issues they care about. The girls will participate in a mock public hearing and mock press conference, a State House and Legislative “scavenger hunt,” and meet with the Governor and other legislative leaders.
Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine Lobby Day - Thursday, April 14th at 8:30am, Augusta: We know that Maine can grow healthy kids and a healthy economy. We know that with safer chemicals, Maine’s families and businesses will thrive. Our legislators need to know this, too. And they need to hear it from you. Join Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and the Alliance for Clean and Healthy Maine as we advocate for legislation that will get toxic chemicals out of the products we buy and use on a daily basis. If you can attend, please contact PPNNE Grassroots Organizer, Jenna Vendil.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Volunteers Needed for Mobile Food Pantry
The Kraft Mobile Food Pantry is coming to Jewish Family Services, 57 Ashmont St, Portland on April 22. Volunteers are needed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help serve food, take photos and pass out information.
If you can help, please contact Ani Helmick at 772-1959 or ahelmick@mainejewish.org.
Free groceries will be available to all members of the community. There will be fresh produce, meat, canned goods and baked goods. The pantry will take place rain or shine and no registration is required.
If you can help, please contact Ani Helmick at 772-1959 or ahelmick@mainejewish.org.
Free groceries will be available to all members of the community. There will be fresh produce, meat, canned goods and baked goods. The pantry will take place rain or shine and no registration is required.
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