As Jews, we have a tradition of working for social and economic justice, political change, ecological renewal, peaceful coexistence, and human rights, as signified in the Hebrew term Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). As members of P’nai Or, we are also involved in our own personal/spiritual growth. The Tikkun Olam Committee of P’nai Or brings together these social justice principles and political conviction with our spiritual practices in order to contribute to this healing, repair, and transformation of the world, beginning with our own community.
The goals of the Tikkun Olam Committee are to:
- increase awareness of political and social justice issues in our congregation.
- create Tikkun Olam opportunities for exploration and action.
- gather information about possible tzedakah partners and conduct elections for the congregation to select each year’s partners.
- collaborate with other organizations whose goals we support.
- support each other in this often difficult work.
Each year, the Tikkun Olam committee leads us in choosing one or two groups as tzedakah partners. Nominations of groups for these partnerships are taken each summer. The Tikkun Olam committee endeavors to choose nominees with whom we can have active participation, and the congregation votes to select our partners for the year, typically at our annual Labor Day picnic.
The Tikkun Olam committee meets monthly. Want to get involved? Contact committee chair, Hilda Welch.
Tzedakah Partners
2016 to 2018
P’nai Or’s current Tzedakah Partner is 350PDX, the local chapter of the national & global network 350.org. The mission of 350.org is to build a diverse grassroots movement to help solve the climate crisis. To meet its goals, 350’s actions are organized through three ongoing, overarching campaigns: Keep it in the Ground, A Just Transition to Renewables, and Fossil Fuel Divestment/Reinvestment. There are many opportunities for in 350PDX activities. You can join a neighborhood team, the Arts and Events Team, the Communications Team or the Divest/Reinvest team. You can attend demonstrations, give financial support, become activists and/or assume leadership roles. For more information, go to http://350pdx.org.
2015 to 2016
Climate Change Recovery/Plant for the Planet
2014 to 2015
Hand in Hand - Center for Jewish Education in Israel
2013 to 2014
Atitlan Music School and Human Solutions
2012 to 2013
Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda
2011 to 2012
Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda
2010 to 2011
2009 to 2010
Southwest Community Health Center
2008 to 2009
Southwest Community Health Center
2007 to 2008
Center for Constitutional Rights
2006 to 2007
The Network of Spiritual Progressives
2005 to 2006
American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon
2004 to 2005
Rabbis for Human Rights (now called T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights)
2003 to 2004
Northwest Jewish Environmental Project (absorbed into Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life)
Brit Tzedek v’Shalom (the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace) (now merged into the J Street Education Fund)