A defining characteristic of Temple Concord is its engagement in social action.
The Hebrew term “tikkun olam” תיקון עולם means “repairing the world.” It is a concept developed by the ancient rabbis who wrote the Mishnah, the first major rabbinic work to re-define Jewish worship after the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 CE.
Our Social Action Committee is committed to the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam. This commitment demands that we as a community dedicate ourselves to social action and social justice. We partner with Jewish, secular, and other faith groups to support those in need, and address issues facing our community, nation, and the planet.
We welcome your participation in our programs. Contact the Temple office for information on volunteering or joining the committee on their important work.
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Our Social Action Mission
We work to foster a culture of sacred and civil dialogue in our congregation where all opinions are heard, to build relationships across lines of difference in our local community, to participate in state-specific social justice work with the New York Religious Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NY) and to mobilize around issues that resonate with our community.
Initiatives
Feeding the Hungry
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Temple Concord operates a Community Hungry Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) Pantry on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm to 7pm. The CHOW program is supported by the Broome County Council of Churches. Volunteers are always welcome!
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In partnership with Trinity Memorial Church of Binghamton we prepare and serve a meal bi-monthly for their soup kitchen.
Fostering Interfaith Dialogue
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Children of Abraham of the Southern Tier creates workshops to promote cooperation between Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Unitarians in our community. We lead a Women’s Interfaith book club which includes Muslims, Christians, Unitarians and several members of our congregation.
Supporting Refugees in our Community
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Members of our committee formed an interfaith group that became involved with helping Afghan refugees. Under the umbrella organization HIAS, a National Resettlement Agency Sponsor, we formed a Sponsor Circle called the Binghamton Regional Afghan Immigration Network (BRAIN) and welcomed an Afghan family to Broome County.
Advocacy
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RAC-NY initiated a new multi-year project to help address climate change issues that affect New York and the entire nation and planet. We are supporting these efforts by writing our state legislators to express support for two bills currently in the state legislature requiring new construction to move from fossil fuel to electric heating.
Raising Awareness
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Throughout the year we hold special Shabbat Services and Torah Study programs connected with Reproductive Rights, Human Rights Shabbat and HIAS Refugee Shabbat lifting up the Jewish values involved in some of our social justice work.
Support our CHOW pantry
Our CHOW pantry serves the community by being open 100 days a year. Our tradition requires that we work to help feed the hungry. Between Rosh Hashana and Simchat Torah, we hold a special drive to support CHOW and our pantry. Throughout the year there is a basket in our lobby to leave non-perishable donations. You can also support our drive by donating to our Helping Hands Fund.
Temple Concord’s CHOW pantry is part of the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse
Volunteer at our CHOW pantry
Temple Concord’s CHOW pantry needs YOU to volunteer Thursday afternoons from 5:00-7:00 PM. Temple Concord’s CHOW pantry is open for those screened and referred by the Broome County Council of Churches to select food for their families. We need 3 people to run the pantry each week.
Volunteers need to be able to go up and down the stairs to the basement where the pantry is located. Engage in the mitzvah of providing food to those in need. We can make their day by greeting them warmly and assisting them in making their food selections. Middle school and high school teens can volunteer along with adults. Please contact the Temple Office to volunteer.
Our Lobby in New York State
RAC-NY, a project of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, is a locally-led movement of Reform Jewish communities working together to build a more just and merciful New York State.
Our Lobby in Washington DC
Religious Action Center
Click here to visit the Religious Action Center website.