HESED Programs and Partners in Tikkun Olam

HUNGER

MAZON, a Jewish Response to Hunger, collects and
awards grants to non-profit organizations in Minnesota,
nationwide and internationally that alleviate hunger.
Hesed encourages congregants to contribute 3% of the
total cost of their simcha to MAZON and makes a special appeal each Pesach for donations to MAZON.

Concerned Jewish Congregations* provides a nightly meal to those in need. Adath volunteers join with other congregations to prepare and serve meals to as many as 600 people at Loaves and Fishes at the St. Stephen’s Church site.

Our Saviours Shelter* is a homeless shelter of Our
Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Study groups, havurot,
extended families, groups of friends etc. share the mitzvah of feeding the hungry on a monthly rotation.

STEP* (St Louis Park Emergency Program) maintains a
food shelf (including the only kosher food section in
Minneapolis) and other support services for seniors and families in need. Receptacles for non-perishable food are at the entrance to the Gan and in the main foyer at Adath. Operation Isaiah is Adath’s annual High Holiday food drive benefiting STEP.

ICA* (Intercongregation Communities Association) offers a food shelf and emergency services to Minnetonka residents. The Hesed Committee represents Adath Jeshurun on the ICA Board and recruits volunteers to help monthly with the food shelf.
Minnesota Food Share Drive is supported throughout
the congregation by food and financial contributions.

CHILDREN

Congregations Concerned for Children* is a diverse faith-based voice which advocates for children living in poverty and violence or neglect. A Hesed member is on its Advisory Board.

STEP Toy Fund* purchases holiday gifts for families in
need with help from Hesed Committee.

Passage Community* provides transitional housing for women and their children moving from welfare to work. It receives services from several groups at Adath.

SPECIAL FUNDS

The Donald T. Goldberg Fund supports emergency
needs of the community and the world at large, for the
relief of human suffering

The Linda Weber Mitzvah Fund supports education
and advocacy for families and children at risk, with a focus on domestic abuse.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

The Hesed Committee sponsors educational events to raise the awareness of social justice causes, such as the following:

Tikkun Olam Social Justice Workshop, a collaboration of Adath Jeshurun Hesed Committee, Bet Shalom Social Action Committee, Jewish Community Action, and Avodah B’yachad.

An Educational Gun Violence Program, co-sponsored with Million Mom March and JCA.

An ADVOCACY Workshop organized by JCRC to develop skills and to encourage participation in communicating with government officials who create policy on social justice issues.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Community Reinvestment Fund of Jewish Community Action invests in local community banks which provide loans for home ownership, home improvements, and small business loans in the inner city. The Hesed Committee and the Adath Foundation have deposited funds in these accounts.

JCA* (Jewish Community Action) advocates for affordable housing and other social justice issues in coalition with other organizations. Adath members are active on its Board and in its endeavors.

MICAH* (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable
Housing) is a coalition of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim
congregations and housing organizations that promotes awareness and motivates people of faith to take direct action and advocate for public policies that maintain and increase the supply of decent, safe, and affordable housing. West Metro Interfaith Communities in Action is an advocacy coalition for social justice in the West Metro area. A member of the Hesed Committee sits on its Steering Committee.

HESED SUPPORTS...

The Hesed Pushke Project at Purim annually selects
and contributes to projects locally and in Israel, such as the Greater Lake Country Food Bank,TOMER Ethiopian Cultural Center, or the JCC Center of Inclusion. The Morning Minyan matches funds raised from the pushke boxes.

The Hesed B’nai Mitzvah Donation annually honors
Adath’s B'nai Mitzvah by contributing to an organization
which helps with issues of hunger, affordable housing or children.

Nechama organizes volunteers who respond to natural
disaster emergencies in Minnesota and western Wisconsin and is supported by a Hesed contribution and volunteers from the congregation.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service’s Emergency
Food and Shelter Fund receives an annual contribution
from the Hesed Committee.

An Emergency Fund for disasters or great need, such as the flood in Prague or the Argentinian Jewish community, is a staple of the Hesed budget.

Hesed Committee has collaborated with JCRC on
Avodah B'yachad projects which help underprivileged
families in need.