Oppenheim Institute

·         Bringing provocative programming to the Congregation and the community since 2002.

·         Speakers have included clergy, attorneys, educators, and other leaders in fields so diverse as Separation of Church and State, Evolution and Intelligent Design, Documentary filming, and the United Nations Organization.

·         Annual event in conjunction with the Social Action Committee and recognition of Temple members’ volunteering in community activities.

Back to School – Clothe the Children Project

·         Initiated in 1999 by the committee as the result of a Temple member’s observation of needy children lacking nice clothes and school supplies the first day of school.

·         More than 100 children each year receive a new backpack filled with school supplies and clothes for their first day of school.

·         The children in need are identified by community social service agencies.

·         Program has received national recognition from The Union for Reform Judaism as well as wide local coverage.

Roundtable Discussions

·         Informal discussions on important current issues, led by members or invited guests, following a shortened Shabbat Service.

·         Topics have included local, national and international perspectives on immigration, genocide in Darfur, energy consumption and organ transplants.

·         Offered twice a year in summer and winter.

“Corners of the Fields” High Holiday Food Drive

·         Food collections and monetary donations are collected over the High Holidays at the Temple.

·         The food is sorted by our youth in the religious school and distributed to local agencies and food banks.

·         Cash contributions go to feed the hungry through local agencies and to MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. The goal is to collect over one ton of food each year.