“Giving of your time is a statement that “I will do whatever I can to help. … That’s the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam ― repairing the world” — aish.com.
SAN DIEGO – When I chose to get my master’s degree in social work, I didn’t really connect this concept to how it could lead to a profession. As I dove into coursework and meeting with clients, my vision was to help those who were struggling emotionally and giving them the tools to make their situations better. It never dealt with giving money, but giving of my time, referrals and advocacy were all that was needed. I still hear from some of these clients and how just being there to listen and advocate for them changed their lives.
Summer is the best time to engage children/adults on summer break on the tikkun olam ruach (repairing the world spirit). Activities range from getting involved in volunteer opportunities to making donations at collection bins. Many of the mitzvah drives around the area focus on the “back-to-school” theme. It is easy to purchase extra items as you prepare to send your own children to school.
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Temple Emanu-El will host a “Safe Parking Dinner” at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 22, at Jewish Family Services of San Diego, Balboa Avenue. The Safe Parking Program is designed to provide a safe place for people experiencing homelessness who have cars but no place to safely park at night to sleep. The program provides a welcoming environment, meaningful resources and tools as well as dignified support to help individuals and families stabilize and transition back into permanent housing. While in the program, individuals have access to restrooms, handwashing stations, and case management services. The program is operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego, seven nights per week. Click here for more information. … The congregation also partners with “Buddy’s Backpacks” for its Mitzvah of the Month. In August, many students return to school. Most needed items this month are: Backpacks, Paper and Notebooks, Colored Pencils, Crayons, Pens, Pencils and Sharpeners, Glue Sticks and White Glue, Rulers and Safety Scissors.
Buddy’s Backpacks is a group in Santee which distributes backpacks and school supplies annually at a special drive-through event. All children from anywhere in San Diego are eligible to receive school supplies, no qualifications necessary. Last year, Buddy’s Backpacks distributed over 900 backpacks. Click here for more information.
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Chabad at La Costa needs volunteers for its “Soup and Challah Project.” Volunteers pick up a few containers of soup and bags of challah at 3 p.m. and deliver them to the door of the recipients. Volunteers also get soup and challah! Click here to volunteer. … The congregation introduced a new mitzvah opportunity with Bikur Cholim. There are a number of patients at UCSD La Jolla that have come from Israel to receive transplants and could use some help. Bikur Cholim of San Diego is a community organization helping the sick with care packages, visitation, driving spouses to and from the hospital. Click here to get involved and sign up.
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House of Israel asks for volunteers to help in morning and afternoon shifts on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the Summer. Click here to sign up.
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Chabad of East County has its “Thinking of You” Project. A special package will be delivered to local families who: move to town, welcome a new baby, or go through a health challenge/difficult time. Click here to nominate someone or to volunteer.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue and its Abraham Ratner Torah School ask the community to help contribute to the Jewish Family Services “Back to School Backpack Drive.” Build an ultimate back-to-school kit: backpack, academic calendar, three-ring binder, loose-leaf lined paper, black and blue pens, glue sticks, #2 pencils, colored pencils, highlighters, pencil case, pencil sharpener. Please have all supplies together by Thursday, July 31 and leave in the bin by the Torah School office.
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Chabad of Downtown asks for volunteers to help with its weekly food pantry. On Friday mornings, congregants distribute food items to low-income households throughout the area. Click here if you can assist and make a difference in other people’s lives.
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Ner Tamid Synagogue announces its “Mitzvah of the Summer” partnering with Jewish Family Service “Back to School Backpack Drive.” Please have all supplies together by Thursday, August 3. Each backpack will go to a child whose family is currently receiving assistance through JFS.
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Lawrence Family JCC Little Mensches Program, “Making the World Better, One Mitzvah at a Time,” will be presented at 1 p.m., Sunday, August 4. Little Mensches provides fun, engaging, and enriching opportunities for children between the ages of four and eight to give back to their community. This month, children will be packing school supply kits into backpacks. These will be donated to Jewish Family Services who will distribute to children in need. Click here to sign up.
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On a side note, my kids and I attended many Little Mensches programs at the JCC until they sadly “aged out.” I volunteered at many of the events since they always needed more adults to help. My kids really enjoyed packing items, learning about Tikkun Olam (healing the world) and that we worked together as a family. Of course, having snacks at the events was a nice treat for the kids.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Social Action Network coordinates the “2nd Sunday Dinners” to be served at Rachel’s Women’s Center at 4:15 p.m., Sunday, August 11 at the Beth Israel’s parking lot. Sign up to bring a portion of the dinner (main dish, dessert, drinks, etc.), then deliver your prepared food to Beth Israel’s parking lot at 4:15 p.m. A volunteer will collect all the prepared food contributions in the parking lot, then deliver the complete dinner to RWC. Click here to sign up.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue hosts a blood drive with the San Diego Blood Bank starting at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 14. The Bloodmobile will be set up in the lower parking lot. Donating blood is very simple, rewarding and each pint can save three lives. Click here to make an appointment.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.