The Tikkun Olam Initiative of Congregation Tifereth Israel, Greenport, seeks to address the needs of our community by creating and nurturing relationships with other not for profit organizations to improve the lives of individuals and families living in Southold Town.
Throughout 2021, we have made significant contributions to CAST including school supplies for children, personal care items, fresh produce from individuals and farmers, vegetable plants, poultry, eggs, and winter clothing. Each year we work with Common Ground by adopting two garden beds throughout the spring, summer, and fall providing fresh vegetables to CAST.
Please call the Synagogue at 631-477-0232 and leave a message for Veronica if you would like more information.
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Tikkun Olam Recommends…
The shul’s Tikkun Olam group, whose charitable work for CAST is well known by our members and friends, has learned about a program for parents and grandparents sponsored by PJ Library, a literacy program for Jewish families with young children, reported Veronica Kaliski, chair of the group. This program sends free, age-appropriate Jewish-themed books to children ages 6 months to 8 years.
Included in the expansive PJ Library list of available books is a title by Kalaniot Books, the publishing company owned and headed by Lili Rosenstreich, daughter of shul members Saul and Susan Rosenstreich. The Very Best Sukkah by Shoshana Nambi, illustrated by Moran Yogev is a 2023 winner of a National Jewish Book Award and a Sydney Taylor Book Award. Other Kalaniot titles are being reviewed by PJ Library. Tikkun Olam suggests that those interested in the program can sign up by visiting www.pjlibrary.org/.
Volunteers? Anyone?
Tikkun Olam is looking for volunteers to help maintain the herb and veggie beds at Common Ground. All produce is donated to CAST for local families. Contact Veronica at ctigreenport@gmail.org/.
Tikkun Olam Group Thanks Members And Friends For Their Generosity
Once again, our shul has shown its generous spirit by filling the big red barrel with toys and games and fun crafts for kids. All was delivered to CAST in time for gift-giving and fun times for kids at Christmas.
CAST clients were most grateful, said Veronica Kaliski, chair of the Tikkun Olam committee at our shul, the group that responds to those in need on behalf of the shul. Among other initiatives, the group sets up the big red barrel for collections of cans of food, personal items, school supplies and the December Holiday Toy Drive. Beneficiaries of the group’s efforts are charities in our community, including CAST, John’s Place, and others as the need becomes apparent. The group also maintains garden beds at Common Ground, and donates the produce and herbs to CAST’s food pantry, which is filled with a storehouse of merchandise and fresh veggies. In addition, the group purchases whole chickens ready for roasting, for CAST clients.
Thank you to all who contributed this year.
Members of the Tikkun Olam group are Veronica Kaliski, chair, also Madelyn Rothman, Susan Rosenstreich, and Cookie Slade. Tom Byrne photo
Tikkun Olam Group Thanks Members And Friends For Their Generosity
Once again, our shul has shown its generous spirit by filling the big red barrel with toys and games and fun crafts for kids. All was delivered to CAST in time for gift-giving and fun times for kids at Christmas.Thank you to all who contributed this year.
Members of the Tikkun Olam group are Veronica Kaliski, chair, also Madelyn Rothman, Susan Rosenstreich, and Cookie Slade.
Tikkun Olam: School Supply Drive with CAST
Back-to-school for the young set means pencils, glue sticks, paperclips, notebooks, dividers, rulers, scissors, index cards, markers, pens, and the like, plus backpacks to hold all that stuff and — oh yes — school books and homework assignments from the teachers.
All those fresh supplies get kids off to a good start in the school year, and the Tikkun Olam Initiative is supporting that effort with a call to our members for donations of school supplies that will be distributed to the children of CAST clients.
CAST will place a collection bin on the ramp by the kitchen door of our shul building,
between July 28 – August 21,
and is hoping to fill it to overflowing by end-August.
TOI members will keep a watchful eye on the bin, so no worries about pilfering.
All will be safe and much appreciated.
For more information, contact the TOI at ctigreenport@gmail.com with a message for Veronica Kaliski.
Tikkun Olam Spearheads Shul Collection Of School Supplies For CAST
Once again, the big red barrel is on the ramp at the kitchen door, this time for the annual drive to collect school supplies for the children of CAST clients. Starting off the school year with the pencils, notebooks, rulers, crayons, etc. that kids need to complete their assignments gives kids a head start on making the most of their learning. Our shul is one of many organizations participating in this worthy project. Tikkun Olam is hopeful that shul members will respond generously this year, just as they have in the past.
So, what to put into that big red barrel? Book bags are a high priority this year. Apparently, book bags can take rough treatment, but by year’s end, they are fairly well frayed and torn. A new book bag to house new supplies is a welcome treat for all kids. Supplies can be ordered online, maybe from Amazon, or purchased from any stationery store, like Staples, and from most grocery stores. Costco, Walgreens and CVS are good sources as well.
Veronica Kaliski assured The Shofar that the barrel would be monitored and emptied frequently so no pilfering could take place. What you put in the barrel is safe, she said.
Let’s see if we can fill it — maybe more than once…
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