Bat Yam Temple of the Islands
Welcome to
Bat Yam Temple of the Islands
A Jewish congregation serving residents and guests
of Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers, and surrounding areas,
providing a place of worship in the Reform tradition and creating
a warm, caring, enriching, and welcoming Jewish community.
Social Action Committee Activities
2016-2017
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF HEALTH CARE: A
PRESENTATION BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD
On Thursday, April 6th at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall of the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, representatives from Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida will speak about the medical and educational services it has provided since 1966. Planned Parenthood was founded to help women, men and young people make responsible choices about sex and family planning. Its health centers do not turn anyone away because of what they look like, where they are from, who they love, or what kind of care they need.
Come learn about the impact of the proposed federal budget and its defunding of Planned Parenthood. Learn specifically what is happening in the State of Florida concerning these health issues. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida serves 40,000 patients living in twenty-two Florida counties at eleven health centers. And come learn how we might help keep Planned Parenthood centers open, continuing to provide medical services, education and advocacy -- on sexual and reproductive health -- as it has done for 100 years. This program is sponsored by Bat Yam’s Social Action Committee and is open to the public.
OUR HAITIAN NEIGHBORS… WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY NEED: PROGRAM ON FEB. 1
Most of us would be surprised to learn that there is a very large (guesstimated at 25,000+) Haitian population living, learning, and working in Fort Myers. We would likely be discomfited to learn of the many unmet needs of this community.
Beatrice Jacquet, herself Haitian and also co-President of the Haitian-American Democratic Club of Lee County, will introduce us to the Haitian people – their culture, history, and life in SWFL – and share with us their specific needs and concerns in a program on Wednesday, February 1st, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ. We will learn of ways we might choose to serve some of the unmet needs of this community.
This presentation is the first sponsored by our newly- formed Social Action Committee. Please be assured that while Beatrice works with the Democratic Club (as most Haitians are Democrats), this is not a partisan, political presentation. We will not be involved in politics, but rather hope to find meaningful, hands-on social action projects. If you would like any further information on this program, contact Social Action Committee chair Garry Weiss at gsw211@gmail.com, (410) 336-2612 or Rabbi Soifer at myrabbims@gmail.com, (775)721-5508.
We look forward to seeing you at this important program as we strive to fulfill our commitment to the Mitzvah of Tikkun Olam – making our world a better and more just place.
T’RUAH’S CAMPAIGN WITH THE COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS:
SPECIAL PROGRAM ON FEBRUARY 27TH
Who picks the food you eat? How much are they paid? Would you pay a penny more for better wages for the workers who pick your food? Are their human rights monitored – with real consequences for abuses?
T’ruah, a national Jewish, human rights organization, has joined with the Coalition of Immokalee Farm Workers to address these questions and more as they affect those who harvest tomatoes in nearby Immokalee, Florida. Rabbi Rachel Kahn- Troster, Director of Programs for T'ruah, will speak to us about efforts to work for the safety and dignity of these farm workers on Monday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m. in Heron Hall of the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ.
We’ll explore possibilities for joining in these efforts for worker justice. This program is sponsored by Bat Yam’s newly formed Social Action Commmittee. For more details on this program or the committee, contact either Committee Chair Garry Weiss, gsw211@gmail.com, or Rabbi Soifer.
BAT YAM’S NEW SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
In November 2016, Rabbi Soifer and I initiated Bat Yam’s Social Action Committee. Over the course of the season several active congregation members joined, including Barry Fulmer, Barbara Epstein, Adele Anish, and Edina Lessack. The Committee adopted the Mission Statement of “Preserving Idealism Through Action”. We are inspired by the Hebrew word “T’ruah”, one of the sounds of the shofar, that calls us to take action to create a more just world.
During the 2017 season, the Social Action Committee sponsored three events/activities. The first was a cultural exchange with representatives from the local Haitian- American Community (there are approximately 25,000 Haitian- Americans in the Fort Myers area).
The representatives identified needs of their community and warmly welcomed our participation and assistance. The Social Action Committee decided to fund and sponsor a $500 post secondary education scholarship for a local Haitian-American student as part of the Haitian- American community’s scholarship program. We look forward to perhaps future involvement with English teaching for adults and assistance with such things as job applications.
The second event/activity involved a presentation by Rabbi Rachel Kahn- Troster, Director of Programs of T’ruah, the rabbinic call for Human Rights. Rabbi Troster discussed with
us the issues facing the migrant farm workers of Immokalee. The Social Action Committee is scheduling a visit to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to learn more about their activities and discuss ways the Social Action Committee may provide support.
The third event/activity was a presentation/discussion lead by Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. The well-attended discussion centered on the critical health care roles of Planned Parenthood in our community and the current legislative threats for continuation. Attendees discussed potential future Social Action Committee activities such as: phone- bank/letter writing “parties” to contact state and federal elected officials; and organizing further Planned Parenthood education sessions to inform more members of the community of the vital health care work and services of Planned Parenthood.
The Committee has begun networking with other religious organizations on the island for coordinated social action activities. We have also reached out to a local Imam for our communities to work together on social action activities. In addition, we have initiated contact with the Human Trafficking Awareness partnership to discuss ways we may support this organization.
We welcome all congregants who would like to join us on the committee and at our special events.
Garry Weiss, Chair