Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World
Bikkur Cholim — Supporting the Sick and Caregivers
Can you take food to families who are in grief or caring for an ill family member? Maybe you can give rides to and from appointments? Or perhaps you could pay a visit to an ailing congregant, or phone to wish them well?
We'll take any help, big or small — whether it’s on a regular basis or just once in a blue moon. Email Elizabeth Otto or Doris Fasbender
The Sparks - Taking Collective Action
| For current Tikkun Olam Social Action activities at Nevei, across Boulder County, and beyond, see the full NK Calendar here. |
The Tikkun Olam Sparks is a vibrant group of Nevei Kodesh members coming together to make a positive impact and inspire others to participate in repairing the world.
Group meetings are monthly on Zoom and open to all members. Currently, "the Sparks" are most active on climate change and anti-racism issues. Other potential activities are described under the Possibilities link.For details on meetings, or more information, please contact Reggie Gray.
Join us for activities focused on:
Climate Sparks
Our group efforts emerged from community member discussions during a virtual CNK Climate Action event organized by the Climate Sparks. If you would like to contribute to these and other climate efforts, contact Reggie Gray.
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In early 2023 we are reading and discussing Active Hope, by Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone (revised edition, 2022). It is focused on “How to face the mess we’re in with unexpected resilience and creative power.” In her blurb, Naomi Klein says of it: “Books about social and ecological change too often leave out a vital component: how do we change ourselves so that we are strong enough to fully contribute to this great shift? Active Hope fills this gap beautifully, guiding readers on a journey of gratitude, grief, interconnection, and, ultimately, transformation.” Available from the Boulder Bookstore.
We will discuss each of the three sections of the book in turn, in a 90-minute session, to be scheduled roughly every four weeks beginning in mid-January. Contact David Simon for more info. -
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CLIMATE GIVING: This team spearheads the donation of funds to organizations working to protect Earth's climate. Donations to climate-focused groups are one of the most powerful and effective ways for the layperson to respond to the climate crisis, so we identify target organizations and mobilize donation efforts to those organizations. Click here to see the organizations recommended by the Climate Giving Team
The Climate Giving Team is: Avi Edwards, Elizabeth Otto, and Zhenya Gallon. Contact Zhenya with questions or to get involved. -
CLIMATE ACTION: This group’s aims are ensuring that CNK has a proactive focus on climate, and encouraging individual actions. Led by Mary Fulton and Jeff Skovron.
Anti-Racism Group
We work to keep anti-racism issues front and center in the CNK community. Activities include promoting and attending trainings and convening NK discussion groups. In early 2022 this included a moving online training and our small-group discussions offered by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality with beloved Jewish scholar and teacher Yavilah McCoy.
We have also put together a list of local businesses owned by people of color in our area. Click here for a list of Black-owned Businesses in Boulder.
To learn more, please reach out to: Susan Berman, Sue Chase, Mary Fulton, or Debbie Zucker
Possibilities for Individual and Group Action
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Postcard Project: Individual CNK members have been writing postcards about voting issues. Contact Ellen Brock to learn more.
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Food Justice: There are several possibilities under consideration involving food for the unhoused. Watch for more info in the CNK newsletter and here.
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Bridge House: CNK members have volunteered at Bridge House as individuals—you can too! Get involved at boulderbridgehouse.org.
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FeetForward: This relatively new organization helps the unhoused in a variety of ways, including providing blankets, hand warmers, clothing, and transportation. They also organize and serve hot meals that are donated by the local community. Check them out at feetforward.org.
Gardening and Greening Nevei Kodesh
Have a green thumb or just want to have fun in the dirt? Join with others in our spring cleanup and gardening activities throughout the growing season. Contact Elizabeth for more information.
Accomplishments
In 2018-19, the NK Green Team put considerable effort into "greening up" our building. Here’s some of what we did:
Bike-friendly, and gardening, too
- Completed an energy audit that led to energy efficiency improvements to our building.
- Installed bike racks.
- Established raised garden beds and started gardening.
- Added garden compost bins to recycle our garden waste back into the gardens.
Going solar
The Green Team ran a fantastically successful fundraising campaign for rooftop solar panels and quickly purchased a solar array to cover our electricity needs. Then we inaugurated our solar electric energy system and held an awesome energy fair at a celebratory Shabbat service. Those solar panels are still working, just about every day! By now, we've avoided creating nearly 30 tons of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-burning electrical plants with that solar energy system.
How much did we reduce our CO2 generation in the first three years with solar panels on our roof? Roughly, you could cover an entire football field with balloons filled with CO2 to a depth of about 10 feet with the CO2 we would have made. In one big balloon it would cover the field up to the level of the the goalpost crossbars. After 10 years, we'll fill the field up to the top of the goalposts. And before its useful life is over in about 30 years, our little solar array will have saved us from filling most of the whole football arena with CO2.
Updated January 2023