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Year in Review 2023–24: Beit Tzedek —House of Justice

07/16/2024 04:23:04 PM

Jul16

As a beit tzedek (house of justice), we put our values into meaningful action through social justice and advocacy. 

Mitzvah Day in April was a major highlight of our year. In addition to service activities, the day included a luncheon honoring Rabbi Biatch’s commitment to social justice (see photos and details of our mitzvah day accomplishments here). 

Programs organized by our social justice action teams included a dinner highlighting refugee chefs, a visit to the Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, a book discussion and lecture on soil-related climate issues, and many fundraising initiatives for the community. Read more below about our pursuit of a better world.

Check out the other sections of our Year in Review 2023–24 to read about our worship, community events, and educational programming.

Immigration and Refugee Rights Action Team

Nearly 100 congregants and community members gathered to feast and learn at “Tables Across Borders,” organized by the Immigration and Refugee Rights Action Team and Jewish Social Services of Madison. This was part of a series of multicultural community dinners highlighting local chefs who are refugees or seeking asylum. Before dinner, we welcomed visitors to the sukkah and shared our traditions. 

Racial Justice Action Team

The Racial Justice Action Team focused on education through travel, visiting the Milton House Museum Underground Railroad Station near Janesville, America's Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, and a tandem tour of the Black Holocaust Museum and the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. We also hosted a presentation on planning a trip to the southern US landmarks that played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.

Reproductive Rights and Civic Engagement Action Teams

The Reproductive Rights and Civic Engagement Action Teams hosted a postcard party encouraging Ohio voters to vote “yes” on an amendment to the Ohio state constitution protecting reproductive rights. We wrote more than 400 postcards as part of a unified effort by the national Reform movement. The amendment passed and we were pleased to play a small part in the success of this campaign.

Environment and Climate Change Action Team

The Environment and Climate Change Action Team and Torah Study hosted the second annual Joel Pedersen Memorial Lecture, exploring the connection between climate science and Jewish values. UW professor Jo Handelsman spoke about the importance of soil and the climate-related challenges we face as the earth’s soil erodes and degrades.

Social Action by the Numbers

How TBE members supported our community:

  • High Holy Day Food Drive: Thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to distribute $10,000 to Second Harvest Foodbank and $5,000 to seven smaller food programs. We also bought food for the Mitzvah Day cooking projects.
  • Goodman Community Center Thanksgiving Basket Collection: Religious School students and families donated over 200 items for Thanksgiving dinners.
  • Catholic Multicultural Center: 20 TBE volunteers served meals and cleaned up after a community dinner every month, serving 480 people over the year. Six volunteers also helped weed and harvest the garden that supplies the Catholic Multicultural Center’s food pantry. 
  • Healing House: 27 volunteers planned, bought, and cooked four weeks of dinners for people without permanent housing recovering from illness or surgery, a total of 224 meals. 
  • Nehemiah Center and F.O.S.T.E.R: In December, TBE members filled 105 shoeboxes full of gifts for children and adult clients who might not receive any other holiday gifts. In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, members donated $1,500 for hygiene items and cleaning supplies. 
  • Jewish Social Services refugee resettlement program: Our volunteers helped set up 16 apartments with furniture and food, welcoming refugees from the Middle East, Central America, and West Africa. We hosted a gathering of TBE members who are mentoring or interested in mentoring new refugees through Jewish Social Services.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Dane County: We arranged for five high school and college students from Boys & Girls Club and Centro Hispano to work at businesses and organizations with leaders from the Jewish community, funded by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Madison.
  • Literacy Network: We arranged a tour to learn about Literacy Network’s free educational services to refugees, immigrants, and low-income community members. 
  • Trash Lab: The Environment and Climate Change Action Team arranged for the Dane County Trash Lab to visit TBE on Mitzvah Day.

Social justice education and advocacy in support of Jewish values:

  • Our annual Social Action Shabbat was held on the weekend dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kaleem Caire, founder and CEO of One City Schools, spoke about how to prepare children to build a better world.
  • This year’s Blockstein lecture was presented by the Wisconsin state refugee coordinator, Bojana Zorić Martinez, who spoke about her own experiences as a refugee from Bosnia. 
  • In July, the Environment and Climate Change Action Team combined a group bike ride around Lake Wingra with a short talk about how the Inflation Reduction Act can help individuals implement energy-efficiency measures. 

Building community: 

  • The Social Action Committee held a potluck on the patio in August to welcome new members and held another in April to say goodbye and thank you to Rabbi Biatch and Rabbi Margulis.
  • Social Action Committee co-chair Sherie Sondel received the first Rabbi Jonathan Biatch Tikkun Olam Award for her committee leadership and many acts of service to our community, including resettling refugees and fighting hunger.
  • Betsy Abramson was honored with the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award at the TBE annual meeting in June 2023. Betsy has served many roles at TBE, including president, Mitzvah Day chair, developer of the children’s library, and leader of the first Leadership Development cohort.
  • Rabbi Bonnie Margulis was honored by Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice for her 13 years as founder and director of the organization. Her work included worker rights, immigration, voting, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights, affordable housing, health equity, and building bridges among faiths.

February 14, 2025 16 Sh'vat 5785